wow. What month. I’ve been traveling pretty much non-stop since late august and have seen the majority of New Zealand’s North Island. Most recently, I joined some friends on a last minute romp back up to Northland (the peninsula that sticks way out up top). I had already been up there but it was just so slap-me-in-the-face beautiful the first time I was compelled to jump on the bandwagaon when I heard there was a group going that way (even though it was ridiculously out of my way). The Northland is comprised of gorgeous beaches lining the bays that spot each coast and luscious, rolling farmland, sandwiched in between. We did a bit of surfing at ‘Shipwreck Bay’ on the west coast and nearly got destroyed by a tsunami. Then we did a bit of fishing on the east coast and caught a delicious Hoki but threw it back because we thought it looked poisonous. Here’s a photo re-cap.

Would you eat that?

The campsite next to our fishing jetty.

Some happy campers using Gerty to her fullest on the shores of Maitai Bay, way up north.

On the way back up north we made a pit stop to visit our old friend Tane Mahuta. I was driving with some new travelers that hadn’t seen the giant Kaori trees yet so it was nice to be wowed with them. This fella is the actual Tane Mahuta himself, posted by request.

This is another shot of the massive Mt. Taranaki. I spent sometime in New Plymouth, a surf town at the foot of this monster, before heading way back up north.

Psychedelic dead cow-pig.

So the plan is to hang out in Wellington for a few months and get my wallet poppin’ again. I’m house-sitting for a co-worker of my father’s whilst they’re out on business. It’s indescribably nice having a hot shower at my disposal among other household luxuries. Wellington is a rad city and I’m really looking forward to settling in a bit and seeing what it’s all about. I’ll also be polishing up some songs I’ve been working on and doing a bit of album art for the new Chairy Arms EP. Expect heaps more posts about tunes and art and other goodness.

My travels will begin again in December when my super awesome friends, Liz and Patrick come to get mind-fucked with me on the South Island. Following their visit, the rocket-ship babe from outer space, Christina “yer dad” Shapalis will be hoofing it wit me for a good 2 months. Yessss. Then, my Ma will be making the trek out here as well for her own mom-style NZ adventure.

And here’s what I’ve been listening to:

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Hot Boyz ft. Dear Nora

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of Montreal – Kissing in the Grass
listen to that bass line. and, um oboe intro? clarinet maybe? brilliant.

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