<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>barefootkiwis</title><description>barefootkiwis</description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/home</link><item><title>We chat about the 9 negatives of travelling with kids in Outback Australia</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/kLdamldLaRM/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/15/We-chat-about-the-9-negatives-of-travelling-with-kids-in-Outback-Australia</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/15/We-chat-about-the-9-negatives-of-travelling-with-kids-in-Outback-Australia</guid><pubDate>Sat, 14 Jul 2018 14:08:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kLdamldLaRM"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Barefoot Kiwis explore the Red Centre</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/galyYiZHbmc/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/15/Barefoot-Kiwis-explore-the-Red-Centre</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/15/Barefoot-Kiwis-explore-the-Red-Centre</guid><pubDate>Sat, 14 Jul 2018 13:11:09 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/galyYiZHbmc"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Barefoot Kiwis explore Lost Cities &amp; get bogged 
@ Lorella Station</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/sf2dA1ElJjw/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/05/Barefoot-Kiwis-explore-Lost-Cities-get-bogged-Lorella-Station</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/05/Barefoot-Kiwis-explore-Lost-Cities-get-bogged-Lorella-Station</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:41:37 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sf2dA1ElJjw"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Barefoot Kiwis take on the Savannah Way!!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/_f7AN2yHJn8/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/01/Barefoot-Kiwis-take-on-the-Savannah-Way</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/07/01/Barefoot-Kiwis-take-on-the-Savannah-Way</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2018 11:48:51 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_f7AN2yHJn8"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Last days on Cape York</title><description><![CDATA[It was almost eerie free camping on the bush on our own after being in a crew for so long! We stayed at a beautiful little spot not far from archers river but well off the road on the water. Thanks to the Osbournes for recommending the spot. We had a good haul of red claw out of here!! We passed a heap of termite and ant mounds all over the Cape but we passed Nifold Plains which was littered with hundreds of ant mounds across a grassy Savannah. We stayed a couple of nights in Rinyurru National<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_468cc1337abe424e8f7525c57c9349cd%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_695/e47253_468cc1337abe424e8f7525c57c9349cd%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/27/Last-days-on-Cape-York</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/27/Last-days-on-Cape-York</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 12:11:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_468cc1337abe424e8f7525c57c9349cd~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_70616c6b1c2a4516bf01a71249453a0e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_d63d26acf60d410a98e315036930b7e5~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_61529c318d3a4d70aaf80c49f42efb60~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_300c852ff70d4d1b83112a81f1b3adec~mv2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_364b884c225f414ab3056e021ab21156~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_757d6577620b4ee294ca8a48b49c6666~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_c96dfa2b2d424f73a8229316f1b76a13~mv2_d_3088_2320_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_974366fdb4ac42898442e2cce56554fd~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_b27916aedeb446e0ad6f21f19c9678e4~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>It was almost eerie free camping on the bush on our own after being in a crew for so long! We stayed at a beautiful little spot not far from archers river but well off the road on the water. Thanks to the Osbournes for recommending the spot. We had a good haul of red claw out of here!!We passed a heap of termite and ant mounds all over the Cape but we passed Nifold Plains which was littered with hundreds of ant mounds across a grassy Savannah. We stayed a couple of nights in Rinyurru National park as we headed back down the Cape hoping to catch Barra. We camped at kalpowar crossing which was nice but not as far upstream as a would have liked to be. The Queensland National Park booking system is absolutely diabolical. Don’t get me started. It’s worth a rant all on its own!! To cut a long story short - the park was virtually empty but the system was showing every single site open was fully booked. We couldn’t book a site - the rangers hands were tied as they don’t deal with bookings do eventually he just put us on an empty site and said “stay here for free”. We didn’t manage to catch any Barra unfortunately. There were a heap of snags but our gear was too shallow - the Normanby river was 12m deep where we were fishing. There were a HEAP of crocs though. It’s well known for its large salt water croc population. The noise was deafening in the evenings ... babies calling momma home. Made launching and retrieving the tinny a bit nerve wracking!!Next stop - the Savannah way! </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>At the Tip</title><description><![CDATA[What do I think of when I think of the Tip? Hauntingly beautiful sunsets day after day. We crossed the Jardine ferry mid morning, paying the exorbitant prices. $$ return. I get it - respect the earning potential and livelihood of the locals but still hard to justify that kind of cost for a 50m stretch of river. Into Bamaga, and first stop was the local supermarket and drive through bottle-o. 6 can limit per day which meant we’d be making regular visits!! We set up camp at Loyalty beach<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_3e4585800dab48dab2d7239ecf10cece%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_695/e47253_3e4585800dab48dab2d7239ecf10cece%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/27/At-the-Tip</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/27/At-the-Tip</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:56:41 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_3e4585800dab48dab2d7239ecf10cece~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_8c5fcda8e8614b95bf2b4477fb8d56b7~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_d101329291584eb19d189f4ace978bbb~mv2_d_3088_2320_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_58a58b5cc85245b796ef539905c8bd96~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_b0f347232797457d879ca929752a5fa6~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_932bec7df2894d33bbf4fbe9678ce974~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_f83d8b28f49d4352b83097f7cff2a447~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_199f31cc598948ec9e6bd6c692714b59~mv2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_94cc404c328e4d2d8f61515897c995f6~mv2_d_3088_2320_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_20ec1400ba1f4e07aca20139287c2a02~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_6ad1d621be5241f58a65b30edd8931f2~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_faa6a9424f8b4df9bcaa0415aeb2821f~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_0b68fd9ffef54327b6d219b9a9e41ca5~mv2_d_3520_1980_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_b575fee54dc149d28b07d45a5642fbb0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_59d746133820412281faf08ed35fe4e3~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_dd09c3f20ce44eb18f1ca00227823235~mv2_d_3088_2320_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_c5acb3d68a454ee29e4f9c164119e9ba~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_a536088472864e1c864807f1d3cbcf78~mv2_d_2320_3088_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_403004cae84d4d0d9df285e730c2abe0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_9241cbce7d78424c894b59b192eab1e2~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_e9ef68f041654adbae8c9f24701ec7fb~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_8fe273716f4446b6b47c1b15325a8f0d~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>What do I think of when I think of the Tip? Hauntingly beautiful sunsets day after day. We crossed the Jardine ferry mid morning, paying the exorbitant prices. $$ return. I get it - respect the earning potential and livelihood of the locals but still hard to justify that kind of cost for a 50m stretch of river. Into Bamaga, and first stop was the local supermarket and drive through bottle-o. 6 can limit per day which meant we’d be making regular visits!!We set up camp at Loyalty beach campground - right on the beach front looking across to the Torres Strait islands. The lads launched their Tinnys and headed out to Fish and lay the crab pots while we made for the beach bar! Fresh prawns and kiwi Pinot Gris in ice! Tino pai!! We filled 5 days relaxing, exploring, fossicking in rockpools, restocking and fishing fishing fishing. The local seisia wharf provided great entertainment at night - massive sharks, giant crocs and one croc versus shark encounter!! It was a pretty surreal experience to stand on the tip of Australia and look out towards the Torres Strait Islands. Not that it’s anything glamorous. One tiny little sign. I wouldn’t want anything too imposing on the environment but you’d think with the amount of money the tourists travelling to the Tip generate for the region that the local bodies would be inclined to put a wee bit more into it ... updating and upgrading the signage would be a good start! On our way back from the tip we decided to take a 4x4 shortcut to another resort for a swim and lunch. After lunch we discovered our friends had lost their license plate in a hole they’d gotten momentarily bogged in so we all backtracked. We found the license plate and got bogged again for our efforts!!The kids really bonded with everyone. They filledtheir days with their new adult friends different ways. Hunter and Liam got haircuts from the lads, summer got her hair continually braided (as we all did actually) from Sammy and Deano even attempted making a shell bracelet for summer!! It was a sad day when we left the Tele crew but it was time to move on. One last communal feast around a bonfire on the beach and then we bid our farewells and headed south. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Liams learning:  Fig Trees &amp; Geodes</title><description><![CDATA[Produced and Edited by Liam Smith<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/kJ1-U4hQ-FA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/Liam-edits-produces-a-movie-for-school-about-Fig-Trees-Geodes</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/Liam-edits-produces-a-movie-for-school-about-Fig-Trees-Geodes</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:36:09 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kJ1-U4hQ-FA"/><div> Produced and Edited by Liam Smith</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Old Tele Track - Day 3 (of 3)</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/s3QcUh21fnA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/The-Old-Tele-Track---Day-3-of-3</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/The-Old-Tele-Track---Day-3-of-3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:16:11 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s3QcUh21fnA"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tackling the Old Telegraph Track - Day 2</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/o6wrusDzhxg/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/Tackling-the-Old-Telegraph-Track---Day-2</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/21/Tackling-the-Old-Telegraph-Track---Day-2</guid><pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2018 22:08:40 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o6wrusDzhxg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tackling the Old Telegraph Track - Day 1 (of 3)</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/bLtmqXlXES4/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/10/Tackling-the-Old-Telegraph-Track---Day-1-of-3</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/10/Tackling-the-Old-Telegraph-Track---Day-1-of-3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 10 Jun 2018 00:16:06 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLtmqXlXES4"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>CAPE YORK ADVENTURES</title><description><![CDATA[Our travels on Cape York began as a slow process of moving up the cape. We crossed over on the Daintree ferry and got our first look at crocodile warnings much to the kids delight. We decided to take the Bloomfield track up and were surprised that it was not really a track and more of a wide gravel road with a couple of shallow fords, some steep inclines and a few potholes of bull dust. This was the beginning of eternal red dust that coated everything and the last we saw of our white wagon!! We<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_24d38240c1a94c05aa12314c5daa0e48%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_695/e47253_24d38240c1a94c05aa12314c5daa0e48%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/05/CAPE-YORK-ADVENTURES</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/06/05/CAPE-YORK-ADVENTURES</guid><pubDate>Tue, 05 Jun 2018 09:05:24 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_24d38240c1a94c05aa12314c5daa0e48~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_e8f686838d2f45409e4c5e74337c2b0d~mv2_d_10496_3712_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_08d6601effcf48869a98c985e66101d6~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_c468e00e9806445a8da0506707feab7f~mv2_d_9106_3946_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_a51ed5e2d89242dfb0d59b6d7292d007~mv2_d_7972_3954_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_2758016afe694451bd4b55d126088d18~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_cea205ca1fac4d1695a449903f832d3b~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_790b80c11f544d74b2d0dcaa2201db88~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_4b64687feea14812b264ed4c2f1d19e8~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_8215b37d7db04a9ba17f992e34910a94~mv2_d_3088_2320_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_c73f751f94c74107baf2a82fd29e05aa~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_d7253a364bbb482f98a264b6927d0dc0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>Our travels on Cape York began as a slow process of moving up the cape. We crossed over on the Daintree ferry and got our first look at crocodile warnings much to the kids delight. We decided to take the Bloomfield track up and were surprised that it was not really a track and more of a wide gravel road with a couple of shallow fords, some steep inclines and a few potholes of bull dust. This was the beginning of eternal red dust that coated everything and the last we saw of our white wagon!!We carried on through Cooktown (where James Cook landed in 1770, and gold rush hit in 1873. We gathered a few supplies from the bakery and directions to Elim Beach camp which was run by an aboriginal elder, Eddie Deemal. He regaled us with stories of his prime driving cattle for weeks at a time and catching big fish. I read articles on the wall showing him still spearing Fish from a paddle board taken just a few years ago. Not bad for an 80 something year old man!! The campground itself was perched right on the narrow beach surrounded by remains of an old jetty and mangrove areas. Tony was keen to camp right up on the beach as others were but I was far too paranoid about the crocs so we camped a bit further back. Elim Beach is part of Hopevale aboriginal land and has a fantastic area called coloured sands which we were allowed to go up and visit. We drove up the beach and discovered big sand dune areas where different minerals over the years have coloured the areas of sands. Summer and I filled a wine bottle with layers of the colours. We also took a drive in the other direction towards cape Bedford but got stuck trying to drive the road over a large soft dune system so backtracked out after a few unsuccessful attempts. On our way out of Elim we took a back track out known as Battle camp road. We passed through areas of active bushfire right up to the road which the kids had never seen before. From there we hit the main PDR (peninsula development road) and followed its corrugated dusty trail north where we stopped for the night at musgrave roadhouse. It’s an old telegraph station built in 1887 as a repeater. It was fortified against attacks and it still remains as the homestead today. More interesting for the kids was the dam behind the musgrave camp area. It’s full of freshwater crocodiles who are fed to keep them around. Both the crocs and the turtles come right up to the bank when anyone arrives - hoping for a feed. From there we moved into Archers river roadhouse where a swim in its crystal clear creek was more than welcome. Chilli beach in the iron range national park was our next destination and although we could see how pretty it would be in nice weather the rain and strong trade winds battered us overnight and we quickly departed the next morning. Our next destination was Weipa and we were pleasantly surprised. We’d had friends who’s done a stint there and had little positive to report but after gathering supplies at “one shop” towns it’s Woolworths, bakery, pharmacy, tackle shop and bottle-o were welcome sights. We had also decided coming into Weipa that we might look on the local but n sell pages for a foldup trailer for our boat. We had discovered that unless we were camped right beside where we were going to launch our tinny we couldn’t actually use it. Not without packing back up camp in order to launch and retrieve it. We spotted someone else with one in the campground and thought to ask them how they found it when they offered to sell it to us! What good luck!! So we stayed on for a couple of extra days fishing. One morning we launched in a tidal river and after the locals had told us there were real big crocs there and one particularly aggressive one I was totally on edge. Being a tiny tinny with a flattish bottom suitable for tidal rivers there’s not exactly a huge freeboard. Maybe 25-30cm at best? So I was feeling like croc bait bobbing about on the water when one surfaced not far away to check us out. That was it!! I freaked out and was pulling anchor and ordering lines up pronto!! Tony had no choice in the matter! We’ve been out lots since but I’m still not completely comfortable with the arrangement ... </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>SMITH CLAN VISITS THE GREAT BARRIER REEF</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/SHXLWomdnHo/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/22/SMITH-CLAN-VISITS-THE-GREAT-BARRIER-REEF</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/22/SMITH-CLAN-VISITS-THE-GREAT-BARRIER-REEF</guid><pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2018 10:57:53 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SHXLWomdnHo"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Musings of a ... Naturalist?</title><description><![CDATA[Dolphins & Platypus An older gentlemen provoked thought the other day when I was filming platypus and he remarked “Ah so you are the naturalist in your family are you?” Which got me thinking? Am I? What exactly is a naturalist? First stop: google. “A person who studies or is an expert or shares knowledge of the natural environment.” Not to be confused with naturalism: “the idea or belief that only natural (as opposed to supernatural or spiritual) laws and forces operate in the world." I am<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Rn3-7nLqxEc/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/10/Musings-of-a-Naturalist</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/10/Musings-of-a-Naturalist</guid><pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2018 12:11:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/Rn3-7nLqxEc">Dolphins &amp; Platypus</a> An older gentlemen provoked thought the other day when I was filming platypus and he remarked “Ah so you are the naturalist in your family are you?” Which got me thinking? Am I? What exactly is a naturalist? First stop: google. “A person who studies or is an expert or shares knowledge of the natural environment.” Not to be confused with naturalism: “the idea or belief that only natural (as opposed to supernatural or spiritual) laws and forces operate in the world.&quot; I am firmly entrenched in the Christian faith so that doesn’t apply to me.</div><div>Definitely also not to be confused with the close term &quot;naturist.&quot; Aka - nudist. Like hell! Also strictly does not apply to me!!  Hmmm i studied marine science first, fisheries management second, and over the years worked as a dive instructor, a scientific observer and a fishery officer. As well as lover of nature photography, and many hobbies which get our family out into the natural outdoors like hiking, mountain biking, boarding fishing and tagging along hunting trips. I’m not sure whether I want to be defined by a term somebody else made up but I guess I do technically qualify as a “naturalist.” Interesting. We’ve had two “naturalist” encounters since leaving Fraser Island. We stayed at Tin Can Bay, a sleepy little town on an estuary and ended up feeding wild Australian humpback dolphins!! What luck! In the 1950s an injured dolphin nicknamed “Scar” turned up at the little seaside village and the community nursed him back to health. He then started bringing back members of his pod on a regular basis. Australian humpback dolphins are listed as being on the vulnerable list. They are an inshore species preferring tidal channels and estuaries and their primary threat is habitat destruction through poor water quality, development, noise pollution and disease from humans and domestic animals. A team of local volunteers at Tin Can bay work with The Department of Environment and Science to start a local initiative educating visitors about the dolphins plight and giving them a chance to get a close up look at them. We chatted with Bev and Liz, two long standing volunteers about the 2 dolphins who showed up for a free breakfast that morning - “Mystique” and “Patch”. It’s their hope to get a research centre up and running in their little Bay so they can raise more awareness to the plight of the Australian Humpback Dolphin. Our second wildlife encounter was in the impressive Eungella National Park inland from Mackay. I convinced Tony we’d detour inland to stay here in search of the elusive Platypus found in rivers in the area. We stayed at a place called “Platypus bushcamp” in the midst of Finch Hatton Gorge which neighbours the park. It was run by an eccentric wizened old fella named “Wazza”. It’s incredibly rustic - absolutely no frills here but charming nonetheless. Wazza told us he turned up 28 years ago, found the land and decided to stay on it. Little by little he got money from other campers and put in flushing toilets, rustic showers that open into the bush, paths to the platypus pools and a cleared area for campers and tents. We were nestled right against a crystal clear stream (very similar to NZ bush streams) in the rainforest and had the most delicious sleep in the cool evening air with the stream noise permeating our dreams. I left Tony to dinner duty that night after set up and waited silently on the banks of a pool that housed 2 platypus residents until long past dusk but to no avail. I was up at the crack of dawn sharing that little spot on the bank behind palm fronds with thousands of sandflies and mosquitoes ... but still nothing. After pack up we ventured up into Eungella National Park for a look around and found some in a decent sized stream beneath a bridge!! There were also plenty of turtles and a heap of pretty bird life. The kids and Tony got bored after the first 20 minutes but they all buggered off and left me to enjoy watching them and capturing some on film for the remainder of the hour. Platypus are strange and wondrous creatures. They are duck billed, beaver tailed, otter footed and a mammal that lays eggs!! When the first specimen of platypus was examined in 1799 by European naturalists they assumed it was an elaborate hoax and thought that different animals had been stitched together. Liam enjoyed learning that platypus have nasty spurs which on male platypus are venemous. Not lethal to humans but enough to incapacitate a human for quite some time. And that although platypus lay eggs they also milk feed their young! They don’t have teats but the milk is emitted through the pores of the skin on a platypus and gathers in grooves on its abdomen where the young lap it up. Incredible fascinating little creatures and I was so glad and privileged to witness them in their wild and natural habitat.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rn3-7nLqxEc"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>K’GARI LESSONS LEARNT</title><description><![CDATA[Yendingie came down from the sky and set about making a beautiful mainland. He had a spirit helper K’Gari. One day Yindingie encouraged her to rest and when she awoke she thought the mainland was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and wanted to stay. She begged Yindingie who after a while relented explaining that she would not be able to remain in spirit form. So he changed her into a beautiful island. So she wouldn’t be lonely, he then made some beautiful trees and flowers, and some<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_2e7e0c686ca144d8931a53b06e1280ea%7Emv2_d_5792_3944_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_631/e47253_2e7e0c686ca144d8931a53b06e1280ea%7Emv2_d_5792_3944_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/10/K%E2%80%99GARI-LESSONS-LEARNT</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/10/K%E2%80%99GARI-LESSONS-LEARNT</guid><pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2018 05:32:59 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_2e7e0c686ca144d8931a53b06e1280ea~mv2_d_5792_3944_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_5c40fefbdcd14b489c63d83e492aa41b~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_5ba5955690414ac1a3800177565d1411~mv2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_9fbf2e27cca647bb8074f4e9c63edca9~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_da54041c35e547ac87d665f66c6fc69d~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>Yendingie came down from the sky and set about making a beautiful mainland. He had a spirit helper K’Gari. One day Yindingie encouraged her to rest and when she awoke she thought the mainland was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and wanted to stay. She begged Yindingie who after a while relented explaining that she would not be able to remain in spirit form. So he changed her into a beautiful island. So she wouldn’t be lonely, he then made some beautiful trees and flowers, and some lakes that were specially mirrored so that she could see into the sky. He made creeks and laughing waters that would become her voice, and birds and animals and people to keep her company. He gave these people knowledge and laws, and told them what to do, and how to procreate, so that their children and ancestors would always be there to keep K’Gari company.This is the creation story of how K’Gari (Fraser Is) came to be. We befriended a ranger Patrick on the island who told the kids the legend. He is a local man from the Butchulla tribe and over a few conversations gleaned a lot more about the islands culture. From the introduction of “the white fella” things turned sour as they often do. The name Fraser Island came from Eliza Fraser who became shipwrecked there in 1836. Eliza came across the Butchulla people who welcomed her and attempted to help her but upon her return home published an account of her ordeal naming her rescue by the Butchulla as “a fate worse than death”. She painted them as primitive, barbaric, cannabalistic and savage. This later proved unfounded according to other shipwrecked members but the damage had been done and a negative light was cast on all Aboriginal tribes in Australia. This was to be the beginning of their own people being forced from the island and having their homeland named after the very person that had ignited the negative connotations. Their resolve though has slowly won them back some victories. In 1977 they won the battle to prevent sand mining which was destroying K’Gari and in 1992 managed to get K’Gari listed as a World Heritage site. Finally, in late 2014 it was recognised by the Federal Court of Australia that the Butchulla people have lived there for 5000 years and were awarded non exclusive native title rights and interests over K’Gari. However, there’s still the issue that not a single Butchulla person yet lives permanently on the island due to house prices ....Another piece of history on K’Gari is the story of the ship “Maheno”. The T.S.S MAHENO was a New Zealand passenger ship built in 1905 running primarily between Australia and NZ. But she got reallocated by the NZ government for the war effort as a hospital ship that provided invaluable hospital, surgical and medical support from 1915-1919 in primarily the Mediterranean and the English channel. After the war she returned to ferrying passengers across the Tasman until she was retired in 1935 and sold as scrap to Japan. On the journey to japan, she hit a cyclone off Fraser Island, broke her tow rope and with 8 Japanese sailors drifted helplessly onto the shore. She has remained in that watery grave ever since reminding us of our profound historic bonds with Australia. How did we find K’Gari. Absolutely beautiful. It wasn’t too busy so it was vast, with sometimes desolate yet stunning vistas. We had expected more exposed dune systems but they are all vegetated except for the sand blows. The inland roads were sand tracks and soft but with our tyres let down had no problems at all. Downsides? It was strange not being able to swim on these idyllic beaches through risk of crocs, box jellyfish and bull sharks. Something we will have to get used to as we head north but still hard for a kiwi family who is prone to jumping into any body of water about! I was also horrified at Queensland governments stance on rubbish on the island. They have plenty of rubbish points but they don’t RECYCLE!! So the amount of rubbish coming off the island as landfill is horrendous. We took all ours back to the mainland with us. The risk of getting caught in the tide really is minimal if you are sensible. Some people were really going too fast. One little bump or hole in the sand and it’s a whole different ball game. We found 70-80km/hr on the flat long stretches of beach was plenty. Being mating season the supposed aggressive state of the Dingoes had us extra wary and cautious when out tramping and because of the kids we ensured we camped only inside fenced areas with electrified cattle stood to prevent dingoes from entering. Having said that any dingoes we did see were not that interested in us, scavenging Dead Sea birds upon the shore. It was fairly quiet on the island while we were there and we learnt that because most tourists were advised not to venture onto the beach until 2 hours either side of low tide that we could get to spots without the crowds, sometimes without anyone if we worked on 3 hours either side of low. We loved the wildlife, the sound of the surf pounding, the sand formations and the serenity. It’s a fun island to explore and I think it really requires a minimum of 5 nights to really get around and see all its beautiful features. For anyone considering it who lives abroad there were several 4WD hire companies that we come across - all being rented from Rainbow beach. A great school holidays destination. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Here’s a snippet of our Fraser Island trip. Click below to view video. Written version to come!</title><description><![CDATA[K’GARI (Fraser Is) 2018<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/hInN2gO2iOM/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/08/Here%E2%80%99s-a-snippet-of-our-Fraser-Island-trip-Written-version-to-come</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/08/Here%E2%80%99s-a-snippet-of-our-Fraser-Island-trip-Written-version-to-come</guid><pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2018 11:58:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hInN2gO2iOM"/><div><a href="https://youtu.be/hInN2gO2iOM">K’GARI (Fraser Is) 2018</a></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Cooloola Trip in Video!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/DPorJeL73K0/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/05/Cooloola-Trip-in-Video</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/05/Cooloola-Trip-in-Video</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 May 2018 11:06:51 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DPorJeL73K0"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>COOLOOLA COASTING</title><description><![CDATA[After our double back we headed back up the Cooloola coast to make the most of things. We found a camping spot right on the beach as we headed up, about 3/4 of the way to the top, dropped off our trailer and kept going. Right up to the tip of the beach and across the 4wd “Leisha track” to Double Island Lagoon. As we mentioned before the coast is out of bounds for swimming due to frequent numbers of irukandji still (box jellyfish) along with bull sharks so finding the lagoon where water gets<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_fe948a6b9f9c4280bd215754ea4bc002%7Emv2_d_3000_2250_s_2.png/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_695/e47253_fe948a6b9f9c4280bd215754ea4bc002%7Emv2_d_3000_2250_s_2.png"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/04/COOLOOLA-COASTING</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/05/04/COOLOOLA-COASTING</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2018 13:00:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_fe948a6b9f9c4280bd215754ea4bc002~mv2_d_3000_2250_s_2.png"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_664fdb5ca3624bb3a3f550d450158122~mv2_d_2672_1908_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_477cb5e5a2674f3f9dca915e57ca6029~mv2_d_2320_3088_s_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_ded1544a92ec4b108ecb58f52eee977d~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_29318afb99034078a50ae150896b9fff~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_aec8ee5aa2cb4b6fa8a25b437640f989~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_5326606b5e19420bab29ff5f6bc63070~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_187449a32eb7424bbe0b7a6b33c986e3~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_53cf6f68479d4f068aba04d6b92a99ae~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_7ead9300fcf642d98205da8868baf9b0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_0d9c0019a24e471fb3c601292238a13c~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_1f2ba603d2f64a02b0c8ba4161cfea6b~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>After our double back we headed back up the Cooloola coast to make the most of things. We found a camping spot right on the beach as we headed up, about 3/4 of the way to the top, dropped off our trailer and kept going. Right up to the tip of the beach and across the 4wd “Leisha track” to Double Island Lagoon. As we mentioned before the coast is out of bounds for swimming due to frequent numbers of irukandji still (box jellyfish) along with bull sharks so finding the lagoon where water gets trapped by king tides was a pleasant respite. We all had a swim and picnic then kids decided they wanted a play on the giant dune on the opposite side of the lagoon. So we decided to swim across. There was about 80m which was very deep but the kids did well and hunter enjoyed getting a ride on my back as we all swam over. On the way home we past the remains of a wreck, Cherry Venture. There’s not a lot left of her. She was a 1600 ton cargo ship, empty, bound from Auckland to Brisbane when she hit a storm off the Cooloola Coast. Waves measured 12 metres peak to trough that day and with no cargo she was flung around in the storm. She tried to put both her anchors out which snapped and wind and tide wrecked her up upon the shore. She still lies there in her watery grave today. We stopped and took a walk through the “red canyon” which is essentially sand dunes which over hundreds and thousands of years have hollowed out paths and valleys. The iron from the ground has leached into the sands turning the sands from white to deep red. By the time we got back to our campsite the sun was going down and it was the most magical spot to stop and have a couple of drinks soaking in the views. The only negative on the trip was the wind overnight. It reached 40knots overnight! Our tropical roof though great for keeping it cool is not so great in high winds. It flapped noisily all night long. It was lovely being snuggled up in the warm though listening to the wind scream and the surf surge to probably within 15-20 metres of our tent. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Camping Expedition begins!</title><description><![CDATA[We farewell friends in Buddina on the Sunshine Coast after much reminiscing of our African days and launched into our camping expedition! We were Cooloola coast bound! We crossed the car ferry late that afternoon and set up in a campsite where the road finished and the beach began. Kangaroos and monitor lizards cruised through camp upon dusk while we cooked dinner much to the kids delight. Next morning we entered exploration mode, letting all our tyres down as we drove through a cutting to enter<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_77e63da719214b10b2accea6a1c9ea4f%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_695/e47253_77e63da719214b10b2accea6a1c9ea4f%7Emv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/26/The-Camping-Expedition-begins</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/26/The-Camping-Expedition-begins</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2018 09:53:59 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_77e63da719214b10b2accea6a1c9ea4f~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_ef830028b945485f83e4f92f8d1453b3~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_904f053d2354435f8fbc7254e8386099~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_e54c4cad21ea4a0ea70f410bd897fb55~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_f66e462b03fd455aa7c3cb34ef12e042~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_42e915d2932a478c81341298352d38e5~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_8ac24b8ad33e49f0ade40c8f3709bb42~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_f13acc6511e44fe0ba6027c851444006~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_a46ca5f4ea3c446d9d423c3172fbf1c4~mv2_d_9270_3880_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_1884e4e355e14eb18ebeb886206dbfe8~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>We farewell friends in Buddina on the Sunshine Coast after much reminiscing of our African days and launched into our camping expedition! We were Cooloola coast bound! We crossed the car ferry late that afternoon and set up in a campsite where the road finished and the beach began. Kangaroos and monitor lizards cruised through camp upon dusk while we cooked dinner much to the kids delight. Next morning we entered exploration mode, letting all our tyres down as we drove through a cutting to enter Teewah Beach. We enjoyed a cruise up the coast before we discovered a problem with engaging our low ratio in the cruiser and not wanting to risk becoming a statistic in the tide, headed back to civilisation. Whilst awaiting a VERY expensive part we stayed at a new campground which is a Big4 in Maroochydore called Rivershore Resort. Although we were not in the bush roughing it like we’d hoped it was nevertheless very enjoyable! It was Built in 2016 and run by two young brothers. It was fantastic! Kiddie heaven with water slides, pools, jumping pillows, evening outdoor movie every night, and fishing for bream on the riverside. Did I mention the bar and restaurant overlooks both the pool and the playground? So one can literally be drinking a wine or downing a cold beer whilst kids are entertaining themselves but still able to be supervised. Need I say more? We also enjoyed Maroochydores surf beach, which was just beautiful. It’s a really beautiful and laid back part of the world. No sense of bustle here even Though it’s at the heart of everything in the Sunshine Coast. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Arrival &amp; Seaworld</title><description><![CDATA[We arrived in Australia and spent the first few days running errands, getting set up for our expedition and spending time with the Perry’s. Our kids got on famously with their 3 girl cousins whom they had not seen since Fiji. 6 kids in one house ... surprisingly civilised!! We had pre-negotiated for summers birthday (March) going to a theme park or two but summer (being the animal lover she is) chose SeaWorld and the Australia zoo instead. And so 2018 became the year I finally visited Sea World<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_53c4ebc6300446ef953d74627902e49b%7Emv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_926%2Ch_1235/e47253_53c4ebc6300446ef953d74627902e49b%7Emv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/26/Arrival-Seaworld</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/26/Arrival-Seaworld</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2018 00:18:49 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_53c4ebc6300446ef953d74627902e49b~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_a902a275fd3f4e3d9a6e0e87c72eb2fd~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_07e514ba54454978bb14386b79e3362f~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_b292ff4dff5f48a0970a8bcfaaba6c5c~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_a57e8e35862541fc9f94bdddab70098f~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_2e74ab3f39904723b497bd94ab65ddfc~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg"/><div>We arrived in Australia and spent the first few days running errands, getting set up for our expedition and spending time with the Perry’s. Our kids got on famously with their 3 girl cousins whom they had not seen since Fiji. 6 kids in one house ... surprisingly civilised!! We had pre-negotiated for summers birthday (March) going to a theme park or two but summer (being the animal lover she is) chose SeaWorld and the Australia zoo instead. And so 2018 became the year I finally visited Sea World after many debates. I was feeling conflicted about entry into this park even though the orcas were long gone. I’m certainly not an advocate for patronising parks where education is thinly veiled entertainment that somebody profits from. However I do believe until you have seen and judged it for yourself your opinion does not carry the same amount of weight and I was curious to see whether SeaWorld Australia fell into this category. From my amateur observations the sea enclosures certainly seemed spacious. There was plenty of room to speed, roam and play. The dolphins appeared outwardly as physically healthy. And content. What captivity does to mental state is another matter and I cannot comment with any authority. It got me thinking about the value we place on certain animals (mammals in this instance). Would I be as internally conflicted about the choice to visit captive animals and whether it was right or wrong on my moral ladder) if it wasn’t the popular benign, intelligent species of dolphin and instead was some less popular species with humanity as say the crocodile? I’ve certainly seen crocodile enclosures that are small (the one at Butterfly creek in Auckland springs to mind) without room to hunt, and roam but I wasn’t eternally conflicted about visiting that. If we are truly concerned with an animals welfare is it fair to place certain species in higher esteem than others? I would say it’s not fair but it’s also completely normal because as humans we have problems staying objective because emotional triggers play a huge part in our decision making. The kids certainly loved it. It was a fantastic family day out with the dolphin and seal shows, thrill rides, aquarium and other marine life areas. The dolphin show was the clear highlight. It was incredibly well run, hugely entertaining and just as enjoyable for every parent in the audience to watch their child’s face completely enchanted by the dolphins and their tricks. Which again got me playing devils advocate in my own mind. While we can probably all agree that the wild is certainly a better and the rightful place for mammals and animals alike, is certain individuals captivity worth the sacrifice to educate the public? In Seaworld for example, the kids did come away knowing a bit more about dolphins, their plight, and also more about the rehabilitation centre there for seabirds and turtles. What SeaWorld puts back into conservation is also very substantial and needs to be taken into consideration. Their SeaWorld research and rescue foundation contributes over $1 000 000 a year to the research, rescue and rehabilitation of marine life. They provide grants to independent marine research, fund marine debris clean ups and operate a turtle hospital (which rescues in average 40-70 turtles a year). They also provide outstanding services such as a marine rescue team being on call 24/7 year round to rescue any marine animal. So a huge amount of good does come from providing this entertainment/education blend of profit making. But is that worth the right or sacrifice to freedom for the individual animals? Which of course opens a whole other can of worms about those born into captivity which I’m not going to raise today. It’s all food for thought though and each persons moral compass will land somewhere different. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>One sleep to go!</title><description><![CDATA["One sleep to go!" Thats the universal cry from the kids as they get ready for bed in their bedroom. Or whats left of their bedroom. The house is packed up. We are packed up - into 4 big bags, ready for our 3 month adventure into outback Australia. We've had varying responses - "jealous", "can we come?" or "you're paving the way." But also "you're crazy," "sounds like my worst nightmare" or "whaddya want to do a silly bloody thing like that for?" was probably my favourite. It doesn't really<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_e536443cf38e44969a09fb9de45c897a%7Emv2.gif"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Stacey Smith</dc:creator><link>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/16/One-sleep-to-go</link><guid>https://www.barefootkiwis.co.nz/blank-1/2018/04/16/One-sleep-to-go</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2018 11:56:41 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>&quot;One sleep to go!&quot; Thats the universal cry from the kids as they get ready for bed in their bedroom. Or whats left of their bedroom. The house is packed up. We are packed up - into 4 big bags, ready for our 3 month adventure into outback Australia. </div><div>We've had varying responses - &quot;jealous&quot;, &quot;can we come?&quot; or &quot;you're paving the way.&quot; But also &quot;you're crazy,&quot; &quot;sounds like my worst nightmare&quot; or &quot;whaddya want to do a silly bloody thing like that for?&quot; was probably my favourite. It doesn't really matter what others think of course. Its been a bucket list trip for Tony and I since before kids (always to do one day with kids), so we are just so excited its actually here. Of course, 3 months is a wee bit shorter than the original 12 month &quot;big lap&quot; we wanted to do but this way we get to enjoy another term carrying on the adventure next year ... and maybe the year after too. Depending on whether the kids keep up with their school work of course. </div><div>Barefoot Kiwis ... lets get one thing straight. We are NOT going barefoot round Australia. Apparently thats a thing for backpackers in Asia now? Who knew? Certainly not me when I chose this name. I had a blog years ago called barefootthroughasia.blog.co.nz. I looked it up not so long ago but it had long gone and in its place were all these silly buggers living out their dream of going barefoot like the locals in Asia! Good on them - I get the analogy, but I will firmly have jandals on my feet in Oz! </div><div>We will be living out our own dreams though. Adventuring. Exploration and discovery, always in my blood. Solid quality time with the family. Little technology, little to no people where we will often be going, just spending time with each other. For better and sometimes I'm sure - for worse! Time. Reflection and development on whats important in life. Nature. Wildlife. Self subsistence with our little Trackabout camper. Sustainability. Conservation. Being environmentally aware of our surroundings. Thats what our &quot;Barefoot&quot; refers to. A type of freedom. Like a foot, thats been freed from the confines of a shoe. We are shaking off the confines of our 4 walls, our material possessions (beyond our bags and our camper anyway). The confines of school, work. The confines of commitment - extra curricular activities, itineraries, meetings, schedules. Barefoot - just for a while. Enough to reset. Bring it on!</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47253_e536443cf38e44969a09fb9de45c897a~mv2.gif"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>