Off across the Tasman

Today we are flying from Brisbane to Wellington - New Zealand. Will spend a couple of nights there, want to go to a great Musuem they have. Won't be walking any of them there hills in Wellington though! Airport is practically in the Harbour below - nice! Wednesday we pick up a car and drive north to the Hawkes Bay area, specifically Napier, where a large group of us who shared a house or were friends back in Auckland in 1967 and 1968, are meeting up for a few days - should be super - 24 of us this time!!!

Hawkes Bay area has some wonderful coastline accompanied by some top vineyards, so loads of things to do.

Napier - where the reunion will take place!!!!

Coastline and vineyards of Hawkes Bay.

On 29th we will leave Napier and wander north slowly up to Whakatane at the beginning of the Coromandel Peninsula - plenty to see on the way. We will stay in Whakatane with Col and Den at their holiday house over Easter.

Do a bit of touring of the area

Then back to Col and Den's place at Mission Bay in Auckland for 3 nights.

Nice long walks along Mission Bay promenade

During the day we will go across to Ian and Sarah's place and spend time with the 2 grandkids, or maybe 3 by then. They are going to be pretty busy.

A beach tribute to a top young bloke.

This morning at Kurrawa Beach, thousands of Lifesavers and family and friends met to pay tribute to the young man who died during the Lifesaving Championships on Friday. It was an accident, he was hit in the head by a surf ski - but this volunteer organisation from all over Australia - are just so supportive and close. A lot of them start as little tots - Nippers , and many continue on till they are in their 70's (photos below show this). It is something rather special about Australia and its beaches - in my books!

Saxon Bird was a member of the Queenscliff Club in Sydney, red and blue are the club colours!.

Saxon's brother and best mate from the Queenscliff Club lay a wreath at Kurrawa in his memory. Below -The Flag carrier from the Queenscliff Club - he has probably been with them for 50 plus years!!.

High seas precede Cyclone Ului

The seas the Queensland coast is receiving this week is pleasing for those who love to ride those huge waves on their surfboard - these photos were taken at Snapper Rocks on Monday.

And Burleigh

This week the AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS were also taking place at Kurrawa at Broadbeach. Thousands of volunteer Lifesavers, their families and followers AND all their equipment come from all over Australia to represent their beaches and Lifesaving clubs.

The weather was very ordinary, and the seas were starting to test these brave souls, specifically the inconsistency of the surf, with rips running all over and so close to shore.

The Parade of competing Clubs

The first day (see below) are "The Masters Comp", that is those Lifesavers who are ageing!!!!

The weather closed in, there were so many accidents, and the irratic seas fought all the competitors.

So much equipment was smashed.

The organisers moved some of the classes to North Kirra as it was calmer there. NOT FOR LONG!!

Even the Control Towers at North Kirra were accidental targets.

This surf boat actually knocked over the Control Tower, then proceeded to use it as its base!

And of course there were the lighter accidents - where the surf just "nuded" this competitor. Things just got worse, and yesterday a young 19 year old competitor from NSW who was competing was hit by his ski board in the head, and died later in hospital. He had started in Nippers when he was 8 years old. It has been 14 years since the last Lifesaver died at the Championships - he was only 15, and there is a park on the boardwalk at Broadbeach named after this young man.

The Championships were cancelled yesterday, and again today, these pre Cyclone seas have taken a terrible toll already.

St Patricks Day

St Patricks Day was certainly celebrated in Australia this year - it has now been 200 years since the day was originally toasted in Sydney - March 17, 1810, when the then New South Wales Governor, Lachlan Macquarie provided entertainment for Irish convict workers. EVEN THE OPERA HOUSE TURNED GREEN FOR THE OCCASION. But of course, in Queensland there are more of the population who can trace their lineage to Ireland (including yours truly) than any other state in OZ. That's what they say in the press!!!

And of course a petite kiwi with loads of irish in her, celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Auckland. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Queensland floods create an outback wonderland.

The Simpson Desert ( spans 100,000 square kilometres) - borders on south west Queensland, Northern Territory and northern South Australia - has transformed into a wonderland of flooded creeks and waterfilled claypans and waterholes teeming with plants and wildlife.

In 2004 Frank and I spent some time - a couple of weeks in the area, basing ourselves around Alice Springs, I have some photos from then - no rain at that time.

Wildflowers were everywhere - I cannot imagine what these floral wonders will do after so much moisture.

And these little guys will delight in the wildlife which will appear - well that is their prey, not their predators though.

We found the Simpson's sunsets exquisite! AND LOOK AT HER TODAY

It's red sand has been turned into inland oceans and brings glorious life to the barren landscape. Fish will make their way into the rivers, and waterbirds are flocking there in their thousands and of course many other mammals. This desert will be an absolute picture in the next few months, and again the wildflowers will be something to behold- certainly worth a trip out there.