My husband was born in Motueka, but spent his childhood on Rotoroa Island.
He had been wanting to visit his "spiritual land" for a long time. When he planned a trip last time, the ferry was cancelled due to a bad weather.
We left home at 6 o'clock in the morning to catch a ferry at 8:45 am from the ferry terminal in downtown Auckland.
When we arrived on the island, our friends Philip & Ginnene and their twin sons were there to welcome all the passengers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/10038388/Long-trip-for-Rotoroa-Island-twins
In the barn, Ginnene explained about the island, then she checked everyone's bags with Philip for bio-security.
One of the purposes of our trip is to bury the ash of Beth, old friend of my parents-in-law. So, we did that first.
On the way to the cemetery, we walked passed Ladies' Bay. My husband told me that he had spent a lot of time there.
Then, we stopped at his parents' old house.
One of these rooms used to be his room.
We decided to walk to the Ruthe Point. Those fantails were very friendly. Philip said if you stand still they would land on you.
The view from the pint was spectacular.
The island on the other side is Waiheke Island, where Philip & Ginnene's sons Aron & Cody are now schooling.
When my husband was a child, there were a few children including Philip, and they were all home-schooled.
(My husband then went to Auckland Grammar School as a boarder, and his parents moved to Waiheke Island.)
My husband showed where he wants our girls to scatter his ash.
We decided to walk around the rock to go back to Philip's house. It will be exciting to see them again.
We caught the 5 o'clock ferry back to Auckland. It was a great trip, but I was exhausted and was struggling to keep my eyes open on the way home!
Philp & Ginnene are coming to see us next month.