Glenbrook

We had a visit to Glenbrook to have a ride on the Vintage Railway. This is Glenbrook Beach on the waiuku Harbour. This is an inlet of the Manukau Harbour. Waiuku is a little town nearby. The mural was on one of the streets there.

Glenbrook Vintage Railway runs from Glenbrook to Waiuku, just a couple of times a month. We'd booked for this trip and the weather was changeable, quite cold after the sunny warm day we've been having. Nevertheless, it didn't rain and we had some sun.

The station is immaculately kept.

Things relating to the era add to the ambience.

All Aboard

Inside the carriages

We travelled through pastoral scenery

At Waiuku the train stopped to take on water.

More views of Glenbrook station.

The train arrives

Switching the engine to the other end of the carriages at Waiuku.

Malcolm at 

Glenbrook Beach.

 

Kawhia

After leaving Raglan we visited Bridal Veil Falls, a waterfall accessed through a section of bush.

The Falls are very pretty and there was plenty of water in them despite the hot dry days.

From here we took a narrow, windy, unsealed road south. At one point we came to the edge of the Aotea Harbour, a pretty spot for admiring the view while we had coffee (on the bus).

Eventually we came to Kawhia. This is a snall settlement on the north side of the Kawhia Harbour. We wandered around, then had a picnic lunch under the pohutukawas.

Lots of Maori carvings here - this was the biggest. it had a sailing ship on the back, celebrating the two cultures who made Kawhia home.

A forestry road led to the ocean beach, which is a hot water beach called Te Puia Springs.

We had the beach to ourselves...

That dot is Malcolm.

The hot water was in the shallows.

Our overnight spot  was over the hill from Kawhia, on a farm overlooking the Aotea Harbour. The views were great...

...and so was the sunset.

 

To Raglan

After leaving Ngaruawahia this morning we drove along quiet roads to Waingaro Hot Springs, which we had to ourselves (along with the dragonflies).

Then we continued to Raglan, a little settlement jam-packed with interesting shops and cafes.

We walked beside the harbour and checked out the views.

The centre of the main street is lined with palm trees.

 

Climbing to the summit of Hakarimata

The town of Ngaruawahia.

Maori sculpture.

We walked to the old reservoir through the bush at Hakarimata, the mountain range beside the river at Ngaruawahia.

Then we attempted the summit climb of over 1,349 steps...

I stopped half way after 700 steps and Malcolm continued to the top.

This is at the base of the track

View from the bus window at our freedom camping spot

The 'track'up Hakarimata

View from half way up

View from the top.

 

Ngaruawahia

Freedom camped at The Point, Ngaruawahia, beside the Waikato River.

We cycled the river ride - Te Awa - to Hamilton, and back.