Well they don’t call Wellington windy for nuthin. Looking back at our photos it seems that every time I make an in shot appearance, the dress I happen to be wearing seems to be up around my face. I suppose my penchant for oversize dresses doesn’t help, but I found out the hard way why Wellington tops the list of windiest cities in the world.
However, windy welly jokes aside, our holiday to this part of New Zealand was pretty much magical.
Equal parts lush green and pale blue, the landscape is what really stands out.After arriving on new years eve and spending our first night in the city, we then spent the next three nights of our trip in Tatahi Bay which is about 40 minutes out of Wellington. A tiny coastal town with not much to do, seemed to give Andy and I the permission we needed to really wind down. We read, slept, walked, took a day trip or two and basically just enjoyed each others company.
Andy organised everything. From the hire car and driving of all the winding hilly roads, to the super cute bach (beach shack) that we stayed in.I swanned around in my oversized dresses enjoying every darn second. I was extremely grateful though and loved each minute and took every opportunity to tell Andy so. It was a real treat and our special trip away will give me something to think back fondly on when he heads off to Houston, Texas in less than a months time and I’m knee deep in work and school kids.
We’ll always have Tatahi Bay babe. After our blissed out three nights, we headed back to Wellington for another few nights. We had a wedding to go to and some sightseeing and shopping to do. (NZ is the home of Karen Walker afterall)
The wedding we went to was a special one for friends, who after twenty years together and two children, decided to put a ring on it. Andy did a most beautiful rose design for them that was carried through from invites, to order of service, to the menu and then printed onto a sweet linen bag filled with goodies for each guest. I made them a gift of wedding bunting out of vintage fabrics all neutrals, black and sepia coloured which adorned the bridal table. We didn’t take a camera to the wedding so I don’t have any snaps (except a few that I posted on instagram) but trust me when I say it was the most beautiful wedding. Incredibly fancy with details on paper that sound over the top (the groom arrived in a helicopter forgoodnesssake) but small and intimate and somehow down to earth. I figure it was the loveliness of our dear friends that turned it from spectacle to sincere. I cried and laughed and cried again and then after all the speeches, food, wine and love, Andy and I hit the dance floor (with a dj rockin excellent old skool soul jams it couldn’t be helped) and didn’t leave till the last song was played.
The next day we slept in until…drumroll….two o’clock! Outrageous.
Other things we enjoyed and that I highly recommend doing in the capital; The City Gallery down by the wharf and then smaller galleries that pop up around the place displaying the most beautiful indigenous art and craft, wander down Cuba Street for great eating and shopping, visit The Matterhorn (where we rung in the new year with incredible cocktails and were privy to an unexpected dj set by a mate of Andy’s who is one of the amazing dudes in this group. Starstruck!) and definitely a visit to the Botanic Gardens. The best thing to do is travel up the hill via cable car and follow the walking path back down through the gardens. The gardens are beautiful. Some of the best I’ve been to. Abundant in colour and vibrancy, lush and sweet smelling, it was a wonderful stroll. But the hothouse was something else altogether. I’ve always been fascinated by hothouses. Equal parts creepy and stunning. Despite the cloying sticky heat that envelopes you the minute you walk in, the fan that swishes lethargically above your head doing nothing but adding to the drama, the flowers and plants that all look like they could strangle you the minute you turn your back (Day of the Triffids anyone?!), I will never ever miss an opportunity to take a peek. This one was full of the most spectacular, other-worldy looking plant life it almost became too much. I took a seat to regroup. Too bad I chose the bench that was right next to the PLANT THAT JUST GROWS OUT OF THIN AIR AFTER ATTACHING TO A HOST IT DEEMS SUITABLE! (Host…ewwww)

Jokes aside, we had a wonderful time but of course the best part about going away without the kids, is coming home to them again! I missed the monkeys a lot, but with my Mum and sister in charge whilst we were away, I know they were in the best possible hands. Win win!