New Plymouth Costal Cycleway

 More stunning scenery along the coast to New Plymouth (Bell Block). We cycled into the city for lunch, then back to the bus.

 

Day Three - Cambridge to Mokau

Blue skies returned for day three of our trip. First stop, Otorohanga...

...where we visited the Kiwi House and Native Bird Park. As well as birds there were lizards, skinks and tuatara (if you could spot them).

There were plenty of birds too...

Beside the Kiwi House was a carved gateway into a reserve with small lakes, which we explored before hitting the road again.

The scenery was very dramatic, especially through the Awakino Gorge. I snapped a few photos through the windscreen.

We parked overnight where the Gorge met the coast at Mokau, and explored the beach

Mount Taranaki hazy in the distance - the next day's destination.

 

An Autumn Trip

 

Cambridge

We drove in beautiful sunshine to Cambridge and parked in the motorhomes area at Cambridge Racecourse.

Malcolm tries out the new moveable table he's built.

The next day was overcast but not cold. We cycled to Lake Karapiro (and back) finishing the Te Awa Cycle Trail that starts in Ngaruawahia - excluding the road sections. We have done the other two sections previously.

Plenty of autumn trees with colourful leaves.

We had lunch at the lakeside.

Sculptureum

We had a day trip and checked out Sculptureum, a sculpture garden near Matakana, which also has art galleries, a vineyard and restaurant. below are just some of the 100+ photos I took.

Malcolm admires a dog in the foyer.

Sculptural elephant outside the restaurant

The first section had sculpture of many different types in garden settings...

In the galleries ere sculptures big and small made from many different materials. These were glass.

The final section was again outside and these sculptures were mainly quirky...

Here I am hanging out with Mark Twain.

 

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.