Thank you for every word, you are both such an encouragement to my heart. I'm a kiwi living in Israel with my husband and children. Living through this ongoing war, navigating parenting through it all, and dealing with personal issues.. really challenging days. Missing NZ nature very much and the space and calm that is found there. I have been in tears from almost every video you post recently. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, to encourage and to be vulnerable alongside all of us who are also struggling. I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your dear Mum. So sadly my Mum who lives in NZ also has cancer, but we only get to see her every few years because of the distance. Your words are such comfort. Sending love from across the oceans.
Dear Amy, Never have I wanted to reach through the screen of my computer and offer a big hug as much as I want to right now. Thank you so much for messaging us and sharing how you feel with these heartfelt words. I can't begin to imagine the suffering you are going through, but please know that reading your words makes my heart beat stronger and my voice speak louder. Please feel the love I am sending you across the seas. The love that we are all sending you. Me, Brian, and all of New Zealand. Nui te aroha Stay strong, lovely kiwi, Amy. Our hearts beat with yours. Liz and Brian ❤️ xxx
Such a beautiful place to feel the peacefulness and enjoy nature at it's best. I'm so glad you found a special place to go to during the extremely tough times you've faced recently. 😢
One of my favourite things in New Zealand reserves are piwakawaka, they'll come close and chatter away, you can copy their squeaks and they'll respond, they wait for you to disturb insects and dance around in the air snapping up those insects. You can actually hear their beaks snap shut mid flight chasing a tricking to catch tasty bug. Zero fear of mammals... hence the jurassic park fence.
Oh my gosh, Yes!! The cheeky little Fantail! Thank you for sharing the Māori name, it made me look it up and see the photo (and made me smile!) Love this bird too x
A quote from John Burrows summarises my relationship with the NZ landscape when I come back to my happy place for a visit. Great memories of times shared with my late husband, I still feel the connection to him when I return. "I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order" .Pam from Melbourne
School's Music Camp end of 1988 at meeting of the waters. "Short" walk up to the lake and the three hour loop--- us nerds were not impressed, but looking back...
Just got back from our trip from Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) and Thailand (Phuket) and you are so right about being in nature. It was a great contrast with our whole being feeling so relaxed when we were in Cambodia and Phuket amongst nature. That was when it reminded me how lucky we are living in NZ
Thank you for sharing this place with all of us!. It definitely looks like a beautiful space to spend time relaxing, healing and getting away from the everyday stresses. Have never been to that lake but we did travel the Forgotten Highway in 2013 after driving up from Christchurch to attend the Beach Hop at Whangamata . It was a great drive and we made a lot of detours getting there and along the way back home to spend some time in the great outdoors. Nature is indeed amazing. 😄
Our dearest Liz and Brian, we are so happy that you took time off to enjoy nature. It always provides the energy balance we need. 💕What a beautiful, amazing place you have not far from your home.💕 We are so impressed with how New Zealand keeps its nature perfectly protected and maintained for everyone to enjoy. 👌👍We can not wait to visit this beautiful country. I hope you recharged, had time to reflect, and healed. You both are an amazing couple. 💕We are so happy to see you laughing and joking. Love this energy. Enjoy every minute there. Lots of love to both of you💖💖
Thank you, my friend! And lots of love to you and dear Saviz too, Renata. You will love visiting the lake when you visit, it is magical. ❤️ Sending so much love xxx Liz and Brian
I'm sorry to say I don't watch your channel religiously, but somehow the videos I do catch from you guys always resonate so much, and seemingly at the right time. I'm so glad you put in to words the feeling that I know i've been missing. That sense of calm and grounding that I've often felt at home in NZ, and like you say, especially at times of grief, I've been there and a quiet walk on an almost empty beach is so healing, i'm sorry about the loss of your mum. Throughout my time in NZ I've lived in Asia, the US, and now the UK, and travelled a lot. I know the UK (I'm in Cambridge) is a great place, full of charm, history, and activity, but I've been searching for that feeling of calm, connectedness with nature, and being able to disconnect from the outside world and recharge. I'm not spiritual in anyway but talking about NZ with my British husband whose lived in NZ for 14 years, I feel so connected to NZ, the land, as if it runs through my veins. And I always felt so grounded after spending time outdoors somewhere, no other people, hearing only nature. It's something I haven't found elsewhere. I also love that you don't have to pay at the entrance of that reserve, it doesn't matter if we pay through taxes but the idea that your time in that space is not made transactional at the time - you feel welcome and like you are meant to be there. I always agree and laugh it off when i'm talking with English people and they say NZ is nice but they could never live there, that there's nothing there. Oh, but NZ has so much, for everything NZ doesn't have I would take what it does.
What a beautiful message, B. Thank you so very much for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts. I feel the same...as you say, there are many lovely places (I love Devon and Cornwall) that are equally lovely, but they just don't (or didn't for me) have the same grounding FEEL. The connection. Thank you, I am so very appreciative of you taking the time to share, especially since the majority of our family live in England and we are always wondering if we'd feel the same connection and calm over there as we do here. Sending heaps of love and happiness to the UK, 🇬🇧❤️ with love, Liz (and Brian) xx
Ma te natura e marie, e atawhai i to wairua - nature soothes and nurtures your soul. Ka whakakiia koe e te natura, ka hono koe ki to whanau - nature fills you up and connects you to your birth right. I am so glad you find your peace here in NZ. Take care my friend.❤ Arohanui Tracy
What a beautiful place, love the walk around the lake! Love all the birds in your video. Signing up to your videos and joining the it's a drama group made moving to New Zealand soooooo much better. What a great community you two have created for so many, thanks so much! ❤
Thank YOU, Randy! Having you as one of early members of the community and then meeting you both in real life and becoming friends has been a joy. Thank you for being such wonderful people, NZ is lucky to have you back here 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇳🇿🇳🇿 xx
This is a very Maori principle, we connect with our land, water and mountains and become grounded and as immovable in our mana and our soul as they are....tho you're not Maori I can see you understand it at a deep level, just wonderful!
Ahh...the beautiful Māori culture speaks volumes to us. So simple yet so very deep. I connect with it and I love it. Thank you for sharing it with us ❤️ Liz x
One of many stunning natural retreats in New Zealand. Mother Nature can rejuvinate body, mind and soul. Take your shoes off to connect to the Earth and turn your face to the Sun and smile. Best therapy in the World.
Awesome vid, Liz and the...Bro😳 The bird sounds in NZ are so soothing and calming, unlike here in Brizzy, where you have cockatoos, bats, crowes, kookaburras, and if one goes off at 3 in the morning the whole tree full of them would just go ape. Rainbow lorikeets, and cockatoos at sunset are deafening, when they come home too roost. The only bird sound I enjoy here, are the magpies, at least they can sing.😂 It's great that you have found your happy place. Kia kaha.❤
So glad you enjoyed it, Sam! Crikey...it must be like living inside an aviary?!! Then again...I think I would love it...🦇 🦜🦜🐦⬛🐧! Thank you for joining us, Sam, sending much love to (noisy) Brizzy 😘🇦🇺 Liz and the Bro x
Well - what a stunner of a show! I have been around for decades and never knew of that place. Dare I say that you are becoming a true Kiwi and enjoying nature, and understanding nature and commuting with nature. And finding out that nature is a great healer. What was missing was the thermos! (I dare say you had one - that would have made the picture complete.) With love Mr G
Thank you. And what better person than you to have introduced so much of this culture to us through your messages of support and gentle reminders. You are wonderful and we love you, Mr G xx❤️
Only lived here 60 years and never heard of this amazing place. Will def be on the bucket list now. Thanks for all your amazing content. As always hugs to you both.
Thank you once again Liz and Brian, for such a thought provoking video. As you know I have only visited NZ twice, but really fell in love with the place. We would have been again and again had my husbands health allowed it. It was one of his biggest disappointments when his medical team said no. So I get my NZ fix through your videos, and the many others I find on You Tube (yours are best of course!) Much love, and thanks as always. xxxx
Ill go there when im around that neck of the woods, thankyou guys, your awesome, just a little question, are yous going to walk the taranaki mountain trail ?
Thank you for joining us! Yes...We have talked about doing the mountain trail for years but still haven't...isn't it always the way?? Right on our doorstep too... (I blame my knees Wakaroa ...😆)
Hiya 😄😄 Brian and Liz. Condolences on the loss of your mum/ mother in law.Its hard as i lost my wife recently but we go on.I am a true blue Kiwi and have have travelled extensively but really enjoy your podcasts.You have the Kiwi energy and find the good in everyone. In all my travels I have met some extremely good people and as much as I have enjoyed other countries without trying to compare to home its differcult and enjoyed what THEY had to offer. I was recently in Cornwall (England) Launceston, but i have to admit the Brits have a different sense of humour and i found to be a little stand off ish. Saying Kiaora goodmorning how are you just gave blank looks😀. Was taken to some nice areas , Truro, Padstow, Newquay ,Bocastle etc and the scenery was nice but i still missed the Kiwi attitude if that makes sense.So used to walking down the street and getting the head lift and smile with the odd Bro thrown in. I am glad you have intergrated so well and love your new home all be it 13 odd years already. Keep doing what you are doing, as reading all the comments you bring joy to many people. If i can put the smile on the face of just one person a day , I am happy.
Hi Brian & Liz blessings to you both and may God help you in your time of need .... remember death is not the end of one but the end of schooling on this planet for one take heart in knowing that our lord will be coming back to raise the sleeping ones back to a better new life with Jesus in charge of the world very soon and not man anyhow by the looks of your backyard from the other vids ive seen of you two out the back of your place it looks amazing the view of mt Taranaki especially with snow on top of it in the background and the rolling green hills ......just stunning
Most beautiful places are overcrowded now to be compared with tourists and out of towners going to these so called gems in quiet places. Can't even enjoy some time by ourselves anymore.
hi love the place it,s 40 years since i was there if i could have afford to have stayed there i would have but cost is to high on a pension now living in Philippines but god it,s a truly hot one this year anything from 30 to 35C but any way once again enjoy yr vlogs and take care both use
Thank you for every word, you are both such an encouragement to my heart. I'm a kiwi living in Israel with my husband and children. Living through this ongoing war, navigating parenting through it all, and dealing with personal issues.. really challenging days. Missing NZ nature very much and the space and calm that is found there. I have been in tears from almost every video you post recently. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, to encourage and to be vulnerable alongside all of us who are also struggling. I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your dear Mum.
So sadly my Mum who lives in NZ also has cancer, but we only get to see her every few years because of the distance. Your words are such comfort. Sending love from across the oceans.
Dear Amy,
Never have I wanted to reach through the screen of my computer and offer a big hug as much as I want to right now.
Thank you so much for messaging us and sharing how you feel with these heartfelt words. I can't begin to imagine the suffering you are going through, but please know that reading your words makes my heart beat stronger and my voice speak louder.
Please feel the love I am sending you across the seas. The love that we are all sending you. Me, Brian, and all of New Zealand.
Nui te aroha
Stay strong, lovely kiwi, Amy. Our hearts beat with yours.
Liz and Brian ❤️ xxx
Praying for you both at this difficult time with the loss of your mother and mother-in-law and grandmother...God bless you all...
Thank you, Koralee. Your kindness means so much to us. Thank you ❤️ With love, Liz and Brian
Such a beautiful place to feel the peacefulness and enjoy nature at it's best. I'm so glad you found a special place to go to during the extremely tough times you've faced recently. 😢
Thank you, Lorraine, we appreciate you being with us and for your kind words. Have a great weekend, Liz and Brian 😊
One of my favourite things in New Zealand reserves are piwakawaka, they'll come close and chatter away, you can copy their squeaks and they'll respond, they wait for you to disturb insects and dance around in the air snapping up those insects. You can actually hear their beaks snap shut mid flight chasing a tricking to catch tasty bug. Zero fear of mammals... hence the jurassic park fence.
Oh my gosh, Yes!! The cheeky little Fantail! Thank you for sharing the Māori name, it made me look it up and see the photo (and made me smile!) Love this bird too x
A quote from John Burrows summarises my relationship with the NZ landscape when I come back to my happy place for a visit. Great memories of times shared with my late husband, I still feel the connection to him when I return. "I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order" .Pam from Melbourne
Beautiful, Pam. Thank you for sharing ❤️
NZ landscape is "velvet to the eyes"!
P.S: The ducks are asking: "where's the bread mate?!"
Oh, so true…Thank you for joining us, I hope it relaxed you! 🥰
School's Music Camp end of 1988 at meeting of the waters. "Short" walk up to the lake and the three hour loop--- us nerds were not impressed, but looking back...
Hehe! “The good old days” eh, Rich?? 😂
Thanks for being with us! 😊
Just got back from our trip from Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) and Thailand (Phuket) and you are so right about being in nature. It was a great contrast with our whole being feeling so relaxed when we were in Cambodia and Phuket amongst nature.
That was when it reminded me how lucky we are living in NZ
Welcome home, Mattie 🥰 I can’t agree with you more. So happy to have you back in NZ relaxed and well 😊🇳🇿 x
Thank you for sharing this place with all of us!. It definitely looks like a beautiful space to spend time relaxing, healing and getting away from the everyday stresses. Have never been to that lake but we did travel the Forgotten Highway in 2013 after driving up from Christchurch to attend the Beach Hop at Whangamata . It was a great drive and we made a lot of detours getting there and along the way back home to spend some time in the great outdoors. Nature is indeed amazing. 😄
We are glad you enjoyed it, Susan! Have a wonderful weekend my friend 🥰
Our dearest Liz and Brian, we are so happy that you took time off to enjoy nature. It always provides the energy balance we need. 💕What a beautiful, amazing place you have not far from your home.💕 We are so impressed with how New Zealand keeps its nature perfectly protected and maintained for everyone to enjoy. 👌👍We can not wait to visit this beautiful country. I hope you recharged, had time to reflect, and healed. You both are an amazing couple. 💕We are so happy to see you laughing and joking. Love this energy. Enjoy every minute there. Lots of love to both of you💖💖
Thank you, my friend! And lots of love to you and dear Saviz too, Renata. You will love visiting the lake when you visit, it is magical. ❤️ Sending so much love xxx Liz and Brian
I'm sorry to say I don't watch your channel religiously, but somehow the videos I do catch from you guys always resonate so much, and seemingly at the right time. I'm so glad you put in to words the feeling that I know i've been missing. That sense of calm and grounding that I've often felt at home in NZ, and like you say, especially at times of grief, I've been there and a quiet walk on an almost empty beach is so healing, i'm sorry about the loss of your mum. Throughout my time in NZ I've lived in Asia, the US, and now the UK, and travelled a lot. I know the UK (I'm in Cambridge) is a great place, full of charm, history, and activity, but I've been searching for that feeling of calm, connectedness with nature, and being able to disconnect from the outside world and recharge. I'm not spiritual in anyway but talking about NZ with my British husband whose lived in NZ for 14 years, I feel so connected to NZ, the land, as if it runs through my veins. And I always felt so grounded after spending time outdoors somewhere, no other people, hearing only nature. It's something I haven't found elsewhere. I also love that you don't have to pay at the entrance of that reserve, it doesn't matter if we pay through taxes but the idea that your time in that space is not made transactional at the time - you feel welcome and like you are meant to be there. I always agree and laugh it off when i'm talking with English people and they say NZ is nice but they could never live there, that there's nothing there. Oh, but NZ has so much, for everything NZ doesn't have I would take what it does.
What a beautiful message, B. Thank you so very much for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts.
I feel the same...as you say, there are many lovely places (I love Devon and Cornwall) that are equally lovely, but they just don't (or didn't for me) have the same grounding FEEL. The connection.
Thank you, I am so very appreciative of you taking the time to share, especially since the majority of our family live in England and we are always wondering if we'd feel the same connection and calm over there as we do here.
Sending heaps of love and happiness to the UK, 🇬🇧❤️
with love,
Liz (and Brian) xx
Ma te natura e marie, e atawhai i to wairua - nature soothes and nurtures your soul. Ka whakakiia koe e te natura, ka hono koe ki to whanau - nature fills you up and connects you to your birth right.
I am so glad you find your peace here in NZ. Take care my friend.❤
Arohanui
Tracy
Thank you, Tracy. Such beautiful words. You are wonderful ❤️
Your friend,
Liz x
What a beautiful place, love the walk around the lake! Love all the birds in your video. Signing up to your videos and joining the it's a drama group made moving to New Zealand soooooo much better. What a great community you two have created for so many, thanks so much! ❤
Thank YOU, Randy! Having you as one of early members of the community and then meeting you both in real life and becoming friends has been a joy. Thank you for being such wonderful people, NZ is lucky to have you back here 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇳🇿🇳🇿 xx
This is a very Maori principle, we connect with our land, water and mountains and become grounded and as immovable in our mana and our soul as they are....tho you're not Maori I can see you understand it at a deep level, just wonderful!
Ahh...the beautiful Māori culture speaks volumes to us. So simple yet so very deep. I connect with it and I love it. Thank you for sharing it with us ❤️ Liz x
One of many stunning natural retreats in New Zealand. Mother Nature can rejuvinate body, mind and soul. Take your shoes off to connect to the Earth and turn your face to the Sun and smile. Best therapy in the World.
100% right...Thank you for joining us, Paul, we appreciate you very much. Have a great week 😊
Best wishes to you guy's ❤
Thank you, Chris, and the same to you my friend ❤️
Thank you for the video and God bless you
You are most welcome, Bruce. Thank you for joining us 😊
Awesome vid, Liz and the...Bro😳
The bird sounds in NZ are so soothing and calming, unlike here in Brizzy, where you have cockatoos, bats, crowes, kookaburras, and if one goes off at 3 in the morning the whole tree full of them would just go ape. Rainbow lorikeets, and cockatoos at sunset are deafening, when they come home too roost. The only bird sound I enjoy here, are the magpies, at least they can sing.😂 It's great that you have found your happy place. Kia kaha.❤
So glad you enjoyed it, Sam! Crikey...it must be like living inside an aviary?!! Then again...I think I would love it...🦇 🦜🦜🐦⬛🐧!
Thank you for joining us, Sam, sending much love to (noisy) Brizzy 😘🇦🇺
Liz and the Bro x
What a lovely place. I have made a note .... I'll visit it one day 🙂
Thank you for joining us! Have a lovely weekend 😊
Well - what a stunner of a show! I have been around for decades and never knew of that place. Dare I say that you are becoming a true Kiwi and enjoying nature, and understanding nature and commuting with nature. And finding out that nature is a great healer. What was missing was the thermos! (I dare say you had one - that would have made the picture complete.) With love Mr G
Thank you. And what better person than you to have introduced so much of this culture to us through your messages of support and gentle reminders. You are wonderful and we love you, Mr G xx❤️
As a Kiwi now living in Australia I never knew about this amazing DOC sanctuary.
Hi Robert, perhaps when you next visit you can take a visit ☺️ I think you will love it 🥰
You are both such a lovely couple, thank you so much!
Only lived here 60 years and never heard of this amazing place. Will def be on the bucket list now. Thanks for all your amazing content. As always hugs to you both.
Thank you, my friend. Hugs right back to you, Anna ❤️ Liz and Bri x
Thank you once again Liz and Brian, for such a thought provoking video. As you know I have only visited NZ twice, but really fell in love with the place. We would have been again and again had my husbands health allowed it. It was one of his biggest disappointments when his medical team said no. So I get my NZ fix through your videos, and the many others I find on You Tube (yours are best of course!) Much love, and thanks as always. xxxx
We are happy to oblige Chris!
Have a great weekend, my friend, and thank you for being with us and taking the time to say hi! You are wonderful xx 😊
Ill go there when im around that neck of the woods, thankyou guys, your awesome, just a little question, are yous going to walk the taranaki mountain trail ?
Thank you for joining us! Yes...We have talked about doing the mountain trail for years but still haven't...isn't it always the way?? Right on our doorstep too... (I blame my knees
Wakaroa ...😆)
Thank you
You're welcome x
Thank you both for amazing words and insights
My spot for exactly the same reasons is Lake Mangamahoe dam
Thank you for joining us, Scott. We appreciate you very much. Oh, yes...what a truly beautiful spot. Magical ❤️ Liz and Brian x
Sò glad you make this beautiful memories 💖 nobody can steal that from you 😂
It was all the more lovely to know you joined us, Marlène. Thank you! 🥰 xx
great stuff, is the black swan in the background not native to NZ?
No, Greg, I believe it's Australian 🇦🇺 🦢🦢
Hiya 😄😄 Brian and Liz. Condolences on the loss of your mum/ mother in law.Its hard as i lost my wife recently but we go on.I am a true blue Kiwi and have have travelled extensively but really enjoy your podcasts.You have the Kiwi energy and find the good in everyone. In all my travels I have met some extremely good people and as much as I have enjoyed other countries without trying to compare to home its differcult and enjoyed what THEY had to offer. I was recently in Cornwall (England) Launceston, but i have to admit the Brits have a different sense of humour and i found to be a little stand off ish. Saying Kiaora goodmorning how are you just gave blank looks😀. Was taken to some nice areas , Truro, Padstow, Newquay ,Bocastle etc and the scenery was nice but i still missed the Kiwi attitude if that makes sense.So used to walking down the street and getting the head lift and smile with the odd Bro thrown in. I am glad you have intergrated so well and love your new home all be it 13 odd years already. Keep doing what you are doing, as reading all the comments you bring joy to many people. If i can put the smile on the face of just one person a day , I am happy.
This nature is absolutely Godley Amen 🙏 🙌 👏
❤️ It really is x
Hi Brian & Liz blessings to you both and may God help you in your time of need .... remember death is not the end of one but the end of schooling on this planet for one take heart in knowing that our lord will be coming back to raise the sleeping ones back to a better new life with Jesus in charge of the world very soon and not man anyhow by the looks of your backyard from the other vids ive seen of you two out the back of your place it looks amazing the view of mt Taranaki especially with snow on top of it in the background and the rolling green hills ......just stunning
Thank you for your kind thoughts, we appreciate you very much 😊 Liz and Brian
Just letting your mind repair and mourn without any extra noise aye
That's the one, Karlo. Exactly right ❤️
Most beautiful places are overcrowded now to be compared with tourists and out of towners going to these so called gems in quiet places.
Can't even enjoy some time by ourselves anymore.
Its a shame new zealand is so expensive
This place is free, Perry (which makes it all the more special!) thank you for joining us ☺️
Not cats and dogs when you come to the lake
Very true! 😊
hi love the place it,s 40 years since i was there if i could have afford to have stayed there i would have but cost is to high on a pension now living in Philippines but god it,s a truly hot one this year anything from 30 to 35C but any way once again enjoy yr vlogs and take care both use
Thanks for being with us, Rob! Have a great weekend 😊