marahauwatertaxis.co.nz, which allowed us to do a four-hour walk and see the rest of the coastal park – penguins and all – on a boat, which was perfect.After a few days down south, we headed to Picton where we boarded a conventional ferry that would take us to the North Island (www.bluebridge.co.nz) in only three hours. Multiple ferries leave at all hours during the day, there are comfy sofas, a cinema and no delays, despite the minor storm we hit. It powered through and we even arrived a tad early. No fiddle faddle, no fuss. Just good, old-fashioned efficiency.

Wellington saw us drinking richly-brewed coffee and making a quick pit-stop at

the Te Papa Museum which, if you’re going to do one museum in NZ, is the one to go for. It’s the national museum and is highly interactive and engaging. We stayed just off buzzy Cuba Street in a quaint weatherboard cottage. Wellington is famous for its coffee, so caffeine enthusiasts get some serious satisfaction here. We drank heady cocktails at The Library (thelibrary.co.nz) where old books lined the walls and velvet booths made for an intimate evening of family natter. Sea salt and caramel fudge

Martini, anyone?We spent a night among the art deco streets of Napier, where we visited the oldest winery in NZ – the Mission Estate. At only $7 for seven tastings (about £3.20) – we certainly weren’t complaining. Next stop was Lake Taupo, where we completed the mammoth 22km Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Excruciating and beautiful, it’s an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. At one point it felt like you could be walking through the deep, red craters of Mars. The air is thin and the scenes go on for miles and miles. It was totally epic. We soaked in natural hot springs, cycled the lake shores, gazed at towering waterfalls and spent our evenings gazing out at the blue waters from another beautiful Airbnb property.The next day we mastered the art of caving in the infamous Waitomo Caves. Luckily, we didn’t encounter the giant eel that resides under the waterways. Eddie can get a little inquisitive at times, I hear… Thankfully he was feeling shy that day.

We wanted to show my parents Hamilton, which has been our home for

the past six months. It was great to be able to take them out in our temporary home-town and dine in our favourite Mexican restaurant, aptly named ‘Mexico’.

Margaritas to die for and hot sauces galore. My vibe. The Coromandel Peninsula was up next, where we walked to the beautiful Cathedral Cove and watched surfers on Hahei beach. This place, although remote, is something special. Our last stop was the Bay of Islands. We stayed in Paihia, which is the perfect launch pad for island trips, helicopter rides, paddle boarding – whatever floats your boat, or, in our case, your stomachs. Three weeks in, we were sporting considerable wine and steak babies.We visited Urupukapuka Island a few times, where you can explore to your heart’s content and lounge in one of several sandy bays. Very similar to Herm, in fact. Less-chilly swims involved, however.

It was almost time for my parents to leave. We had an hour left in Auckland and in the indulgent spirit of the holiday, we treated ourselves to an ice cream (giapo.com) and reminisced on all the good times had by all. End as you have been doing all along, I say.

Love, the kiwi bird.

‘I believe when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...then try to find someone whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.’ Ron White

GUERNSEY PRESS THE WEEK 3GUERNSEY PRESS2 THE WEEKkiwi bird

We walked the deep red craters of ‘Mars’... but missed giant eel EddieSix months in New Zealand and our Kiwi Bird is well and truly settled into life in the Land of the Long White Cloud. And when her parents drop over from Guernsey, Jessamy Baudains has a three-week tour lined up. On the agenda: deep emerald lagoons, long sandy beaches, mussel-picking, a ‘Mars’ trek, cocktails... and the occasional penguin

SOMEONE told me the other day that I ‘have a real zest for life’.Zest? All that immediately sprang to mind was oranges and

lemons, but in all seriousness and upon a tad more deliberation, this really touched me. Because shouldn’t an appreciation of life – and all that goes with it – be the ultimate goal for us all? ‘Yeah, yeah. Easier said than done.’ I hear you. But bear with me.The way of life in New Zealand has truly got under my skin. I’ve slowed down. I now take the time to scrunch my toes into the sand and gaze up at the stars with a glass of wine, without constantly checking an electronic device or watching the clock. I love the culture and scenery out here,

from the vast green landscapes and the overzealous crickets to the uncensored morning radio and cheery Kiwi accent. I think over the last few years so many of us have stopped properly processing the world around us because we are often experiencing it through a lens of sorts – be that a smartphone, television or computer screen. I was on a dolphin watching tour recently up in the Bay of Islands, and while I took a few photos at the beginning, for the remaining half-hour I simply observed the beautiful creatures in their natural habitat through my own eyes, rather than through that of a camera.This is incredibly important. I’m a keen photographer, but what I can’t

stand is seeing people stuck behind a device – never genuinely experiencing the moment. Do you really need to video that firework display? No, my friend, you do not. It will look 10 times better in the sky than on your screen a few days later.Stop and look at the beauty around you. After reading this, go outside and just walk or sit for 10 minutes without looking at any technology. Soak up the now. If we all had a zest for life, the world could be a much better place I believe. Too much downward gazing leads to ignorance (and a hunched back, for that matter). Not ideal.

I think it was my parents who instilled this ethos into me. Min and DD, as they have come to

be known over the years by family and friends, are perfect examples of this attitude. Like anyone, they’ll be the first to admit that they have their foibles, but it’s their positivity that has made them such good role models.They love to travel and always go the extra mile to make people feel special. They are 99% of the time the last ones up at a party, dancing the night away and drinking raspberry cosmopolitans into the night. They support and encourage, whether that’s in pursuing our careers or helping

anyone who’s had a rough day.My dad is still running half marathons and my mum can still do a headstand. Now that’s mettle for you.They recently came to visit Dave and me and boy did we make some memories along the way. For three weeks we explored the beaches, vineyards, cities and lakes of New Zealand.Our first stop was Nelson in South Island. I flew down a few hours before and waited outside on the high viewing gallery to see their plane whiz by on the runway. It was identical to the old Guernsey airport arrivals lookout on a

summer’s day – blustery and hot, with a perfect view. After long hugs, we piled our bags into a tiny rental car and set off to our first Airbnb house (we used Airbnb most of the way). With a private pool and a stunning view out to the nearby bay, we thought we had died and gone to holiday-home heaven.We picked our own mussels along the shorelines of Stephen’s Bay and gathered pears from our garden for an early evening feast. The next day saw us hiking part of the Abel Tasman National Park coastal track, where we passed over swing bridges, paddled in deep emerald lagoons and ambled along vast, white sandy beaches. For anyone visiting South Island, this is a must.We did the ‘Ultimate Abel Tasman Experience’ through

The Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro crossing.

Caramel, tarte tatin and peanut butter-flavour ice creams from ‘Giapo’ in Auckland.

Jessamy as she begins the seven-hour Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Shells collected from Stephen’s Bay in South Island, near Abel Tasman National Park.Idyllic Urupukapuka Bay.

Dolphins in the Bay of Islands.

Jessamy with her parents, Min and DD, and fiance Dave.

Dave and Jessamy in the central crater of Tongariro crossing.

Urupukapuka Bay.

Near Paihia, in the Bay of Islands.

Saturday 5 March 2016 Saturday 5 March 2016