Isabelle's Auckland Adventure Part 2 - Kelly Tarlton's

Hey, look, a penguin! 

On Friday, 30th of May I went to the amazing and very interesting Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland, New Zealand. 

I went with my mum, my brother Ashton, and Grannie and Bump (my Grandad.)

When we got into the ginormous aquarium we paid for our visit and started our adventure. 

First we had a good search around Scott's hut. Scott was a famous Kiwi explorer. Did you know that the average temperature in his hut in Antarctica was -6 degrees celcius? Brrrrr! 

We wanted to move on to the penguins, but first we had to cross the bridge. Now this wasn't any old bridge. It had fake ice burgs that looked like they were spinning around you and made us fall over. It was an optical illusion! 

The penguins were next. I was so excited to see them. I had waited all day long and now I couldn't believe my eyes. There were penguins of all different shapes and sizes. There were two different species of penguins at Kelly Tarlton's, Gentoo and King. 
The Gentoo penguins have a white mark on their heads and the King penguins have an orangey yellow bib.

We saw a baby King penguin. He was covered in beautiful brown feathers that will stay on him until he is 10 months old. The feathers reminded Mum of for the delicate woven Maori cloaks. 

One funny penguin was scratching his back with his beak and when we looked at him, it seemed like he had no head! 

Next we went to the cafe and had some lunch. I had half a banana chocolate chip muffin and a little bit of my Grannies diet coke. They were DELICIOUS! 



After that we went on the moving walkway and traveled through the tunnel. This tunnel was made of glass and had fish and sharks swimming all around us. The glass was size inches thick so no fish could escape. I was reassured by that. 
I saw some Pig fish, and also some Zebra fish. When the sharks swam over me I wasn't scared. I was actually quite excited! 








After the travelator we went to Seahorse Kingdom. We saw lots of different of species of Seahorses. My favourite seahorse was a yellow one with a really curly tail. 

Finally we went to the gift shop. I got a penguin for my shadow box. I also got a very colourful badge that says 'Auckland New Zealand.' My brother got a stuffed penguin and named him Waddle. 

I completely loved Kelly Tarlton's and would be happy to go again. 

Answers to your questions Room 9!

We were wondering if the planes fly at night and keep you awake? Tobey
Hi Tobey. Luckily the planes only fly during the day. They are small planes but quite loud. 

Will you get a chance to go on a plane? Grace L
Not here at Pauanui. But on Friday I will be flying back to Wellington on Air New Zealand.

Have you been down to the beach? Isla
Yes! Here is a photo of the beach and the grassy area in front of it. Can you see something in the 2nd photo, that shows you the airfield is really close by?

Did you stop at Paeroa on the way up and have an L&P? Rohan
We came up to Pauanui from Auckland, so we didn't get to go to Paeroa, but I do like L&P!
We did go to a small town called Tairau. It just has one street of shops. We got sausages at the butchers and an ice cream at the shop. We also found a playground. 

Mia would like you to rate how much fun you are having out of 10?
I am having an awesome time. Everything is awesome. I would say 9.5 out of 10... or 9.5/10 (I've been practicing my fractions!)

Ella would like to know what its like having planes land so close?
It's really cool, because I can see them close up. It's exciting when they take off. They whoosh past us and we all say "plane!" and it's really funny!



Thanks Room 9 for all your questions. See you soon! 

Are we there yet?

Yesterday, on the 2nd of June I drove to Pauanui, New Zealand. 

Pauanui is in the Coromandel region and is around 3 hours out of Auckland. 

I am staying at Mum's friend Sue's house with my mum, my dad, my brother Ashton and Bump (my Grandad.)

Every now and then some planes come and land or take off on a BIG airfield just outside our house! The planes are really loud as they roar across the grass and finally take off into the brilliant blue sky. 

Here is a plane parked beside our house!

We are staying here for 11 nights, and I reckon it is much nicer to be staying here than to be staying in a hotel!

My Auckland Adventure - Part One

Monday 26th May 2014

Today I drove with my family from Wellington to Taupo. We left at 2.30 in the afternoon because I was doing the Jump Jam leadership course at Upper Hutt School.

My Dad is going to have an operation on his arm. The only surgeon who can do it is in Auckland, so that's why we're driving up the North Island!

We stopped in Levin at an awesome playground. There was a big wheel - it looked like a Hamster wheel. I ran inside the wheel with my Dad and my brother Ashton. 

We drove on to Taihape, where we stopped and got some dinner. We had McDonalds! Then we drove all the rest of the way to Taupo. 

We stayed at the Taupo Top Ten Holiday Resort in a cabin. I had the top bunk. It was like being at school camp. We brushed our teeth and went to bed. 

Tuesday 27th May 2014

In the morning, it was freezing cold! 

The grass had frost all over it, and I could see my breath. It was -3.2 degrees outside. We had milo, bananas and hokey pokey biscuits for breakfast. Then we got a big jump on the giant bouncy pillow. It is the biggest in New Zealand. 

We drove to Auckland next. It took three hours to get there. When we got to Auckland we checked in to our motel and went to Butterfly Creek. 

We went in to a boiling hot room where the butterflies were kept. They were flying around and drinking a kind of sugar syrup.

The butterflies came from Asia and South America. Some of them only live 14 to 15 days, the others can live for up to 2 months. 

My favourite butterfly looked like a tiger. One butterfly landed on my t-shirt! 

Then we saw some crocodiles. They were babies but they didn't look like it! There were two big gigantic salt water crocodiles. One had his mouth open and we could see his huge teeth. 

We went on a train ride, and saw lots of dinosaurs - fake ones! Some of them moved and roared. 

We also saw a rabbit, some lamas, and a talking cockatoo at the Buttermilk farm. 

We were exhausted when we got back to our motel, so we had some dinner and watched a movie. I watched The Lion King. It was funny when the monkey banged his stick on Simba's head. 

Wednesday 28th May 2014

This morning I was tired. We had some breakfast and packed up the car again. We went to the Airport and met Grannie and Bump. They are my grandparents. They have come to help look after us and Dad while he is in hospital. 

We had apple juice and a hashbrown from McDonalds, then Ashton and Bump caught the Airport Bus into the city, while Mum, Dad, Grannie and I drove to the North Shore to find our motel. We are going to be staying here for 4 nights. 

Our motel has a tv right in the room where I will be sleeping! 

My first four!

This morning I played cricket with my team the Hutt District Knights. 

We played at Petone Rec against the Hutt District Ferns.

I was the Captain today because last week I got Player of the Day for my excellent batting and bowling. 

Before the game started I tossed a big coin with the other Captain. I won and chose to bat first. I batted last in my team and when I went in there were only four overs to go. 

In the second to last over of the game the bowler came towards me and bowled the ball quite fast. I stepped forward and hit the ball with my bat. It bounced close the ground, and kept going to the boundary, right behind short backwards square leg!

It was my first four! 

Thomas was my batting partner. He knew that I had never hit a boundary before so he had his bat up and he yelled "YEEESSSSS!" I did the same! 

Everyone started clapping. Dad and Bump (my Grandad) were there in the crowd to cheer me on. 

I felt so excited that I was shaking for the rest of the innings. But I stayed in till the end. 

It was the first game ever that no one in the Knights got out.

In the end we won by 22 runs. It was a fantastic morning. 

Here is a photo of me, just after we finished the innings!

Fantastical Fun Friday Awaits

On Valentimes Day Hutt Central School had a whole school picnic. First we walked to Petone Rec,and as we were walking I saw my granddad, bump!!!! He was driving to Aunty Hannah's in his van. He waved at the kids. 

Anyway, so when we got to the park we had free time with the P.E gear, a play on the playground and ate lunch. So fun, so yum!!
The playground had stairs that lead up to a little hut. I kept banging my head because the roof was low! I could see the hills from up there. 

I had a chocolate muffin and a ham, cheese and carrot wrap for lunch. 

 After that we walked across the road to Mackenzie pools, [bathes.] We had a big long swim with all of our mates. I swam with Moriah. The pool was really full! 

Mum came and picked me and my cousins up from the pool. We went to the supermarket to buy an ice cream. I had a strawberry trumpet and it was very yummy. 

THE END !!!!

all about the blogger

Hi, I am isabelle
as you all know I havent done many blogs for a while, and you don't know much about me.So, here are some of my favourite things.

NICK NAME Belles

FAVOURITE FOOD Pizza

FAVOURITE COULOR Turquoise 

BIRTHDAY 19.9.2004

AGE 10

SCHOOL Hutt Central

FAVOURITE MOVIE Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows 



Thanks alot, please leave a coment and tell me what you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Hutt Central School Cross Country Run Off

Go Cross Country! 

On Friday the 24th of May, Hutt Central School walked to Sladden Park and had a cross country run. 

Before school I had an energy breakfast. My energy breakfast was spaghetti on toast. Mmm, yummy!

We took our morning tea, a warm jersey, a big drink bottle filled with water, and we also took our sketch book, pencil case and our refill pad in case we wanted to keep busy while we waited for our race.

First it was the new entrant class.  Then the juniors (year 1 and 2) and then it was the middles - me!

I ran in the year 4 girls race.  I think I started off a bit too fast, because when I got about half way I was getting very very puffed.  But I kept running. I could see my friend Eva in front of me.  When I was on the second to last straight I saw my Grandad and he said, 

"Go!  Keep running Belles!"

I did keep running and then I saw Mum.  She took some photos.  She said;

"Good running Belles, you're aweome, keep going, keep going!"

Bailey just passed me at the finish line because I went the wrong way.  But it doesn't matter because I came 7th which means i might get to go to southern zone!

At the end I was very puffed. But I was proud of myself because I came 7th, and also because I ran the whole way, which was a very long track, without stopping or walking.  

The 2013 Cross Country for Hutt Central School was pretty awesome. 

Button's - my cat!

My cat Button's is very cheeky.  She sneaks in to my room at night and jumps on me when I'm sleeping.  

I think that my bed is one of her favourite places because when I go to bed every night, she is already there waiting for a scratch!

Christmas at my house

The night before Christmas I left Santa some chocolate chip cherry biscuits.  I left Rudolph a carrot and some water.  The other reindeer got some reindeer food made with rolled oats, glitter and a chocolate kiss for Santa (I hid that for him!).

On Christmas morning I woke up at 5.30am! I went and got my brother Ashton and we raced to Mum and Dad's room. 

The first present I saw in my sack under the tree, was an elf hat! I felt excited when I opened my presents. My favourite presents were my purple camera from Mum and Dad, my cricket ball from Ashton, and my Pillow Pet from Santa.  I also got a Minnie Mouse top, a Pandora charm that looks like a present, and lots of Smiggle things from Nannie and Granddad.


We went to Aunty Jac's house and had a spa and some morning tea. 



Then I went with Mum, Nannie and Aunty Jac to see Great Nana at her rest home.  She is 98 and thinks I am a teenager!  She likes to eat chocolate mallowpuffs!

We had Christmas dinner at Nannie's house. I was boiling hot when we got there! Dad brought the slippery slide so Harri, Josh, Ashton and I could cool off and have a tummy slide!

For dinner we had lamb, roast potatoes and salad. For pudding we had ice cream, brandy snaps and trifle.

I really enjoyed last years Christmas and I can't wait till this years!

I'm ready for celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at Hutt Central School

Auckland Zoo

On Sunday the 10th of June my Mum and Bump took me and my brother Ashton to Auckland Zoo.

My favourite animals were the giraffes, flamingos and the little, cute golden lion tamerin.

We saw an elephant called Burma. She looked like she was a trained elephant. She could push logs over with her trunk that were over her weight. Her trunk is very sensitive and she has a little finger at the end of it and that little finger can pick up a skinny little blade of grass!

I bought a dreamy eye elephant soft toy and a tiger spinning top with my own money. Bump bought me a t shirt with a kiwi standing on the letters NZ.

I had a sausage roll and a little paper bag of chicken nuggets and a juice box.

I had a whole trunk full of fun!

Bye bye!

The Taylor Swift big night out!

On Friday afternoon I went to Auckland.  We flew Air New Zealand and on the plane I got lollies, All Black plane lollies!


We stayed with Caron, Zoe, Simon and Zoe's brother Max.  For dinner we had hot dogs and for pudding... 
Banana cake with green icing! Why was it green? Because it was Saint Patrick's Day tomorrow!


Aunty Jac read Fern the Green Fairy to us.  She reads quite well.


When we woke up I read some other fairy books.  Then we had breakfast, got dressed and went to swimming with Zoe.  I didn't do swimming lessons but Zoe did and we watched.  Zoe is a very good swimmer!

After Zoe's lesson, we went to the fun pool and had a swim in there.  I got new pink goggles.  It was fun.
Me and Zoe wore twin togs!  


After swimming we went to Mission Bay to have lunch.  Zoe and I got matching headbands but different colours.  My one is pink and Zoe's is red. They both have strawberries.  
We had a play at the playground before we had lunch.

For lunch I had scrambled eggs on toast and a mini can of sprite.  


We said goodbye to Caron, Zoe and Max and Aunty Jac, Mummy and I drove to our hotel.  It was called The Rendezvous.  It was pink and we were in Room 609 right next to the lift!  We went to Queen Street and I got a little hand bag that goes over your shoulder as well as your head.  It has flowers on it.  I got golden nail polish for going out to see Taylor Swift that night!

I got a sausage roll and ate it at the hotel while we had a wee rest.  Then we got ready!  I put on my pink tights, my new black and white striped dress and my pink spotty shoes.  Mum painted my nails and Aunty Jac did my hair.  She gave me some sparkly lip gloss.


We caught a taxi to a bar.  We met Caron and her sister Joanna.  The bar was  quite different to a normal bar because it had floating upside down lamps hanging off the roof.  I sat next to a lamp and I got to switch it on and off when ever I wanted to!

I had a half lemonade and half apple juice.  It tasted yummy.  I also had two and a half chips. They were quite big!  


Then we headed off to the Taylor Swift concert!


When we got there nearly every teenage girl was screaming!  It was very noisy for a little time but when Taylor came out only a couple of girls were screaming.  People were singing as well.


My favourite song is Mean, and I liked it when the glitter came out of the top of the stage.  It looked like broken bits of gold diamonds.  She sang lots and lots of songs.  Taylor Swift sat under quite a big tree that moved around so that everyone could see her.

I had to go to the toilet, and I made it back just in time to see the fire works.  At first, I got a very very big fright!  But they looked very cool.


She had a balcony that floated around the screaming crowd.  She waved to me and I waved back.  


It was my magicalist night I have had this year!


We had to walk home.  We saw the sky tower and it was green because it was Saint Patrick's Day!  We walked past lots of people and a man who was dressed up like a gorilla!  He gave me a bit of a fright!

Back at the hotel I got changed and just fell on the bed!  I had a lie down and a chocolate biscuit before I fell asleep.


In the morning, I had another chocolate biscuit and a big bubble bath.  Then we went to a cafe for breakfast but we didn't really have breakfast.  I had a toasted sandwich with ham and cheese and an apple juice.  


Then we went up the sky tower and saw a jumper jumping off the sky tower.  It looked like the person who was doing it was a bit freaked out.

We went back to the airport.  I had a strawberry milkshake and some nuggets from McDonald's.  Then our bags went through security with us, but we didn't go on a tray!  We walked through an xray machine.  

The plane ride was a bit slow.  When we were starting to come down I got a very sore ear.  It was a bit bumpy and my ear didn't stop hurting until we got back to our house.  Well it was a bit sore but not as much as on the plane and at the airport.  




Nanny and Grandad picked us up from the airport and we got donuts from Donut King to take home for my brother Ashton and Dad.  


It was the coolest weekend this year!