G'day from across the way all,
We made it to Waihi yesterday morning after a very busy week. So lets go back to the beginning of this story.
Last Wednesday night we had one last drink with some of our mates at the Belgian Beer Cafe in Brisbane. Those who made it out enjoyed a good catch up session a few drops of belgian trappiste beer. Something different to aussie beers, as most were quite fruity and tasted like wine, also packed a punch. After beer time, we made it out for one last kebab and slice of newyork... slice. At about midnight, and seeing everyone off for the last time we went home.
Thursday was spent packing...
Friday, we were finally off. Ryan and Emma dropped me off at the airport and Tara was brought out by her mum Jill and sister Court who came in to see us off at the gate. Nunga was good enough to walk over from work and also see us off at the gate. Then we were off and on our way to... Perth. But New Zealand is THAT-A-WAY MAN!!!!
We got to Perth, where my folks picked us up from the airport. See Tara flew away from her family, and I flew right toward mine. We went straight from the airport to Sorrento Bay resort, where we were to stay for my cousin's wedding. Here at the hotel was much of the family, there being auties, uncles and cousins all running around, which gave Tara another opportunity to mix with my family. While she was kept busy, I ducked down to the pub with the uncles.
Saturday was the wedding. My cousin Justin married his long time girlfriend Nicole. The ceremony was held at Cottesloe Gardens, on a lovely Perth summer day, at 37 degrees C. While the guests sat in the sun, the wedding party had to stand, and all the grooms men had wool suits, pants, vest and jacket, and they were sweating. In fact the whole wedding party were just swaying in the heat, especially Nicole in gorgeous but very tight fitting wedding dress. After the ceremony, everyone ran for the shade and for the esky of ice water. Mum, Donny and I had the task of taking all the wedding photos, with Tara helping to arrange all the subjects of the photos.
The reception was great fun! Funnily the first person I met who wasn't a family member was a mining engineer. Its a small world. The night started off with drinks with the fishes at the Aquarium before heading upstairs to the function area. We were seated at the cousin's table with Nicole and Justin's other cousins. We all drank Stella's, had a dance and Tara thankfully didn't catch the bouquet.
On Sunday we checked out of the hotel and had a bit of a look around Perth with Ma and Pa. First stop was King's Park which afforded a fantastic view of Perth and the Swan River. Next up we went on a misguided tour of the Swan Valley to a few breweries and a nougat factory. Some of the grape vines still had fruit on them so Tara jumped out of the car and pinched a bunch to try. They were quite sweet for wine grapes. We eventually went back to my Aunty Allyson's house at Bullsbrook to enjoy a few cold beers to try and cool down in the stifling heat that doesn't abate until 9 o'clock at night!
Monday dawned and Mum and Donny left for Brisbane. Poor mum had a cry because it was the last time she would see me for a few months but we're only across the ditch so they can come and visit at any time. The previous night, Tara and I had decided to stay in Fremantle for a few nights in an Irish Pub before going to the collegiate. Originally Aunty Ally had offered to drive us down but when Justin and Nicole came around, they said they'd take us instead in their hired wedding car, a massive Chrysler 300 Yank tank. Once again, we played luggage tetris and managed to fit most of our stuff in the boot, the rest between us on the back seat then we were off to Freo.
We dumped our luggage at Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub and went out for lunch with the Cousins at the Oyster Bar. A dozen oysters for a dozen dollars! 2 hours, a bottle of wine and a few beers later our appetites were satisfied! After saying goodbye, we went back to the pub and had a bit of a siesta before watching the sun set over the water at 8:30.
Tuesday we took advantage of what fremantle had to offer and spent the day ripping out to Rottnest Island on the ferry. There we hired ourselves a dodgy tandem bike and snorkels for riding and swimming in the sun. I think we covered about 21kms in all, up and down hills. We even took a tour of the Oliver Hill gun battery (getting lost on the way and having to backtrack). It was pretty interesting checking out the massive 9.2 inch shell cannon. After that we headed out to Parker point to try our hand at snorkeling. Tara had to brave the seaweed, but we enjoyed the time checking out the fish and reefs, taking dodgy photos with a disposable camera. After a big day out, we returned to the mainland, where we had dinner and a chop at the pub's trivia night.
Wednesday, we hit up the historic Fremantle Prison, where we toured one of the world's largest cell block, isolation cells, prison chapel and the gallows. An interesting tour, though, if we hadn't burned so much money on Rottnest, we would have had a go at the prison tunnels tour... maybe next time. After that, we ran around Fremantle getting some last minute errands. That afternoon we moved from the Irish pub around the corner to the Esplanade Hotel, where the Newmont Collegiate was to take place.
That night we caught up with all the head honchos working with Newmont other grads working , including those heading over to Waihi with us, and some who've just come back, letting us know the pros and cons of what we were to get out of New Zealand. After dinner, most of us grads decided to kick on a the Little Creatures brewery where a few more pints were had.
Thursday had us sitting through a company workshop, welcoming us to the company and giving us the run down on each of the operations. After a full day, we were to head down to the hotel restaurant, which turned out to be double booked. So we ended up convincing our HR leader to take us out to the Little Creatures Brewery. It was an interesting dinner, everyone ordering everything, and hands were flying across the table trying things from each plate, and of course there were more pints to be had. Not quite satisfied with how much we'd drank, we decided to stay out after dinner, so we ended up back at Rosie's Irish Pub. Telling you now, Guiness doesn't wash down Chilli muscles very well... but after three 'last' pints, and a request of Holy Grail, I was beer'd enough and Tara was tired so we retired, whilst some of the other grads found themselves to another place where shots were had.
Friday morning saw a few seedy people at breakfast. After a pile of potato gems from the buffet, we went back in for another day of workshops. Then in the arvo, when we finally wrapped things up, said goodbye to all the grads we'd met, then jumped in a cab for the international airport. $800 in excess baggage later, we boarded our flight and finally left Aussie shores. A qucik meal and four rums later, I managed to get some sleep.
Saturday, 5.15 am we landed in Auckland. We actually flew through customs then had to wait an hour for our hire cars. By 7, the five of us grads and two cars were on our way to Waihi. 2ish hours later, with a stop for some breakfast pies from a servo, we made it to Waihi. The local HR rep brought out our keys to our temporary houses, we had a quick shower then set we set off to explore. The Waihi Pit is literally a 60 second walk away from our front door, and the admin office is practically next door. The beach is 10 minutes down the road, and we've been talking to the local real estates looking for rentals.
Since then, we've been chilling out, settling down and getting ready for work tomorra. Sorry everyone for such a lengthly post, but we'll be updating a little more often now... hopefully. Photos to come....
Aaron and Tara
We made it to Waihi yesterday morning after a very busy week. So lets go back to the beginning of this story.
Last Wednesday night we had one last drink with some of our mates at the Belgian Beer Cafe in Brisbane. Those who made it out enjoyed a good catch up session a few drops of belgian trappiste beer. Something different to aussie beers, as most were quite fruity and tasted like wine, also packed a punch. After beer time, we made it out for one last kebab and slice of newyork... slice. At about midnight, and seeing everyone off for the last time we went home.
Thursday was spent packing...
Friday, we were finally off. Ryan and Emma dropped me off at the airport and Tara was brought out by her mum Jill and sister Court who came in to see us off at the gate. Nunga was good enough to walk over from work and also see us off at the gate. Then we were off and on our way to... Perth. But New Zealand is THAT-A-WAY MAN!!!!
We got to Perth, where my folks picked us up from the airport. See Tara flew away from her family, and I flew right toward mine. We went straight from the airport to Sorrento Bay resort, where we were to stay for my cousin's wedding. Here at the hotel was much of the family, there being auties, uncles and cousins all running around, which gave Tara another opportunity to mix with my family. While she was kept busy, I ducked down to the pub with the uncles.
Saturday was the wedding. My cousin Justin married his long time girlfriend Nicole. The ceremony was held at Cottesloe Gardens, on a lovely Perth summer day, at 37 degrees C. While the guests sat in the sun, the wedding party had to stand, and all the grooms men had wool suits, pants, vest and jacket, and they were sweating. In fact the whole wedding party were just swaying in the heat, especially Nicole in gorgeous but very tight fitting wedding dress. After the ceremony, everyone ran for the shade and for the esky of ice water. Mum, Donny and I had the task of taking all the wedding photos, with Tara helping to arrange all the subjects of the photos.
The reception was great fun! Funnily the first person I met who wasn't a family member was a mining engineer. Its a small world. The night started off with drinks with the fishes at the Aquarium before heading upstairs to the function area. We were seated at the cousin's table with Nicole and Justin's other cousins. We all drank Stella's, had a dance and Tara thankfully didn't catch the bouquet.
On Sunday we checked out of the hotel and had a bit of a look around Perth with Ma and Pa. First stop was King's Park which afforded a fantastic view of Perth and the Swan River. Next up we went on a misguided tour of the Swan Valley to a few breweries and a nougat factory. Some of the grape vines still had fruit on them so Tara jumped out of the car and pinched a bunch to try. They were quite sweet for wine grapes. We eventually went back to my Aunty Allyson's house at Bullsbrook to enjoy a few cold beers to try and cool down in the stifling heat that doesn't abate until 9 o'clock at night!
Monday dawned and Mum and Donny left for Brisbane. Poor mum had a cry because it was the last time she would see me for a few months but we're only across the ditch so they can come and visit at any time. The previous night, Tara and I had decided to stay in Fremantle for a few nights in an Irish Pub before going to the collegiate. Originally Aunty Ally had offered to drive us down but when Justin and Nicole came around, they said they'd take us instead in their hired wedding car, a massive Chrysler 300 Yank tank. Once again, we played luggage tetris and managed to fit most of our stuff in the boot, the rest between us on the back seat then we were off to Freo.
We dumped our luggage at Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub and went out for lunch with the Cousins at the Oyster Bar. A dozen oysters for a dozen dollars! 2 hours, a bottle of wine and a few beers later our appetites were satisfied! After saying goodbye, we went back to the pub and had a bit of a siesta before watching the sun set over the water at 8:30.
Tuesday we took advantage of what fremantle had to offer and spent the day ripping out to Rottnest Island on the ferry. There we hired ourselves a dodgy tandem bike and snorkels for riding and swimming in the sun. I think we covered about 21kms in all, up and down hills. We even took a tour of the Oliver Hill gun battery (getting lost on the way and having to backtrack). It was pretty interesting checking out the massive 9.2 inch shell cannon. After that we headed out to Parker point to try our hand at snorkeling. Tara had to brave the seaweed, but we enjoyed the time checking out the fish and reefs, taking dodgy photos with a disposable camera. After a big day out, we returned to the mainland, where we had dinner and a chop at the pub's trivia night.
Wednesday, we hit up the historic Fremantle Prison, where we toured one of the world's largest cell block, isolation cells, prison chapel and the gallows. An interesting tour, though, if we hadn't burned so much money on Rottnest, we would have had a go at the prison tunnels tour... maybe next time. After that, we ran around Fremantle getting some last minute errands. That afternoon we moved from the Irish pub around the corner to the Esplanade Hotel, where the Newmont Collegiate was to take place.
That night we caught up with all the head honchos working with Newmont other grads working , including those heading over to Waihi with us, and some who've just come back, letting us know the pros and cons of what we were to get out of New Zealand. After dinner, most of us grads decided to kick on a the Little Creatures brewery where a few more pints were had.
Thursday had us sitting through a company workshop, welcoming us to the company and giving us the run down on each of the operations. After a full day, we were to head down to the hotel restaurant, which turned out to be double booked. So we ended up convincing our HR leader to take us out to the Little Creatures Brewery. It was an interesting dinner, everyone ordering everything, and hands were flying across the table trying things from each plate, and of course there were more pints to be had. Not quite satisfied with how much we'd drank, we decided to stay out after dinner, so we ended up back at Rosie's Irish Pub. Telling you now, Guiness doesn't wash down Chilli muscles very well... but after three 'last' pints, and a request of Holy Grail, I was beer'd enough and Tara was tired so we retired, whilst some of the other grads found themselves to another place where shots were had.
Friday morning saw a few seedy people at breakfast. After a pile of potato gems from the buffet, we went back in for another day of workshops. Then in the arvo, when we finally wrapped things up, said goodbye to all the grads we'd met, then jumped in a cab for the international airport. $800 in excess baggage later, we boarded our flight and finally left Aussie shores. A qucik meal and four rums later, I managed to get some sleep.
Saturday, 5.15 am we landed in Auckland. We actually flew through customs then had to wait an hour for our hire cars. By 7, the five of us grads and two cars were on our way to Waihi. 2ish hours later, with a stop for some breakfast pies from a servo, we made it to Waihi. The local HR rep brought out our keys to our temporary houses, we had a quick shower then set we set off to explore. The Waihi Pit is literally a 60 second walk away from our front door, and the admin office is practically next door. The beach is 10 minutes down the road, and we've been talking to the local real estates looking for rentals.
Since then, we've been chilling out, settling down and getting ready for work tomorra. Sorry everyone for such a lengthly post, but we'll be updating a little more often now... hopefully. Photos to come....
Aaron and Tara
