Toi's Pa and Whale Island, February 2013

My friend Roy and I walked up to Toi's Pa (above Whakatane), from where we could see Whale Island. We subsequently visited the island. 

March / April 2013 - Australian trip

I visited South Australia for the first time, basing myself in Adelaide.  During my stay I spent 2 nights on Kangaroo Island. I also went on day trips to see some vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and I spent a day on the Murray River. After that I went to Canberra to stay with some long-suffering friends, and to attend the National Folk Festival.

Adelaide

Kangaroo Island

Barossa valley - vineyard territory

Murray River at Mannum

Canberra

Other jaunts

As well as the trips above my other trips away in 2013 were to:

- Rotorua in April for the annual Bay of Plenty Music School

- Warkworth in April to participate in a performance of Haydn's Creation. I also visited Hobbiton!

- Hobart, Tasmania in July (where I participated in a musical festival, the Festival of Voices) 

- Wellington in July (when I was en route to Christchurch, to start work in my current job)

- Wanaka in August (weekend trip to participate in the Merino Muster - XC ski marathon)

- Rotorua in October (to participate in the Sing Aotearoa choral weekend

- Erewhon Station in mid Canterbury - day trip in November

- Pounawea in December for the annual "Keswick" camp

I did take photos on these occasions, but somehow never got round to loading any onto my website, which is a time-consuming process!