The C-19 situation is improving enough that Auckland has dropped to Level Two and the rest of the country to Level One. Masks are still strongly advised and many folks are willingly complying with that request when out and about, and we are also documenting all of our visits to shops, restaurants, and the like with a scanning app on our smart phones. We are all hoping it’s not too soon to relax the more conservative measures.
And now I’d like to bring you another few scenes from the family getaway that we made to the South Island three weeks ago, only a few days after we dropped to Level Three. 
Batty and Slevin (her other half) were eager to take us on a day trip to Arrowtown, a historic gold-mining town on the Arrow River, a favorite place of theirs in the area 
and a beautiful drive of about 50 minutes from where we were staying in Wanaka. 
We had a lovely stroll along the riverbank, enjoying the signs of spring in the budding trees along the shore and the wonderful colors in the rocks, and several of the children 
among us couldn’t resist the urge to either skip stones or just throw some into the water. Do you see any gold in there?
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krikitarts 
The gold I see is in the patterning of those South Island rocks, which I photographed multiple times on our 2017 visit: https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2017/04/17/new-zealand-oh-those-rocks/
I remember that post full well and am delighted to revisit it. The incredible and seemingly-unlimited rock variations to be found in the South Island are a wonder to behold.
To behold that gold will never grow old.
An adventurous and wholesome family get-away!
Wholesome is a great way to put it. It’s such a joy to have such a cohesive family!
That last photo looks like the rock candy we had as kids. It wasn’t that crystal stuff they sell today, and it wasn’t chocolate candy coated with a rock-patterned sugar shell. The candy looked just like pebbles, and it was hard.Most of the time, I couldn’t bear to eat mine because it was so pretty. I liked it better as rocks than as candy.
I remember that candy too, and how well it was made to look like real stones, but it was never a favorite of mine. Give me a (brown-label) Bun bar or a Butterfinger and I’m in heavenly Candyland.
Glad to hear that restrictions are relaxing and that the majority are using common sense in their wanderings. And happy to see your family having a nice outing. With the attitudes by too many here about the “tyranny of the mask” I am afraid we are stuck until a safe and effective vaccine comes along.
That last shot is gold.
Thanks, Steve, I love that last shot too. I find myself drawn into the colorful palette in these geological formations, and there’s apparently no limit to the variety down here. One could easily spend a lifetime studying them–and many have, of course, and I can easily see why.
What a beautiful place! Afraid we’re facing a perfect covid storm here though.
The news of the ongoing escalation is really frightening and terrible to try to imagine. Hopefully more of the uncautious minority will take the risk to heart and follow the recommended precautions. At the moment, they are our best defense.
All going in the right direction; good to hear, Gary.
It’s good to be able to share that. We all consider ourselves so very fortunate to be where we are, in this amazing island world, in the relative eye of this devastating storm.
I see gold in your description of the way NZ is dealing with the pandemic! The app sounds great and congrats for all you and everyone else in the country are doing. I think your levels are similar to ours in Washington State and our county is still stuck in Level 3. Even if we meet the requirements for the next level, the governor had paused any lifting of restrictions for now. People are pretty complaint in my area but as you know, we’re heading into the cold season, unlike you, and everyone’s worried. It looks like you all had a great time – I especially like nuzzling duo by the water and those rocks in the final photo. Both are golden. ;-)