A mixed weather trip

We headed north in the bus and stayed two nights in Paihia because we had a boat trip booked. This was with the Historic Places Trust and we visited places of historical significance in the Bay of Islands, mainly relating to the visit by Marion du Fresne in 1772. Then we went south staying overnight in Paeroa, at this camping place in town. It only costs $5 pr night, with power. 

The next day we went further south, visiting a bird garden at Katikati.

Next stop Plummers Point, near Tauranga. We were planning to stay overnight but arranged to meet Alan, who sells ebo ebikes that lunchtime. We bought one bike and were to pick up the other one later.

At Plummers Point

We decided to continue on and stay at Opotiki. Some of the the roads were flooded due to heavy rain a few days prior...

...but we made it!

Our next stop was Gisborne. The weather so far had been mixed, cloudy, rainy and sunny intervals.

Then - a lovely sunny day. We went to Wairoa where we gathered pumice from the beach for a garden sculpture we need to repair.

back on the road, lots of nice scenery on the way to Napier, where we had a soak in the hot pools overlooking the ocean and a nice lunch on the waterfront

The next day we turned for home, first stop Taupo. The whole country was suffering a very cold bout of weather and it was cold in Taupo so we carried on. We spent the night at Miranda, below is the sunrise the next morning, over the cloud covered mountains of the Coromandel. From Miranda we went into Auckland to pick up the other bike...

...and so, to home.

 

On the road again

 

We decided that since it was spring we’d take the bus for an overnight trip somewhere not too far afield but where we’d never been before. So, we drove down to Warkworth and parked overnight beside the museum and Parry Kauri Park. We expected it to be deserted but they were having an open day at the museum to celebrate the US camps that were nearby in WW2. There were American army jeeps, guns and equipment, plus soldiers, bunting, classic cars...

When everyone left we had the place to ourselves (just one other van). The Kauri Park had a loop boardwalk and there certainly were a lot of kauri, more than we’ve ever seen together in a relatively small area of bush.

The next morning we drove to the river just outside town where there’s a small marina and the ruins of a cement works. After strolling around there we headed north, stopping at Cafe Utopia at Kaiwaka on the way home.

At the museum

Kauri on the walk

At the cement works

Cafe Utopia

Whangarei Quarry Gardens Sculpture Trail

Instead of a photo of Malcolm eating, here's me. :-)

It was my birthday so we had lunch at Quail Cafe with friends then wandered around the gardens looking at the plants and the sculptures on the sculpture trail

 

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.