Staying at Nada's in St Hilliers

We met Nada and Morten and their kids, Felix, Ines and Lukas in Tonga at the beginning of last year. They are from France and are teaching at the University in Tonga. Each year they go back to NZ for 3 months and this year the timing was right for us to visit and stay with them. So after we checked out to Skycity, we checked into their place for the next six nights. The weather wasn't the best during this time however we made the most of it with daily visits to the beach and playground, which was only 100m from their house. We also went to the local library and had a few small day trips around the area.

The point at St Hilliers, at low tide the kids wandered around the cliffs exploring.

The beach and playground at St Hilliers

Dylan with Rangitoto Island in the background.

Lots of sand castle building during the week with Felix, Ines and Emily.

Emily and Lukas

Other activities during the week included a trip to Parnell Park, the local swimming pool and water playground and a treat for mum - the Minus 5 Bar in the city. This is a vodka bar totally made of ice and kept at a constant -5 degrees. We were only in there for 15 mins but that was long enough, the kids got a mocktail and I had a vodka cocktail in glasses made of ice. Every month they change the ice sculptures and the kids loved them. This time there was a statue of Michael Jackson and this emu that the kids climbed all over.

Parnell Water Park

Emu ride time.

Drinkie time.