Otorohanga Kiwi House

We left on time and were heading towards Hamilton. We had read about the kiwi house and so decided to pay a visit.  It was a warm day, so I tried to park the car in the shade. We neglected to check how much it cost before we said that we wanted to go in - but it was fine - after all, we wanted to see some more Kiwis.

We were just about to wander around on our own when a keeper said that she was about to feed the Kākāriki. Intrigued - we followed along.  The little parrots knew that we were coming and followed us through the enclosure as we walked to the feeding station. Then they were all over us - eating out of our hands. Very pretty and colourful. There were lots of other birds in the enclosure, flying freely about. I saw a Tui up close for the first time. There were also Tuatara running freely around.

Later we also saw Kiwis being fed and played with by another keeper. One female Kiwi named 'Atu' had formed an attachment to this particular keeper and was pushing against her legs and pecking her an awful lot. The keeper said that she had known the bird for over 14 years, and that the Kiwi loved being with her, and got upset when she went out of the enclosure. It was certainly something to see. We wandered around the park and saw quite a few other native birds.  

From there we went into Otorohanga and had some toasted sandwiches for lunch at a place named 'The Thirsty Weta'.

Whitianga

From Coromandel Town we ended up back at Whitianga - at the 'On the Beach' YHA that we were at before.  As it is the weekend,  and the ICC Cricket final is on,  we decided to have a day off and stay here until Monday.  We fly home on Tuesday.  We are staying with friends in Auckland on Monday night. 

Today (Sunday), we went to New Chums Beach. It was a bit of a trek to get there,  but worth it. A beautiful beach.  I went for a swim - well,  a splash about.

We came back to the main beach and had lunch,  then we bought ice creams and ate them by the beach before coming back to eat steak and salad. 

We are still alone in our 'flat' and it's nice.  I'm about to go to bed.  Tomorrow we drive to Auckland for the last bit of our trip.  

Coromandel Again

The weather was looking promising so we fancied somewhere near a beach for our last few days. We looked up how far it would be to the Coromandel again and how long it would take.  Google said about two hours,  so we went for it.  K was driving for the first hour,  then I took over for the fiddly bits at the end. 

We headed for Coromandel Town and checked in to a motel named Anchor Lodge. It was a bit posh,  and I paid a bit more for a room with a view and a balcony. We didn't get a chance to use the pool or the spa as we were late and tired. We walked into town - about five minutes - and ate at the Admirals Arms Hotel. Large portions - we were stuffed.

We had breakfast on the balcony overlooking the bay.  We did the final lot of washing of the holiday.  Driving into town we found out about the 'Driving Creek Railway' that we had read about,  and booked a ride.

We had time to spare and so did some shopping before driving off to the railway station.  The place was amazing and all built by hand by a chap named Barry Bricknell, who started in 1974 when he bought some land to start a pottery using the local clay.  He laid some track to help him get clay from an outcrop back to base. Everything started from there.  It's an amazing achievement.  He is now 79 and still making pots. 

The train ride is on narrow guage rails and ends at a building which Barry named 'The Eyefull Tower' and it does have amazing views out over the bay.

The Forgotten World Highway

The Forgotten World Highway - well, with such a romantic name,  how could we resist? Despite the fact that it was now getting on a bit as far as time was concerned,  we embarked on a trip down the above. It went from Stratford to Taumarunui along an important original road for the area,  passing sights of interest - including Whangamamona. This small town declared itself a Republic in the 1990s. You can buy a passport from the hotel there.

It was a long trip, with many bendy road and hill climbs - often together - but there were some lovely and interesting views and sights to be seen along the way. By the time we reached the town at the end and had found a motel,  I was very,  very tired.

Mount Taranaki and Stratford

Leaving New Plymouth,  we headed for Stratford and a route up to Mount Taranaki (it is also called Mount Egmont) National Park. Unfortunately it was a wet day and after driving a fair way up the volcano - for that is what it is - the top was still covered in mist. 

I got out with my camera,  getting wet and hoping for a break in the clouds which would allow us to see the summit,  without success.  We sat in the car for a while longer,  then descended the windy track in search of coffee.

Having decided to visit Taranaki Pioneer Village - a collection of over forty original buildings all 'dressed' internally as they would have been - we spotted a coffee shop just outside.  Upon entering we were surprised at how busy it was.  We were more surprised that,  having ordered a coffee and a green tea,  it took forty minutes to arrive!

The 'Building Museum' was very interesting,  and they had some excellent authentic NZ properties of all sorts - including a small hospital.

As we drove back through Stratford we realised that it was almost three o'clock - and that's when their famous clock tower, clad in black and white to echo the buildings in the town's namesake in the UK,  plays music and has opening windows showing scenes from Shakespeare plays - seriously. We parked up and managed to catch the three o'clock performance.

Whanganui to New Plymouth

After an indifferent night's sleep we showered, breakfasted, and set off to have a look at Whanganui.  First stop was the Durie Elevator - a Victorian device set inside a hill. It was built in the early 1900s to encourage the development of the suburbs above the main town.  The tunnel leading to the main shaft had a great echo.

The lift arrived after a short time. It had a female attendant. The ascent was fairly rapid. The doors opened and we were at the top of the hill. The lift mechanism was contained in a tower, so we had to climb that as well.  The views were very good.  The Whanganui river is big.

We descended and I climbed an even taller war memorial - the view from there was pretty much the same. 

We walked down the hill and went into town for a coffee and snack, then drove the coastal road around Mount Taranaki, whose summit was shrouded in cloud,  to New Plymouth. It was fairly late and we found the Egmont Lodge Motel, which furnished us with a very nice one bedroom apartment.  We ate and then watched some rubbish on tv whilst I caught up with the entries in my logbook.

Wellington to Whanganui

After breakfast I went to pick up the car from Apex Car Rentals and drove back to the hostel to pick up K and the bags.  It's odd, but we seem to have gained an extra large bag.  Ok,  we have bought some stuff,  especially fabric,  but a whole large bag's worth ? 

We then went to Te Papa Museum again to buy a book that K wanted and to have a go on the virtual flight  simulation again - it's good. 

Then we took a long time driving around the coast from Wellington,  starting at Oriental Bay.  Very nice. After this we set off for Whanganui via a really good motor museum. We spent too long there really, and missed lunch.  A banana and some coffee (and hot chocolate) later, we set off again.

We had booked a room at a motel named Anndion Lodge, and we arrived there about six.  The place was great,  and the owner was really friendly.  We hadn't been shopping, so we made so with what we had,  so ended up with a corned beef salad with pesto penne GF pasta. With that,  I am up to date with this blog as I sit on the bed in our room with K sitting next to me sewing patchwork hexagons.

Tomorrow we are off to New Plymouth.

Picton - Again

The drive was very scenic and we stopped quite a few times to take in the views.  The weather was quite damp,  though it had cleared a little by the time we arrived at Picton.  We chose to stay at the same site that we started from.  It started raining again as we prepared food and did some washing. 

Next morning we tidied the van and drove to the ferry terminal about one o'clock.  We left the van in the car park at the bequest of the hire company and caught the two thirty ferry back to Wellington.  On the journey we saw an albatross and some dolphins. 

A taxi from the terminal took us to the Wellington YHA, where we had a private en suite room - luxury!  Moving North in the morning.

Nelson

After our kayaking experience we stopped for lunch at a seaside restaurant, then K drove us to Nelson where we stayed at a holiday park which claimed to be the closest to the city centre - but it was still a far way out.  It had the smallest kitchen yet!  There were five of us all trying to cook evening meals on one cooker and two hotplates. Hard.

I managed to cook our venison sausages - we were still full from lunch.  The weather was starting to drizzle so we retired early. I was quite feverish in the night - my back was really hurting from helping a lady change a flat tyre earlier. I took some parecetamol about three in the morning.  We had a restless night.

We had a bit of a bag sort out next morning before driving into Nelson to have a look around. Being Sunday,  most shops were closed.  We drove around,  then found the Botanical Gardens and did a fairly stiff walk up the hill there to the 'Centre of New Zealand'. Tough going.  Good views over the city though. 

These gardens are where the very first rugby game was played in New Zealand.  See the picture. 

After some shopping,  we headed for Picton along the Queen Charlotte Scenic Drive for our last night in the South Island.

Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman Park

Stopping for lunch,  we came across a collection of Austin Healey vintage cars which had stopped at the same rest area.  They were part of the Austin Healey Owners club who were on a tour of the South Island. Lovely cars. 

We also travelled through Buller Gorge on our way.  This was beautiful, despite the fact that it was raining and fairly misty.

We reached Kaiteriteri via some very windy roads,  so it took a while. What a lovely bay! The holiday park was just across the road,  so we parked up and walked up and down the beach,  paddling in the warm sea.  Lots of mussels on the rocks.  The beach was golden sand. 

The kitchens at the site were fine,  so we cooked and ate the evening meal - steak again - and went to bed as it was getting late.

Next morning we drove to the edge of the park and walked to 'Stu's Lookout'. Very scenic views. Returning to Kaiteriteri,  we hired a dual kayak and rowed around the bay for a while.  It was fun.

Punakaiki - Pancake Rocks

On our way to Abel Tasman Park we stopped a couple of times. One of these was at the above.  Odd rock formations,  well presented by the DOC.

Hokitika

We did a little shopping in Franz Josef before  moving on to Hokitika. We chose this place because it seemed a reasonable distance to drive in the time that we had,  and it had a camp site next to a beach - really this time - that sounded good.
The weather was still good when we arrived at the town, and found the site named 'Shining Star'. As I checked in the owner told me of a 'Glow Worm Dell' close by,  that would be good to visit after dark.

We parked up and walked the 10 metres to the great beach.  Driftwood sculptures seem to be popular in this place.  Wandering up and down for a bit we looked at them,  then sat on some large rocks and had a drink whilst watching the sea.

Later,  after we had eaten,  and when it was dark,  we found the glow worm dell. It was magical.

The next day we drove to the edge of town,  where there is a lookout where the river and sea meet.  We bought fish and chips and a NZ hotdog and ate them at a table surrounded by hopeful looking gulls.

Franz Josef Helicopter Ride

We decided that we would blow the expense and go on a helicopter ride to see the glaciers.  We opted for a snow landing as well.  It was great,  and something that we will both remember. 

It was odd to take off virtually straight up into the air. Despite moving around a lot in the air,  we were both fine.  K didn't feel sick.  We saw the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, and flew quite close (so it seemed), to the summit of Mount Cook. 

We landed on the Franz Josef Glacier snow field and took some pictures. Other helicopters were arriving and doing the same thing. The whole thing only took about 40 minutes - but it was well worth it.

Glaciers

Leaving Haast Beach Holiday Park behind, we filled up with fuel again - fuel in the South island is more expensive than in the North. We paid just over two dollars per litre for petrol.  A dollar is currently about 48 pence.

We headed up the coast towards the glaciers. The first one that you come across is the Fox Glacier.  A side road takes you up to a point where you can see the glacier in the distance. A short walk gives you a better view.  Then,  back on the main road and shortly after crossing a bridge,  another side road takes you to a car park at the foot of the glacier - well, quite a walk uphill to it actually.

We did it though and got within 200 metres of the glacier itself.  The views back down the valley were great. The going was quite tough,  and we had to cross streams and rough terrain. 

We got back about two hours later and drove on to the Franz Josef Glacier. The weather was changing,  so K stayed in the car whilst I went to see it in its valley. It had retreated an amazing amount in the 11 years since I was last here.  I took some pictures,  but those,  as with all the ones that I took that day with my camera have been lost to yet another SD card fault!  I had taken a few with my phone.  Whilst I was out the rain really started,  and I was drenched by the time I got back. 

We drove on,  and stayed at a holiday park in Franz Josef township.