Round and about some more

The Manukau Harbour at Ambury

Limestone Island...

...sunset, Onerahi

Another beautiful morning at Uretiti

View of the heads from Uretiti

It's a hard life!

We left Ambury and as we had to do some work on a house in Whangarei (the tenants had left)we spent more time at the bridge, behind the swimming pool, Onerahi etc.  Finally we finished that job and went back to Uretiti to meet up with friends from Wellington.

Whangarei to Auckland

We have been meandering down to Auckland.  First stop Te Arai Point, which was supposed to be freedom camping but Auckland Regional Council have changed it so you have to book and pay - a warden comes around to enforce the rules.  Great spot though.
Next we went to Wenderholm (which we had pre-booked) ARC again.  There is a newly opened campground for self contained vehicles with a flash new toilet block????  Nice but why?  I went for a walk up the steep hill in the evening and took photos.  Very peaceful spot.
Freedom camping is allowed at Gulf Harbour for 2 nights.  We booked to go out to Tiri but the ferry was cancelled due to strong winds.  Instead we took our picnic to Stillwater and did a walk by river, bush and beach.  Everywhere was deserted.  Unlike the freedom spot here which is full of busses and vans.

Inside the bus

Malcolm sideways at Uretiti

Woolley's Bay

 

Woolleys Bay

 

Te Arai Point

Te Arai Point

Wenderholm - from the bus window

Quail at Wenderholm

Bus parked at Wenderholm (middle of picture)

Picnic spot at Stillwater

Me on the Okura Bush Walk

Dacre Cottage on the Okura Walk



Town Basin






 

Around and about Whangarei

The last week we have been at Onerahi, behind the swimming pool by Mair Park, at Uretiti DOC camp and now we're back in the harbour, at Parua Bay.  The weather has been hot and sunny and everywhere has been amazing.  We have been relaxing, finally!!!

Onerahi evening

Selfie in bus mirror taking photo of Mt Parahaki

Bus at DOC campground, Uretiti

Beach at Uretiti Rd

 

Beach 2 mins from bus at Uretititi camp site

 

Black Shed gallery and red container café - with really good coffee - at Waipu.

 

Piroa Falls, inland from Waipu.

 

Evening at Parua Bay

back on the road again

Well - it has been more than a few months since we moved off the bus - and none of the little jobs got done on the bus because the house renovation we were doing turned into a major project!  Anyway (and finally!) we are back on the bus as of last Friday January 16th.  We are spending a while in the Whangarei area as we have things happening here.  We are currently on the waterfront at Onerahi.

By the pohutukawas, Onerahi

Road Closed Ahead

 

Road Close Ahead!

 

 

Symbolic photo though we didn't know it at the time!

Our wandering road is going to be curtailed for several months and we are going to be back in Whangarei - and even living in a house!

This sudden change of plans and lifestyle was brought about by an offer I couldn't refuse - working for a couple of terms at my old place of work, good old Kamo Primary School.

So I will not be blogging for a while but next summer we'll be off again - this time we'll be exploring the North Island.  Malcolm will have had time by then to do all the maintenance and little changes that we have decided on.  So we - and the bus - will be ready to roll then.  Watch this space!

 

A Wet Week in the Waikato

 

Malcolm at Miranda

Red sky at night, Wanderers delight?
Sunset looking across to the Coromandel

View from the beach, bus in centre

Malcolm meets Marilyn at Katikati 

funky piano

I meet a bronze Barry

Katikati is known as mural-town and there are lots

Not entirely accurate - but alliterative.  We have been parked for some of the time on the borders of Hauraki and the Western Bay of Plenty but we had to drive through the Waikato, so near enough.  It has been fairly wet anyway!  We went to Miranda Hot Pools when we were there and had a good soak, very relaxing.  It may not be flash like Hanmer Springs but the water is hot, it's not expensive and there was hardly anyone else there.  And that was before the rain started.

After we left Miranda we headed through the Karangahake Gorge to Waihi Beach.  We've never been here before and it must be lovely in sunny weather.  Between showers we had a walk on the beach.  Next stop - the end of the peninsula at Anzac Bay looking into the Tauranga Harbour.  Sandy beach, pohutakawas - but no sun.  There were some archaeologists doing a dig (there's a Maori pa on the headland) and finding bones.  Next thing some workers came and fenced off the whole reserve area with us in it!  The foreman came and told us the council would chuck us out if they come down in the morning, meanwhile we have it all to ourselves.

Whangarei to Miranda

Freedom camping Whangarei - the trees starting to show Autumn

Wellingtons Bay - I went for a swim

Drive out to Tutukaka

view from bus doorway, Miranda

beach walk late afternoon...

...the tide is way out

 

We ended up spending more time back in Whangarei and area than we anticipated - but it was all good.  We moved around every 3 days as per the rules.  Finally we have done all that needed doing for now and headed south again to Miranda on the Firth of Thames.  A fabulous sunny day to drive down here.  We had a late lunch, sat reading in the afternoon sunshine then had an evening walk.  Suddenly it got dark - the clocks went back at the weekend so it's dark at 6.30.  Seems like it was not long ago we were in the South Island and it was still light at 10.00!