When we were planning our journey, we toyed with flying out via Los Angeles, to take in a conference in San Francisco, before travelling on to New Zealand, and finally returning full circle via Hong Kong. How ever much I might have dreaded the long haul flights, that fades to nothing alongside the journeys of … Continue reading Circumnavigations

Immediate impressions of our first, very full day in this burgeoning city? Pretty warm weather, even warmer welcomes, dazzling sunshine, serious traffic and fabulous wine... This photo, immediately recognisable to maturer readers, is on the wall in Kumeu River winery a few kilometres north of the city, above the strap line 'pop in for a drink, … Continue reading Sizzling Auckland

We nearly missed the flight from Adelaide to Auckland despite everything running to schedule - but sitting by the wrong gate 20 isn't a clever way to catch a plane. (Yes - there are two at Adelaide - at least!) No matter - we arrived in Auckland after a four hour flight on a very … Continue reading Hello New Zealand!

Port Noarlunga South: the view from our motel and The swimming beach alongside And the local corner cafe.... Samuel's Creek winery : handsome garden, welcome facilities, extravagant sedum, cellar door staffed by Caitlin Davies, and family picnics out of the hot sun: all on the edge of the Onkaparinga River national park a series of … Continue reading Snapshots of South Australia

We moved from Clare, through Barossa, and into Eden valley in pursuit of some of the finest wines of the world. In the 1840s and 1850s settlers moved from the coast in the south, pushing north and east up streams, creeks and gullies, to secure their purchases - made through George Fife Angas, the british … Continue reading Eden: heavenly grace, hills and vales

Building in progress - 22 January 2016...  precisely how many vines were sacrificed ? McLaren Vale hasn't seen anything like it - though Chester Osborne already has a reputation for thinking outside the box. His 90 year old father d'Arry, living still in the bungalow in which he was born, just metres from this building site, … Continue reading d’Arenberg: thinking outside-the-cube

It would be negligent not to remark on the tradition of hospitality and friendliness that permeates every social encounter. Not since I left the north of England in 1979 have I been routinely greeted by hellos and guddays (not that gudday had actually reached Yorkshire...) The food is equally generous - not simply in quantity … Continue reading Food, glorious food…

Benno Seppelt not only helped produce a very large family, but in the decade after his father's death he established vineyards to supply a thriving winery alongside all his other property and farming interests, mainly producing fortified wines in the style of Port. All good commercial sense ! But what moved him in 1878 to … Continue reading Serious long-term planning!

Yesterday we said a reluctant and painful farewell (and thank you) to our long-suffering suitcases in a small town called Kapunda, as we made our way from Clare Valley to the Barossa Valley. Purchased at the turn of the last century on Piccadilly in London, this medium sized Cellini brand matching pair had trundled faithfully … Continue reading Long service awards

It was good to see a game of cricket being played by a family cycling round the very hot and dry Clare Valley (note the keeper's unconventional helmet) in shade outside the first winery founded there in 1851 and still owned by the Society of Jesus - the Jesuits My! The bats were big and … Continue reading Sevenhill – where legends begin?