Tarawera Falls

Ben went back to the States on Sunday for work. The kids are on "holiday" from school so I have been crafting adventures and jumping on opportunities to get out of the house.

On Monday we packed a picnic and decided to got to Whakatane for the day... but on the way, a sign for Tarawera Falls caught my eye and we decided to take a detour.

If you read anything about Tarawera Falls - you will learn that you need a permit to gain access to the logging road that leads to the falls. I didn't have a permit... or map... or cell phone service. It was a lot more remote than I anticipated.

Before we got out of the car, I actually gave the kids a formal speech about being careful today... no jumping off big rocks, or running too close to the edge, no throwing sticks or pushing each other... because our daddy doctor was on the other side of the world and we were in the middle of nowhere.

About two minutes after we got on the trail, Maggie fell on a rock and cut her knee. Judging by her scream, I thought we were surely going to need stitches (maybe even an amputation). Panic ensued and I over reacted... breaking one of my golden rules of parenting.

Thank goodness it was just a scratch... but because I broke "the rule" - Maggie spent most of the day nursing her wounds, comfortably seated next to Jonah, in the jogger.

It was unbelievably beautiful and well worth the drive. Next time, we will get a permit and let someone know where we will be tramping.