Ngawha Hot Pools

Leaving Awanui we drove past Taipa to Cable Bay, where we walked along the beach. There were sandy areas and rock pools.

Back in Kaeo we returned to the Mad Hatter cafe...

...then had a fossick in the antique/second hand/book shop.

I would need a lot of time here, which we didn't have, so will have to revisit another time.

Final stop on our tiki tour - Ngawha Hot Springs. This pool complex has been upgraded since our last visit a few years ago.

There were many small pools of differing temperature. Traditionally, as well as relaxing, the pools were known to have healing properties. The water in some pools was black, in others green. Temperatures were from 30-40 degrees.

 

Mainly Mangonui

First thing this morning we wandered around the jetty at Totara North. Everything was very tranquil.

Next stop was Mangonui, another harbour nearby. Mangonui has just had a new boardwalk and jetties built.

Can't go past a good cafe. This was the Little Kitchen, in one of Mangonui's old buildings.

We decided to walk a track around the Rangikapiti Peninsula and up to the pa site.  We turned at the police station...

...and made our way around another arm of the harbour...

...to the start of the track.

The summit had amazing views up and down the coast.

The track went through shady native bush, also with good views.

More local humour.

We were feeling pretty hot so were happy to find this ice cream shop.

In the afternoon we drove to Awanui where we walked around the old graveyard at this church, established in the early 1800s.

 

To Totara North

First stop on our way north from Kerikeri was Kaeo. This was an early colonial settlement and has some interesting old buildings.

Far north humour.

Coffee stop at the Mad Hatter's Cafe.

We parked the bus at a freedom camping area at Totara North...

later I went for a walk...

...that's St Paul's at Whangaroa, across the harbour.

Some swamp kauri outside the Gumdiggers pub.

Further down the harbour there was a museum but it was closed. Lots of old machinery and murals outside though.

 

New Bus - to Kerikeri

Back in Whangarei we bought another bus! This is an 8mtr FUSO, with a nearly perfect layout for us. So at this point we own two buses! We have headed off in our new bus to try everything out. First stop - of course - Kerikeri.

This is the new bus :-)

Relaxing at Kerikeri...

... it's such a pretty spot. The 'lighthouse' is where we sign in, a book swap, etc.

A rainbow at Rainbow Falls this morning. It's about an hour's walk to the Kerikeri basin.

We had coffee at the Honey House, then wandered around the area...

From here we walked into Kerikeri for supplies, then back to the bus.

Some photos of the interior.

This bus is much roomier then our last one, though smaller than our first one! it seems just right. :-)

A load of Bulls

The township of Bulls has embraced its name with terrible puns...

A cafe stop - they claim to be impecc-a-bull

The civic centre (and else where around the town) has a churn shaped rubish bin asking people to be response-a-bull.

Not a bull this time - Maori carving at the new civic centre.

Enlarge the photo to read the punning signs

Pylons on the Desert Road are like giant sculptures

After two days of driving Malcolm was ready for a wine.

 

The road south

The drive along the Kaikoura coastline was beautiful...

Malcolm treated himself to crayfish at the Lobster Shack...

We were able to change our ferry booking and spent some time in Picton before sailing back to Wellington.

Leaving the Marlborough Sounds for the North Island - it can be seen on the horizon. The crossing takes three and a half hours.