Rangiriri Pa

Beautiful autumn view from the bus windows this morning - last day of our trip. mist was rising off the river.

We drove north and stopped at Rangiriri to visit the pa site. it has been developed with pou, gateways, signage, etc to explain what happened here during the New Zealand wars.

Then home to Whangarei after a great autumn tiki tour.

 

New Plymouth to Ngaruawahia

Beautiful sunshine for the drive back along the coast to Awakino.

We stopped for coffee and a look around...

...and met the locals.

Next we stopped at the Gorge and checked out the old road tunnel that's now by-passed.

There were pou on the new road (detail below).

Then we stopped again at Otorohanga - for lunch - before driving to our summertime haunt, beside the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia.

Summer had definitely moved to autumn but it was still a quiet, pretty overnight spot.

 

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.