The Ostrom Family Adventures

Last week was an epic one! Long post with lots of photos here so I will split it into 2! 🙂 Mason’s mum, sister and nephews came to visit last week and we did so many new things in NZ with them!

They arrived Monday morning so we kept it pretty light on activities and went to check out the Hamilton Zoo. The cousins are old enough now that they went off on their own and had a great time exploring and chatting and playing.

We went to bed pretty early (though I went to work from 10pm-7am that night).

Tuesday, We did take them to Hobbiton again and stayed for the hobbits lunch buffet this time and it was incredible! So much delicious food!

They were working on the party field so the mechanical Balrog’s were seen and heard during our tour and even with this, it was magical and so much fun.

Then we went to Tauranga and some climbed Mt. Maunganui at sunset and some treasure hunted on the beach.

The sunset was gorgeous!

From there we went to Rotorua and stayed in a beautiful Airbnb house near the redwoods and the next morning, the ladies went to Wai Ariki spa and Mason took the boys mountain biking.

The Spa was a 2.5 hour water experience focused on traditional Māori healing practices. I love how they start everything from meals, spa experiences to huge festivals with a Karakia (prayer or blessing). We started in a Fire and Ice portion with a steam sauna, salt sauna and a hay sauna with ice bucket rinses or ice pool walks between.

Then the mineral pools, ice and hot pools and water massage pools as well as an herbal pool followed by a mud bath and drying on warmed beds. Then the steamiest room for hot water showers to wash off the soft mud.

We met up for an italian lunch and then went to Sunrise park and we all did the Luge rides 3 times! It was a blast!

We really packed it in on this day as well and after all of this, went to do the nightlights redwood treewalk.

The redwoods here are centuries younger than their ancestors in Cali and Oregon and probably Washington too. The swinging bridges and lights were unbelievable!

This too, was magical and we felt like Ewoks and the Elves of Lothlorian!! Some of our group just felt a little vertigo from the height also 😉

The weather this winter-week has been amazing! We had only 12ish hours of rain on Thursday evening and one of the best things to do on a rainy winter day? Go explore some caves! 🙂

It’s nearly impossible to get a good photo of the glowworms themselves. But they are magical to see.

Next, we did a little view hike and again, Mason and I were thinking we could enjoy having a property here in NZ. 😉

We kept driving in Waitomo and went to see the Natural Bridge and Piripiri cave as well.

We drove back home another 1.5 hours and rested that rainy night.

We did give everyone a day to not be in a car with the 7 of us on Friday. :).

Stand-by for Part 2 with a more chill day in Hamilton and the Matariki festival at our own Innes Common park, Karangahake Windows walk, Hot water beach and Cathedral Cove!!