Today was our last full day on the North Island (or as I say, the north-east island) so I was up at 0645. After a cup of tea and breakfast, it was the now usual procedure of shower, dress, pack up the luggage, pack the car, check the room and depart.
We were off by 0800 and travelled through Hastings. This was a very nice little town, flowerful because of flower baskets through nearly every street hanging off verandahs and poles. There was a most interesting accident as we headed out – on a very wise and very short street, a car had T-boned a traffic light pole in a traffic island. No other vehicles, no marks on the road and the occupants didn’t seem too worried.
We headed south, then west and over through the mountains to Palmerston North. Here I looked to see if I could find my travelling companion from the Egypt tour, but I didn’t have enough information with me to identify him from the many of similar name in the local telephone book. We had a little look around and found it had grown considerably since I was last there. It was a clean and attractive city and well worth a longer look – but we had no time.
After a relatively short drive to Wellington, we found and checked into our hotel at 1300 but were too early to get a room. I parked the car in their basement car park ($15! – but I wasn’t going to get caught again) and then we walked around the city area and a little of the port area.
We were back at the hotel at 1400 – and the saga started for us again (beware city hotels!). The first room was a double, and had same key as another room (which may have been embarrassing as I just opened the door with the key and walked in (but as soon as I saw luggage I slowed down). We eventually got a twin room, but there was no kettle. After ringing the desk and telling them, the head housekeeper arrived to show us where it was (but it wasn’t) – eventually a kettle arrived.
We did have a casualty, as the last handle on Fran’s suitcase broke off. Now it had to be manhandled everywhere, but could be walked as the walking handle was still there (just).
We went out for a walk and ended up down at the Te Museum and had a look over the museum. It really was very good and even the giant squid was on show (calamari – you could live your life on what was there).
We walked along most of the waterfront and continued up to Parliament House (Beehive). Then we walked back towards the city until we reached the Cable Car terminus (not easy to find) and took that up to the Botanic Gardens.
Unfortunately we arrived after 1700 and the planetarium and most other things were closed, so we walked around and then took the cable car back to town. After a long, but level walk, we arrived at Burger King to have our evening meal. A short walk saw us back at the hotel and, after gathering up all the other things from the car and removing rubbish, we went back to the room and prepared things for tomorrow – which was our ferry crossing to the south-east island and a change of car.
I processed today’s photos, wrote up a summary of today’s blog and prepared for bed. The Internet was too expensive (and limited), so not used and very soon it was to bed and to sleep.
Monday, February 2, 2009
January 3
After our relatively late night, I was up at 0645 and after a cup of tea, breakfast, shower, dressing and packing, we left at 0800 and bade farewell to Rotorua. We set out to Waitomo, so we had gone from the east coast, to the centre and now were heading for the west coast.
We arrived at Waitomo at 1000 and, after parking on the other side of the road, just missed the current tour, so we had to wait for the 1030 tour. This did at least allow us to move to the collection area when the rain was light. While waiting we spoke with a family from Holland and wondered if all the Dutch have departed the Netherlands and are holidaying in New Zealand? Yet each family we spoke to have expressed surprise that so many were over here.
We then did the cave tour. There is quite a walk and then a slow and fairly short (in distance, but not in time) boat trip where we saw great glow-worm sights.
On our way out we called in at an Angora rabbit showroom (courtesy of the nurses from Townsville, who had already been there) and saw one shorn. There was one on display (and humans are not the only animals suffering from vanity) and then a bus tour called in , so another was called on to be shorn. The rabbit (and they are quite large with fur, but considerably smaller without) laid down in a small steel trough and then its front and rear paws were put into little binding straps. Then these were stretched (like a rack) and the rabbit rotated (like a spit). Then it was shorn with an ordinary (but small) shearing blade, just like a sheep. It was very interesting and I took a movie of it. The clothing was beautiful and very soft, but too expensive for us at this time.
We headed over to Napier, back on the east coast, and booked into the motel at 1600. Very friendly staff (and Internet, but limited in quantity, so I only emailed) and then down to the iSite information centre in the city. I found a parking spot and, after getting the walking and driving tour information, we did the walking tour. It was easy to see everyone else doing it because we all had similar maps and books and stopped to look at the same things. At a few places we ran into a walking tour. After (and with a large number of art deco buildings captures on film – well, digital memory card), we drove up to Bluff Hill lookout, returning past many old Art Deco homes.
We shopped at Countdown and then Pack’n’Save to get salad for Fran’s tea and took that back to the motel. Then we drove the other way and got fish, chips and potato cakes for tea and had those back at the motel. We walked to the waterfront from the motel and saw the expanse of the bay (Hawke’s Bay) and walked back past schools, churches and shops.
Once back we did some laundry. Because of the time, we had to use the motel dryer, so we had a conversation with the motel owner and his son about schooling and country/city living in New Zealand. After checking email I had some allowance left, so I then posted some pictures (only 50 MB allowed).
I summarised today’s activities on my blog, then was off to sleep about 2300.
We arrived at Waitomo at 1000 and, after parking on the other side of the road, just missed the current tour, so we had to wait for the 1030 tour. This did at least allow us to move to the collection area when the rain was light. While waiting we spoke with a family from Holland and wondered if all the Dutch have departed the Netherlands and are holidaying in New Zealand? Yet each family we spoke to have expressed surprise that so many were over here.
We then did the cave tour. There is quite a walk and then a slow and fairly short (in distance, but not in time) boat trip where we saw great glow-worm sights.
On our way out we called in at an Angora rabbit showroom (courtesy of the nurses from Townsville, who had already been there) and saw one shorn. There was one on display (and humans are not the only animals suffering from vanity) and then a bus tour called in , so another was called on to be shorn. The rabbit (and they are quite large with fur, but considerably smaller without) laid down in a small steel trough and then its front and rear paws were put into little binding straps. Then these were stretched (like a rack) and the rabbit rotated (like a spit). Then it was shorn with an ordinary (but small) shearing blade, just like a sheep. It was very interesting and I took a movie of it. The clothing was beautiful and very soft, but too expensive for us at this time.
We headed over to Napier, back on the east coast, and booked into the motel at 1600. Very friendly staff (and Internet, but limited in quantity, so I only emailed) and then down to the iSite information centre in the city. I found a parking spot and, after getting the walking and driving tour information, we did the walking tour. It was easy to see everyone else doing it because we all had similar maps and books and stopped to look at the same things. At a few places we ran into a walking tour. After (and with a large number of art deco buildings captures on film – well, digital memory card), we drove up to Bluff Hill lookout, returning past many old Art Deco homes.
We shopped at Countdown and then Pack’n’Save to get salad for Fran’s tea and took that back to the motel. Then we drove the other way and got fish, chips and potato cakes for tea and had those back at the motel. We walked to the waterfront from the motel and saw the expanse of the bay (Hawke’s Bay) and walked back past schools, churches and shops.
Once back we did some laundry. Because of the time, we had to use the motel dryer, so we had a conversation with the motel owner and his son about schooling and country/city living in New Zealand. After checking email I had some allowance left, so I then posted some pictures (only 50 MB allowed).
I summarised today’s activities on my blog, then was off to sleep about 2300.
January 2
Today we were at Thames and determined to find out more, if we could, about mum and granddad’s time at Waihi. It was up at 0700, a cup of tea and a proper breakfast (toast with Vegemite, of course, for me), shower and dress, then pack, pack the car and off.
I just had to take some photos of the motel before we left, so we finally departed 0810.
Given the price of fuel and the remoteness of where we were going, it was necessary to refuel and then take some photos of Thames before we left. As a matter of interest, the last time I was there, the shopping centre was fairly small and had a McDonald’s, which closed with the shopping centre for sit-down meals (eat in) but, because the outside had a drive-through, the outside (take-away) could close a lot later. The shopping centre has expanded, but it looks like McDonald’s still works the same way.
When we arrived at Waihi, we went straight to the Visitor Information Centre. Fran was looking for a gift for Jason and Lisa, which was eventually found in the Arts Centre (a wooden bowl made from the mine timbers from the Mt Martha Mine (where our grandfather, Jason’s great-grandfather, had worked) and then we arrived at the Waihi museum. Here the weather was wet, with constant and quite heavy rain. After running inside, we looked around and I filled out form for information on George Pound to be researched and then returned to me at home (volunteers do the research, but there is a payment to cover costs).
When we left we called into the New World supermarket to buy the makings of lunch at and then we drove to Rotorua. We arrived by 1300 and booked into the motel and at that time Fran booked us in for a hangi and Maori performance that evening. After we settled into the room, we had lunch.
Being iin Rotorua we couldn’t miss mud pools and such, so we wandered off to Ke*** Park for free view of mud pools (and smells of sulphur!).
We drove around town and it started to rain again. After looking at the lake we decided against seeing outside areas due to the inclement weather, so we went to the iSite Visitor Information Centre and booked a “Kiwi Encounter”, then drove there and waited. The tour was popular and many other visitors came up but the tour was full and was the last of the day, so disappointed people (only one day in Rotorua) took the walk through the gardens instead (you could see Kiwis, but you didn’t get the full story) while others booked early for the next day.
At 1600 we did the Kiwi Encounter. It was very good and had an introduction, an egg incubation area (so we saw the eggs being looked at and responding to whistles), a nursery (Kiwis recently hatched) and holding pens (for older Kiwis before being released). All through we got an nteresting commentary.
We went back to the motel and rested until we headed out just before 1745. A French group were on the same tour and we chatted before the bus arrived to pick us up. The bus called in at other motels and hostels to pick others up and went to the booking centre (where those of us who hadn’t yet paid had to pay). While travelling on the bus we spoke with an American couple.
We arrived at Tarmiki where six buses disgorged their passengers for the second (and last) occasion of the evening. The introduction was a dance incorporating meeting and challenging. Just behind us was a family from Manor Lakes (just down the road from where I live). After that we walked through an area set up as a traditional village and there was more dancing, as well as the “chiefs” from each bus competing in displays of strength and skill (if they lost, their wives were forfeit to the local Maori chief, for his sons – fortunately none lost).
After that, as dusk was falling, we went into the Hangi. At our table we met four graduating nurses from Townsville who were there on holiday before settling into working lives.
It was a most enjoyable dinner and there were some interesting performances during the meal. We left about 2200 and back to motel by 2245 after much singing and frivolity on the bus, including verses of “She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes” as we went around (and around and around) roundabouts.
I processed today’s photos, summarised today’s blog and was to bed by 2340. No Internet here so nothing was posted.
I just had to take some photos of the motel before we left, so we finally departed 0810.
Given the price of fuel and the remoteness of where we were going, it was necessary to refuel and then take some photos of Thames before we left. As a matter of interest, the last time I was there, the shopping centre was fairly small and had a McDonald’s, which closed with the shopping centre for sit-down meals (eat in) but, because the outside had a drive-through, the outside (take-away) could close a lot later. The shopping centre has expanded, but it looks like McDonald’s still works the same way.
When we arrived at Waihi, we went straight to the Visitor Information Centre. Fran was looking for a gift for Jason and Lisa, which was eventually found in the Arts Centre (a wooden bowl made from the mine timbers from the Mt Martha Mine (where our grandfather, Jason’s great-grandfather, had worked) and then we arrived at the Waihi museum. Here the weather was wet, with constant and quite heavy rain. After running inside, we looked around and I filled out form for information on George Pound to be researched and then returned to me at home (volunteers do the research, but there is a payment to cover costs).
When we left we called into the New World supermarket to buy the makings of lunch at and then we drove to Rotorua. We arrived by 1300 and booked into the motel and at that time Fran booked us in for a hangi and Maori performance that evening. After we settled into the room, we had lunch.
Being iin Rotorua we couldn’t miss mud pools and such, so we wandered off to Ke*** Park for free view of mud pools (and smells of sulphur!).
We drove around town and it started to rain again. After looking at the lake we decided against seeing outside areas due to the inclement weather, so we went to the iSite Visitor Information Centre and booked a “Kiwi Encounter”, then drove there and waited. The tour was popular and many other visitors came up but the tour was full and was the last of the day, so disappointed people (only one day in Rotorua) took the walk through the gardens instead (you could see Kiwis, but you didn’t get the full story) while others booked early for the next day.
At 1600 we did the Kiwi Encounter. It was very good and had an introduction, an egg incubation area (so we saw the eggs being looked at and responding to whistles), a nursery (Kiwis recently hatched) and holding pens (for older Kiwis before being released). All through we got an nteresting commentary.
We went back to the motel and rested until we headed out just before 1745. A French group were on the same tour and we chatted before the bus arrived to pick us up. The bus called in at other motels and hostels to pick others up and went to the booking centre (where those of us who hadn’t yet paid had to pay). While travelling on the bus we spoke with an American couple.
We arrived at Tarmiki where six buses disgorged their passengers for the second (and last) occasion of the evening. The introduction was a dance incorporating meeting and challenging. Just behind us was a family from Manor Lakes (just down the road from where I live). After that we walked through an area set up as a traditional village and there was more dancing, as well as the “chiefs” from each bus competing in displays of strength and skill (if they lost, their wives were forfeit to the local Maori chief, for his sons – fortunately none lost).
After that, as dusk was falling, we went into the Hangi. At our table we met four graduating nurses from Townsville who were there on holiday before settling into working lives.
It was a most enjoyable dinner and there were some interesting performances during the meal. We left about 2200 and back to motel by 2245 after much singing and frivolity on the bus, including verses of “She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes” as we went around (and around and around) roundabouts.
I processed today’s photos, summarised today’s blog and was to bed by 2340. No Internet here so nothing was posted.
January 1
Today it was up at 0730, prepare a cup of tea, shower, dress, pack my stuff and check the room was clear once Fran had also finished. The luggage came down with us and we checked out at 0815. With Fran tending the luggage, I got the car and then stopped outside the hotel, loaded up (very quickly) and we were on our way out by 0830.
We were near Colin’s place at 0900 but couldn’t find a shop we were looking for. Using the SatNav (and local knowledge – I interrogated someone waiting at the first shopping centre) I found shopping centres , and we went through two centres before we found shops of the type we were looking for open.
We did our shopping and then had breakfast at Burger King (Hungry Jack’s) as hunger was besetting us (and it was nearly three hours since we got up) and then went back to Colin’s – stymied again as no-one answered, so I left a copy of my book and some chocolates on the back table (I found out later they had just gone into a neighbour’s house before we arrived).
We set off south again, headed into Thames and booked into our motel at about 1230. It had a spa bath (which suited Fran) and WiFi (which suited me). We had our lunch in the room. I set my laptop up to upload the pictures of Bay of Islands (a lot) to Flickr and we headed off to Waihi.
We quickly located the Waihi Visitor Information Centre (okay, I followed the directions of the SatNav) and found a volunteer downstairs who had written a history of the town for the period of interest for me (that is, it included 1907 to 1913). She only had a voter’s roll for 1919, after George Pound had left, but rolls do exist for the period I’m interested in. She suggested visiting the museum, but naturally it was not open today. We walked over from the Visitor Information Centre and had a look at the mine.
On our way out of town I found the museum and two supermarkets, so we were prepared for tomorrow. We then drove to Waihi beach and had a look around, but it was a topical beach holiday centre and very crowded. After, we drove along coast north and stopped in at the Hot Water Beach. It was very crowded, a far cry from the last time I was there (with mum). On the beach, Fran spoke with two girls (one from England, one from Scotland) who were shuffling their feet in the sand to get to the hot water – Fran did too, but I had enough from the last time (I scooped it out with my hands then, ending up with sand embedded under my fingernails).
By the time we left the beach (very crowded, so I had to park quite a distance away) it was 1745 so rather than continue up the peninsula and through Coramandel, we headed back directly to Thames.
We cruised town and did our food shopping at Pack’n’Save and then went back to motel. The parking outside the unit was full, so I had to park down and opposite the unit.
Fran cooked and then we had tea and I uploaded the next set of pictures, processed today’s photos, wrote up blog summaries and rewrote some blogs and posted those I had finished.
Then it was off to sleep!
We were near Colin’s place at 0900 but couldn’t find a shop we were looking for. Using the SatNav (and local knowledge – I interrogated someone waiting at the first shopping centre) I found shopping centres , and we went through two centres before we found shops of the type we were looking for open.
We did our shopping and then had breakfast at Burger King (Hungry Jack’s) as hunger was besetting us (and it was nearly three hours since we got up) and then went back to Colin’s – stymied again as no-one answered, so I left a copy of my book and some chocolates on the back table (I found out later they had just gone into a neighbour’s house before we arrived).
We set off south again, headed into Thames and booked into our motel at about 1230. It had a spa bath (which suited Fran) and WiFi (which suited me). We had our lunch in the room. I set my laptop up to upload the pictures of Bay of Islands (a lot) to Flickr and we headed off to Waihi.
We quickly located the Waihi Visitor Information Centre (okay, I followed the directions of the SatNav) and found a volunteer downstairs who had written a history of the town for the period of interest for me (that is, it included 1907 to 1913). She only had a voter’s roll for 1919, after George Pound had left, but rolls do exist for the period I’m interested in. She suggested visiting the museum, but naturally it was not open today. We walked over from the Visitor Information Centre and had a look at the mine.
On our way out of town I found the museum and two supermarkets, so we were prepared for tomorrow. We then drove to Waihi beach and had a look around, but it was a topical beach holiday centre and very crowded. After, we drove along coast north and stopped in at the Hot Water Beach. It was very crowded, a far cry from the last time I was there (with mum). On the beach, Fran spoke with two girls (one from England, one from Scotland) who were shuffling their feet in the sand to get to the hot water – Fran did too, but I had enough from the last time (I scooped it out with my hands then, ending up with sand embedded under my fingernails).
By the time we left the beach (very crowded, so I had to park quite a distance away) it was 1745 so rather than continue up the peninsula and through Coramandel, we headed back directly to Thames.
We cruised town and did our food shopping at Pack’n’Save and then went back to motel. The parking outside the unit was full, so I had to park down and opposite the unit.
Fran cooked and then we had tea and I uploaded the next set of pictures, processed today’s photos, wrote up blog summaries and rewrote some blogs and posted those I had finished.
Then it was off to sleep!
December 31
In Whangerei I woke just before 0700, got up and make tea, made Fran’s skim milk and had Weetbix with Vegemite for breakfast. When I had finished, I named some more photos, had my shower and dressed. As we were moving on today, we packed, I packed the car, returned keys and we left. Here the folly of some shopping was exposed as the handle on Fran’s suitcase (on the side) broke off and so it could only be carried by the top handle.
We went to Whangerei Falls and looked around. This was a very pleasant spot in a town described by many as having no redeeming feature, but it had a lot – its problem was it was just overshadowed by the Bay of Island in the north and Auckland in the south.
In the town centre, we walked around and had a good look at the shops and mall. Fran exchanged money, bought some shirts and had a chat with people she met along the way.
We went out to the Fernery and looked around. This had many examples of different ferns in New Zealand and many other local plants within its humid atmosphere.
We left Whangerei and headed south. On our way we stopped at the Dome Lookout and had lunch. It was remarkable that when we stopped we were the only ones there, but by the time we left we were one of four vehicles. The outlook was good, but marred by clearfelling of forest, clearly visible from the road.
We continued south after, then stopped in Warkworth. We got information on the local area and I went down to the river and took some photos (noticed that Lions had built the playground) and then headed off to look at the large tree. It really was large and eventually Fran managed to get the photo of me that I wanted. There was a factory site further down, but the road there was quite rough so we gave that a miss. We headed into Auckland, and saw large and numerous traffic jams in the opposite direction.
We arrived in Auckland just after 1400 and Fran booked us back into the hotel. I sat in the car while I was waiting and then she took the luggage up. I had no intention of getting another parking ticket!
When Fran got back to the car, we drove around to and through the Domain and then up to the Museum. After parking (and checking the sign carefully) we went to the museum and spent over two hours looking around it. There were some excellent displays, including an earthquake in a house. We had to leave at closing time. While in the area we went to the Duckpond and had a quick look at the hothouses.
On our return to the city centre, I tried to ring Colin but was not able to, so left plans in abeyance for the evening. Back outside the hotel I found some on-the-street parking and we walked to cinemas (Fran thought we might be able to see “Australia”, but the shows had already started and the scheduled showings were to cease at 1900. We had tea at Burger King and walked around the city, trying to find other cinemas, but – all were finishing early for New Year’s Eve.
We walked back to the hotel, parked car in parking station, and then walked back to the hotel room.
Fortunately in this room I could set the air conditioner to run continuously (as our room faced the setting sun). I processed my photos for today, wrote up blogs (unfortunately only in point form, so they didn’t get posted in time), answered some SMSes and a call from Scott.
We went off to bed early. I was sneezing from something.
We went to Whangerei Falls and looked around. This was a very pleasant spot in a town described by many as having no redeeming feature, but it had a lot – its problem was it was just overshadowed by the Bay of Island in the north and Auckland in the south.
In the town centre, we walked around and had a good look at the shops and mall. Fran exchanged money, bought some shirts and had a chat with people she met along the way.
We went out to the Fernery and looked around. This had many examples of different ferns in New Zealand and many other local plants within its humid atmosphere.
We left Whangerei and headed south. On our way we stopped at the Dome Lookout and had lunch. It was remarkable that when we stopped we were the only ones there, but by the time we left we were one of four vehicles. The outlook was good, but marred by clearfelling of forest, clearly visible from the road.
We continued south after, then stopped in Warkworth. We got information on the local area and I went down to the river and took some photos (noticed that Lions had built the playground) and then headed off to look at the large tree. It really was large and eventually Fran managed to get the photo of me that I wanted. There was a factory site further down, but the road there was quite rough so we gave that a miss. We headed into Auckland, and saw large and numerous traffic jams in the opposite direction.
We arrived in Auckland just after 1400 and Fran booked us back into the hotel. I sat in the car while I was waiting and then she took the luggage up. I had no intention of getting another parking ticket!
When Fran got back to the car, we drove around to and through the Domain and then up to the Museum. After parking (and checking the sign carefully) we went to the museum and spent over two hours looking around it. There were some excellent displays, including an earthquake in a house. We had to leave at closing time. While in the area we went to the Duckpond and had a quick look at the hothouses.
On our return to the city centre, I tried to ring Colin but was not able to, so left plans in abeyance for the evening. Back outside the hotel I found some on-the-street parking and we walked to cinemas (Fran thought we might be able to see “Australia”, but the shows had already started and the scheduled showings were to cease at 1900. We had tea at Burger King and walked around the city, trying to find other cinemas, but – all were finishing early for New Year’s Eve.
We walked back to the hotel, parked car in parking station, and then walked back to the hotel room.
Fortunately in this room I could set the air conditioner to run continuously (as our room faced the setting sun). I processed my photos for today, wrote up blogs (unfortunately only in point form, so they didn’t get posted in time), answered some SMSes and a call from Scott.
We went off to bed early. I was sneezing from something.
December 30
Today I was up at 0700 for our last day in the Bay of Islands. Breakfast was tea and toast. Then we had to prepare for both the day and moving on that evening. The car was packed and we were all ready by 0815. I checked out and moved the car to a blank spot. We got to the town wharf by 0830 and enquired about our discount (for taking two Fuller’s trips on consecutive days) and were told we would have to get it from the place we booked (the motel). We waited for the boat – and made sure we were on the correct one as per the manifest.
The (Cream) cruise left at 0930 and we sat up the front on the top deck. Here we met a Dutch couple and their two young children. We chatted about a number of things during the cruise and lunchtime.
The boat (catamaran) stopped at Russell to pick up some more and then we headed off on the cruise proper. We delivered some parcels (wine for New Year and a rubbish bin, and a paper at another), had a good look around at a number of different islands and learned of their history and landed on a resort island for lunch at 1230. We had some lunch and then chatted with an English couple from just out of London (the husband was an apiarist), and the Dutch couple after lunch (while their children were playing in the water and on the beach).
We were back on the boat about 1400 and saw more islands and beaches, then through the hole in the rock. We returned via Cape Brett and more islands and beaches. At one, we were supposed to pick someone up, but no-one showed so we continued on with some extra free time, which allowed us to travel inshore near other features on the way back to Russell. We were back in Paihia by 1615 and to the motel a few minutes later. We got the refund and left the motel.
We called in to have a look at the falls, shopped at Woolworths and then drove down the road to Whangerei. After checking into the motel, settling in (there were two rooms, including one with a stove) and having a cup of tea, we went out to Northlands club for tea. During the cooking, we chatted with the chef, and on his suggestion, we went out to Whangerei Heads to see it before going back to motel. On our way back we called in and shopped at New World and soon got back to the motel.
I downloaded photos, charged all the batteries, started to name photos and started to write my blog, but I was tired and so went to sleep fairly quickly instead of finishing everything.
The (Cream) cruise left at 0930 and we sat up the front on the top deck. Here we met a Dutch couple and their two young children. We chatted about a number of things during the cruise and lunchtime.
The boat (catamaran) stopped at Russell to pick up some more and then we headed off on the cruise proper. We delivered some parcels (wine for New Year and a rubbish bin, and a paper at another), had a good look around at a number of different islands and learned of their history and landed on a resort island for lunch at 1230. We had some lunch and then chatted with an English couple from just out of London (the husband was an apiarist), and the Dutch couple after lunch (while their children were playing in the water and on the beach).
We were back on the boat about 1400 and saw more islands and beaches, then through the hole in the rock. We returned via Cape Brett and more islands and beaches. At one, we were supposed to pick someone up, but no-one showed so we continued on with some extra free time, which allowed us to travel inshore near other features on the way back to Russell. We were back in Paihia by 1615 and to the motel a few minutes later. We got the refund and left the motel.
We called in to have a look at the falls, shopped at Woolworths and then drove down the road to Whangerei. After checking into the motel, settling in (there were two rooms, including one with a stove) and having a cup of tea, we went out to Northlands club for tea. During the cooking, we chatted with the chef, and on his suggestion, we went out to Whangerei Heads to see it before going back to motel. On our way back we called in and shopped at New World and soon got back to the motel.
I downloaded photos, charged all the batteries, started to name photos and started to write my blog, but I was tired and so went to sleep fairly quickly instead of finishing everything.
December 29
Today it was awake at 0545, but not up until 0550. I prepared cups of tea and served them up with biscuits, then made my toast. Unfortunately I burned my fingers when I went to grab the toaster to put it away.
After that I showered, dressed, and then checked my email and uploaded some more photos. While I was doing that, Fran showered and dressed. We were ready to leave by 0710, so sat in the unti as it was pouring rain outside.
After a few false alarms (the buses doing tours pick up for each motel, so every tour who had people booked from our motel stopped here) our bus arrived at 0725 – it continued raining steadily.
We set off and were soon up to the Puketi Kauri Forest walk where we walked around, taking about ten minutes. By now the rain had backed off to a light drizzle.
Not too long after we arrived at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom. Here, apart from a toilet break, we were able to see a staircase within one piece of swamp Kauri and a lot of (very expensive) furniture made from other pieces. We also bought postcards which were to be posted from the northernmost tip of New Zealand and quickly wrote messages on them so the driver could make sure they got posted.
Out trip then took us past Mangonui, Doubtless Bay and Kaitaia, and we soon arrived at the Sports Club at Hauhora for an early lunch (our times and direction were governed by the low tide, which was mid-afternoon today) and 1100 was an early lunch! We were soon off to Cape Rienga and a short walk through a new arch let us see the area before we walked about ten minutes to reach the lighthouse proper (I went via the bluff while Fran walked directly). After looking around there we drove to the turn-off to the Ninety Mile beach (actually about sixty-four kilometres long) and started into ta creek bed until we reached the sand dunes, where the braver attempted sandboarding (after an intensive minute course on how to do it and all the safety aspects). We spent about twenty minutes there, so everyone who wanted to was able to slide a few times.
We continued our drive along the creek and were quickly onto the Ninety Mile beach. We drove along the beach, pausing at a few places (we saw a little penguin resting on beach, an island with hole in it, many vehicles and the remains of two wrecks) and walking along the beach twice.
There were a lot fishing and a few who were swimming. The drive along the beach was about forty-five minutes and we were off the beach and quickly back to the Ancient Kauri Kingdom. We had an ice cream and the driver had to wash the bus to remove salt and sand.
It seemed like a very short time before we were back to Paihai and dropped off at the Bounty Motel. I processed today’s photos, watched the news and then we walked down to the town centre (nearly two hundred metres) for fish (Fran) and chips (me), which we had back at the motel while I uploaded photos and a blog (but I was getting behind already at this stage, so a summary was all I wrote then – I expanded on it a few days later). Quickly it was to sleep (with the iPod to drown out noises for within and without).
After that I showered, dressed, and then checked my email and uploaded some more photos. While I was doing that, Fran showered and dressed. We were ready to leave by 0710, so sat in the unti as it was pouring rain outside.
After a few false alarms (the buses doing tours pick up for each motel, so every tour who had people booked from our motel stopped here) our bus arrived at 0725 – it continued raining steadily.
We set off and were soon up to the Puketi Kauri Forest walk where we walked around, taking about ten minutes. By now the rain had backed off to a light drizzle.
Not too long after we arrived at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom. Here, apart from a toilet break, we were able to see a staircase within one piece of swamp Kauri and a lot of (very expensive) furniture made from other pieces. We also bought postcards which were to be posted from the northernmost tip of New Zealand and quickly wrote messages on them so the driver could make sure they got posted.
Out trip then took us past Mangonui, Doubtless Bay and Kaitaia, and we soon arrived at the Sports Club at Hauhora for an early lunch (our times and direction were governed by the low tide, which was mid-afternoon today) and 1100 was an early lunch! We were soon off to Cape Rienga and a short walk through a new arch let us see the area before we walked about ten minutes to reach the lighthouse proper (I went via the bluff while Fran walked directly). After looking around there we drove to the turn-off to the Ninety Mile beach (actually about sixty-four kilometres long) and started into ta creek bed until we reached the sand dunes, where the braver attempted sandboarding (after an intensive minute course on how to do it and all the safety aspects). We spent about twenty minutes there, so everyone who wanted to was able to slide a few times.
We continued our drive along the creek and were quickly onto the Ninety Mile beach. We drove along the beach, pausing at a few places (we saw a little penguin resting on beach, an island with hole in it, many vehicles and the remains of two wrecks) and walking along the beach twice.
There were a lot fishing and a few who were swimming. The drive along the beach was about forty-five minutes and we were off the beach and quickly back to the Ancient Kauri Kingdom. We had an ice cream and the driver had to wash the bus to remove salt and sand.
It seemed like a very short time before we were back to Paihai and dropped off at the Bounty Motel. I processed today’s photos, watched the news and then we walked down to the town centre (nearly two hundred metres) for fish (Fran) and chips (me), which we had back at the motel while I uploaded photos and a blog (but I was getting behind already at this stage, so a summary was all I wrote then – I expanded on it a few days later). Quickly it was to sleep (with the iPod to drown out noises for within and without).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
