parties, plays and pedicures

/ taking off from the airport /

last weekend's christmas party for reuben's parents' business was such an awesome day. the whole day was a big surprise for everyone involved (except the coordinators, of course) so we certainly weren't expecting a first stop at the airport! the girls and guys split into two groups for the start of the day with the girls getting on the helicopter first.

/ aerial view of palmy /

we headed out over town and made our way toward the ranges - it was such a perfectly sunny and clear day too!

/ flying over the manawatu river /

we flew up over the wind farms and even right by some of the big turbines.

/ looking over the windfarms /

/ flying by a massive turbine /

after the windfarm, we headed over the gorge.

/ manawatu gorge /

after our aerial tour, we landed right on the front lawn of the hiwinui country estate.

/ i could get used to private helitransport :) /

once at hiwinui, we were greeted with bubbles and nibbles and we were each offered to choose from a selection of beauty treatments. i chose the pedicure :)

/ the rear lawn of hiwinui /

after our treatments, we had a couple hours to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery before the boys came to pick us up.

/ my pink toes /

we all got dolled up and ready for our next surprise - dinner at aberdeen!

/ the girls /

and then after aberdeen there was one more part to the night - a play at cetrepoint theatre called penalties, pints and pirouettes, which was surprisingly hilarious.

/ the boys at the tui brewery /

of course while the girls were out at hiwinui, the guys flew out to the tui brewery for a tour and a few pints.

all in all a fantastic day!! it really inspired reuben and i to make enough money to afford helicopter rides more often ;)