We set off this weekend for a place known as Honeymoon Pool for a little R&R with the family. With two other families we had been planning this little expedition for some time and the kids thought it couldn't come soon enough.

We camped less than 100m from this pool under the shade of some towering peppermint trees (agonis flexuosa). The area was so shaded that it was until 10am that we eventually saw the sun and would begin to defrost from the previous cold night - which would have been a great excuse to stay in bed if the 10 children that were with us had the same idea!

Most of the two days were spent canoeing up and down the river traversing some low level rapids and ascending them again when we overshot our destinations. The kids really enjoyed themselves and the parents are now just glad to be back in the world that has showers and soft, comfortable beds.