The road to Whanganui

Leaving our camp site Mt Taranaki loomed over the countryside, though it looks small in the photo!

We stopped at Patea to look at the waka sculpture and visit the museum...

this waka is very old, with markings common in Polynesia.

At Whanganui we freedom camped by the river...

...with this view :-)

The town is great to explore - nice archetecture, interesting laneways, sculptures, murals...

Malcolm checks out the peace memorial, made from ceramic handprints.

 

Dargaville

We spent some time at the Dargaville Museum. Motorhomes can park overnight and it would be a good spot to see the town lit up at night (though you'd miss happy hour at the NZMCA Park down by the river!)

This is the overnight parking area.

I am always awed by this ancient carved post that was found in the sands of the Pouto Peninsula. It would have been very tall (this photo only shows the top part).