"Good water, good life; poor water, poor life; no water, no life" Sir Peter Blake


Thursday, October 01, 2015

it's all in a name

When we bought Mazuran we fell in love with her.  

When she was built in South Africa, her launching name was Jingle Bells. (She has a sister-ship - being built and launched in 1992, and rightly named Jingle Bells II - now named Planet Surf that is a 53"version).

Although many remember the catamaran more so from the name Jingle Bells as she was quite a boat for her time, travelling from South Africa to New Zealand and making it into a couple of magazines - the previous owners to us changed her name to Mazuran.   As we had never heard of the name Mazuran they told us that they had renamed their boat after the surname of wine makers that made matured wines in Henderson. (they loved the port, and even gave us a bottle to enjoy!)

So we ventured on a visit of our own - meet Rado Hladilo, from Mazuran's Vinyard Ltd.

Rado Hladilo, very proud owner of Mazuran's Vineyard,
Henderson, Auckland

History of Mazuran's Vineyard 
-(exert taken from Mazuran's website www.mazurans.co.nz)

George Mazuran arrived in New Zealand in 1926, from Croatia, and bought a large area of land behind Lincoln Road, Henderson in 1938 where the first vintage was harvested 4 years later. The difficulties encountered selling his wine post World War II, inspired Mazuran to become an advocate for the sale of wine and initiated his long career as a political lobbyist. His strong conviction for justice saw Mazuran become one of the most successful lobbyists in New Zealand politics and in 1971 he was awarded the OBE for his services to the wine industry. In 2005, Mazuran's contribution to the New Zealand wine industry was further acknowledged with a place amongst the inaugural inductees into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame.
Photo of a photo: George Mazuran, after receiving the O.B.E from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace, 2nd November 1972
The moment you arrive at Mazuran's you realise you have come to a very special place. On one side of the intimate cellar door there are well-ordered shelves of sherry and port, while the other is filled with pictures and memorabilia sharing the lives of the Mazuran family, which has been making fortified wines in this place for generations. The sweet smell of port lingers in the air and you know you will not leave without tasting the fruits of their labours. 
Now run by Rado Hladilo (who was voted Winemaker of the Year at the 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition) and his sons Rado and Antony, it remains the only New Zealand winery to distill its own grape brandy for fortifying its wines, many of which are made using the juice from grapes planted in 1938.
The Mazuran sherries are made in the off-dry Amontillado style, while there is a full range of Tawny, Ruby and Vintage ports from which to make your selection. If seeking a real treat, you may consider a bottle or two of vintage port from stocks that go back as far as 1942. If the price of these rare wines has you looking for something more recent, you will not be disappointed because all are made to a very high standard.
The family is very proud of its success at competitions and will happily explain the origins of the medals and trophies, some of which date back to the mid-1950s. Antony has described Mazuran's four double-golds at the 2008 San Fransisco International Wine Competition as their own 'Olympic medals'.
There is pride aplenty at Mazuran's, but sharing that with visitors and taking them through the fascinating world of fortified wines clearly still brings them great satisfaction".





Some of the ' Rare Old Wines' with a sale price that averages around $900 per bottle
Mazuran's Vineyards Ltd, Henderson, Auckland 



We thoroughly enjoyed talking to Rado about the wine, his 26 footer he once owned  his memories of the cypress and pine trees as a kid (the cypress now border the driveway), and some of the history of the building site and it's uniqueness amongst the industrial and busy Lincoln Road in Henderson.  It is very much worth a look, just to see this special place, it's small, cosy and has a lovely feeling of warmth...and history.

So when people ask where did the name Mazuran come from.... well now you have some insight of that it has a history of wine in NZ and happy memories attached to it!

iron sand and ocean wind


Karekare Beach, West Coast

Karekare Beach, West Coast
Washing our feet
Karekare Beach, West Coast

chasing aeroplanes

Chasing aeroplanes
Karekare Beach, West Coast

sand dune jumping

Freya getting some air
Karekare Beach, West Coast

Blake at the top of his "dune"...
Karekare Beach, West Coast

Finally reached the feather!
Karekare Beach, West Coast

Race for the feather.... surf life saving on sand dunes!
Karekare Beach, West Coast

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

extreme edge rock climbers

Our kids love climbing- whether it be at the beach in trees or up the rig, they'll want to climb.  So we decided to take to them to Extreme Edge for the afternoon.  It was such an enjoyable time and thoroughly recommend it!! 

Blake climbing the 'kiwi' wall
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Freya climbing the tallest building - Spiderwoman!
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Freya and the beanstalk!
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Extreme Rock Climbers
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Monkey man
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Blake grooving up the skatewall
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Rock climbing and surfing combined
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Freya ready to be hooked up for another climb
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Monkey man Blake
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
The library of knowledge
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Thumbs up!
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City
Freya up the Indiana Jones wall - and loving it!
Extreme Edge Indoor Rock Climbing, Panmure, Auckland City

fluffy time

Home made 'fluffy' with chocolate flakes and fancy dishes
Herne Bay, Auckland City

Sunday, September 20, 2015

spring monarch


skype calling device



dragon tree riding

Finding a suitable 'dragon seat' - Pohutukawa tree
Herne Bay, Auckland City


Collecting essential dragon hair
Herne Bay, Auckland City
Constructing a dragon
Herne Bay, Auckland City
The final dragon, trained and ready to ride!
Herne Bay, Auckland City
Dragon riding - Kiwi style!
Herne Bay, Auckland City

Friday, August 28, 2015

kite surfing hot spot

Recently we saw an 8m humpback whale being rescued in Auckland Harbour, and as the tide was coming in fast it was too deep for us to get out to help it. Instead we watched the kite surfers at their favourite local spot. We heard later in the day that the whale was heading safely out to see thanks to the help of Project Jonah and DOC who were there with their inflatable and divers to help turn the whale around and head back out to sea.



Saturday, August 15, 2015

hand fed pets

Most people have goldfish, cats and often a dog.  We have snapper! Although we don't get to cuddle them, they keep us company, and often finish off the left over chicken casserole (their favourite)....

Our loyal pets...
Gulf Harbour Marina, Hauraki Gulf

Monday, July 27, 2015

kart wheeling fun

Blake taking charge of the chain wheel....
NZ Stainless, Opua Marina, Bay of Islands

Such an evil looking front
NZ Stainless, Opua Marina, Bay of Islands


Freya now in control ... a meerkat view
NZ Stainless, Opua Marina, Bay of Islands

Freya's turn at helming the "beast"....
NZ Stainless, Opua Marina, Bay of Islands

Friday, July 24, 2015

flying kiwis!


The kids had no idea that going for a walk along Paihia Beach would end up in a trip in the sky! What a great surprise for them...
 
Blake kept asking ..."are we going up with that small spinnaker Mum?"
 
Thanks so much to Rick and the team at Paihia Flying Kiwi Parasail for our own expedition above water! (and for skillfully getting our toes wet)...
 
Freya & Blake getting ready for their sky high adventure.
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands

 
Getting ready for take-off...
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands
Flying Kiwis!
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands



Enjoying the view from seagull height
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands

Enjoying the view from seagull height
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands
 
The 50ft ferry below us and the 350m tether that is holding us in the sky
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands
One happy Freya!
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands
 
Enjoying the view looking north
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands
Toe Dipping...
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands


The Friday team at Flying Kiwi Parasailing
Flying Kiwi Parasailing, Paihia, Bay of Islands