2/2/10 Evening in Coromandel Town

Into Coromandel Town for tea, walked up and down the high street to see what was on offer. We finally decided on a pizza in a cafe. When we got settled with the menu, we found out they served beer. Mum had a fragrant brew called Monteith's Gold. It smelled of apples and was very fruity to drink. I had a Steinbeer, which looked, smelled and tasted very much like Becks. After tea we walked down to the harbour, stopping at the bridge to watch the Welcome Swallows, and took a couple of photos on the boardwalk of each other (above). Spent quite a bit of time watching insects disappear in to the harbour mud and inspected the mangrove seedlings. Walked back to the hostel/campsite/lodge place. It was a lot further than I had realised. Sat in the communal room to write up our journals, and I checked my e-mails, courtesy of a woman who had some time left on a computer, very kind of her to offer it round. Then went back to dorm/cabin. Place reminded me of Butlins. Read in bed for a while, turned off the lights about ten.

2/2/10 continued

This is from the view point looking north and south. It looks like virgin forest but due to people dumping unwanted pets and hunting with dogs there are no native ground nesting birds in here. And all New Zealand birds were ground nesting because there were no predators.. We continued on the road to Colville. We crossed the estuary and the road was no longer metalled. It had been raining and the road was just a shiny strip of mud, well churned up by bigger vehicles than ours. It was still full of sharp twists and turns and was steeply up and down as it followed the coast. That didn't change as it headed further inland. It was like driving on ice. No traction, single track and full of blind bends. I was scared, so after a couple of miles I decided it was too dangerous to continue. Mum concurred, so I turned around, and set off back the way we had come. Mum phoned our accommodation and cancelled and we found a hostel in Coromandel Town for tonight. It was just as well it had rained before we got to the top of the peninsular, because we would have had to drive back on that for several miles, it doesn't bear thinking about!
The hostel was a reasonable place, but no cafe for breakfast. Got settled in to our dorm., it was six bunks but no-one else came; we had it to ourselves.

Coromandel Peninsular

Up at 7am to put the sheets in the washer before our trip to Coromandel. Had breakfast, made a packed lunch and emptied the washer (45mins !) and took the wet stuff round to Liz to put in the dryer. Got off at 08.30 and promptly got lost in Cambridge. Luckily spotted the police station, so went round the block to get directions. After that it was almost plain sailing; went the wrong way at Paeroa, and went up the peninsular instead of across and through the Karangahake Gorge. This caused us a problem later. We stopped at Matatoki at a creamery and bought some artisan cheese. There was a coffee shop where we didn't understand the menu, and were quite surprised with our choice when it arrived, but we drank it anyway. We were entertained by the ducks from next door that kept coming into the cafe to beg, while the assistant had to keep chivvying them back out with a brush.

We continued up the road

 and turned right towards Whangamata and Tairua through the most amazing scenery on a switchback road, that needed more concentration than I could spare, with the views (more ooh-ing and ahh-ing). We reached a junction sending us right to Whangamata, we turned off but it felt wrong, so we stopped to consult the map, but because we had gone wrong earlier we weren't where we thought we were. We drove on for another mile or so, then mother saw Matatoki on the map and realised what had happened; we were on the wrong road. We pulled over in to a picnic place, had a sandwich, it was after 12 and then turned round and went back down the mountain, back to the junction and found ourselves on the right road (for once!). Shortly afterwards we came into Tairua. The reveal was amazing. Down a forested winding mountainside road, round a corner and WOW there it is. Photo of mother in Tairua, and me, also in Tairua. Other pic. is of breakers in the distance where the sea meets the river. As you can see it was windy. We did more coffee and sightseeing, I bought a picture by Kate Hill, then dragged mother away before she could spend any money.

Back on the road towards Whitianga, which is pronounced Fettyanga, for some reason. The road was so amazing it is indescribable. The driving was challenging to say the least, very steep, very winding, quite slow traffic. We stopped at a view point, where we were on top of the world, but it was hazy so the photo isn't that good. We missed out Hot Water Bay because time was passing and we had a way to go, but we still found time for a coffee in Whitianga, but we should have had more time there; there is the most beautiful bay with ocean stacks and cliffs, but by the time we'd had coffee it was 3.30pm.

1/2/10- Mother's Birthday

Mum's 75th birthday. Up early as usual. We had planned to go for a walk this morning but it was very wet, so we stayed in and cleaned. I borrowed the Hoover from Jim & did all the floors, while Mum ironed. I cleaned the bathroom, changed the towels and did a bit of dusting. Then we both got ready and went to Fran's for a b'day barbecue. The weather was clearing up when we arrived, so we sat outside and took the fresh air. Di had gone to the supermarket and arrived back about half an hour later. Jim and Liz came with Eve their daughter, Charlotte and her boyfriend, Damien, arrived and Ali & Fiona with Ali's mum, Margaret just a few moments later. She was visiting from Scotland. Eventually Jonny turned up. He had been out on the raz last night and had stayed with friends. He apologized for being late, but then sloped off fairly quickly to bed. He re-appeared when the food was ready at about 6.30 - 7pm. Mother had a couple of drinks and was a little bit squiffy, just enough to be everybody's friend. She had a good time and we left around 8.30pm. Mum went straight to bed when we got in, but I stayed up and read a book until 10.

31/1/10 Waitomo Caves

Had a really lousy night with this cold, up coughing, it woke me, I couldn't breathe. As a result slept in this morning. Up at 9 to persistent rain. Just going to make a picnic lunch and off to Waitomo caves. Still raining. Left at 12 noon to go to caves, took our time and stopped at Otorohanga for lunch (too wet for a picnic) and a little light shopping. Bought a gift for Dot & Dave and one for David Brown. Mum bought lunch, we headed off for the caves 15kms distant and arrived just before 2.30. Which was lucky as we were just in time to join the 2.30 tour. It cost $39, Mum paid for me out of what she owes me for the car. Money is going down steadily. Worried about trip to South Island. Fran won't agree to hostel, and I can't afford to stay in motels. I've been looking at prices and they are going to be at least $50 per night each, which is twice as much as I would like to spend. Caves at Waitomo were splendid. Not long but very interesting, lit by glow worms. We had a punt down the under ground river in the dark and they looked like stained glass windows overhead. Much ooh-ing and ahh-ing, very quietly as we had been told to stay silent, and although the boat was full, we were just that. The tour company took our photo as we emerged into the light, but they were $30 a pop and it was too much for a photo of us looking like startled rabbits. The gorge where the underground stream emerged was amazing, really tropical jungle, although I think it was temperate rainforest. We got off at a landing stage and passed through the jungle on the way up the hill to the exit. I think the rain made it more special. Of course we had our posh brollies!
Came back through torrential rain, had to drive really slowly, as would prefer to live. Luckily you don't get many speed freaks in New Zealand, everyone drives slowly, and not many people bother to overtake, quite happy to bowl along at whatever speed the car in front is doing. They wouldn't survive in any British city!
As we approached Cambridge we saw where a car had left the road. The police were still there, slowing everyone down. This was the third smash we have seen today. Called at Fran & Di's for a coffee on the way back. Fran was busy killing aliens on the computer, but Di and her Mum sat with us for a chat. Her Dad was asleep on the sofa, but came round when he smelled the coffee. Jonny was ligging around on a sofa too, but he stayed there watching a film in the other room.
Left about 5.30 to come back here, but before we did that we checked how far we had walked on 27/1/10 by driving up to the view point. It was 13.6kms or about 8 miles. Had tea and a glass of wine, then watched the weather on the local news. There have been landslides and floods, loads of people stuck on the motorway near Auckland; I guess we didn't see the worst of it.

Liz with Jim and Eve in the background, me ligging about on the veranda, and Charlie showing off her tan at the barbie for Mother's birthday 1/2/10.

Hamilton Gardens 30/1/10

Been invited to a BBQ this evening, we are to be at Fran's for 4.30 pm, so just a short trip out to Hamilton Gardens. Yet another fine day. We had no rain yesterday. It is not usual to have rain at this time of year, usually the grass is parched by now, but it is still green. Set off about nine to Hamilton. Found our way onto the right road after doing an illegal u-turn, only mishap really. An easy run but getting really hot by the time we had parked. Unable to find any shade for the car. We need to pick up petrol today. Had a lovely time wandering in the gardens, stopped for a coffee and Mum tried to remember the Latin name for every tree and plant she recognized. About twelve we thought we would have lunch in the restaurant as we had no sandwiches today because we had run out of bread. Couldn't actually find the restaurant although we did find function rooms, one of which was laid out for a big wedding that was obviously going to be later on today. So we wandered in to the information centre and spent loads of money, including buying a New Zealand bird identification book. Then, on the way out of the door we spotted some umbrellas/parasols. As I was already burnt I decided to purchase one, and they were so beautiful so did Mother. We went back to the cafe we were in earlier for lunch. After lunch we had to leave to get back in time for the barbie, and we needed shopping and petrol before then. Barbie OK, would have been better if it hadn't rained most of the evening. I stayed outside on the veranda because it is too cold in the house with the air-con on.

Photo of (L-R) Ali, Fran,Fiona & Diane. 

29/1/10

Today was to be a lazy day. We had been told by Liz and by Fran that Lake Karapiro was lovely and only about a twenty minute drive so we resolved to go there. Fran said that about halfway down at some place we couldn't quite remember was best and Liz had said there were some good walks and if we went to the local information office in Cambridge they would have maps of the paths and trails. Up at 6.30am feeling really ill after an awful night of coughing, sniffling and sickness. Took this view of the full moon out of my bedroom window, its right in the centre just above the hill. Took a cold and flu powder before anything else. Decided to do a wash after breakfast. Mum got the instruction book out, deciphered it and the only thing we didn't know was if the water was turned on to the machine. Nipped next door to consult Liz and Jim. Yes it was- all set to go. Cycle only took 45 mins. Why isn't my washer as good as that? We put the clothes outside on a maiden, already made sandwiches and off we went.
First of all to Cambridge to get a map and some info. Found the tourist information centre entirely by accident. Picked up a load of bumf but couldn't see anything about Karapiro so asked the lady on the desk. She said there are no trails or walks on the lake. People keep assuming there is and asking for maps, but there are none.In the future a trail will run from Taupo to Karapiro but at present it does not exist. We went anyway.
Not being able to remember where Fran had said, we guessed, but the place we tried had no walks, just a jetty for boat launching and a loo and a carpark, so that didn't appear to fit the bill. We returned to the main road and went back up to the turn off for Karapiro village. We drove through the village to the lake shore where we parked. Left the car and across the lake we could see a regatta that had been mentioned to us. We were also looking for a place that did boat trips, because we wanted to go on the afternoon cruise we'd seen advertized on a flyer from the tourist info. The carpark was adjacent to the dam at the head of the lake, so rather than take the car we walked over the dam. It was a bit scary because it was so narrow. The cars were traffic light controlled and because of the width of the dam only one way went at once, which meant we could walk in the road at times, just as well because there was no footpath.
It was about a quarter mile to the regatta from the car, but when we got there it was still setting up. Lots of schools were competing and we had to duck and dive as we went to avoid the boats being carried by the young people. We returned to the car along the water's edge, watching a coxed seven practising as we walked. There was nowhere here for a bigger boat to launch from so we phoned the company advertising when we got back to the car, to find out whereabout we needed to be, and found out the boat wasn't even running. And she was snotty about it too.
It was 11.30 and I needed more paracetamol, so we decided to have lunch, but couldn't find anywhere to sit for our picnic. The only table was under a low hanging oak tree and had a lot of lichen and bird droppings on it. So we went on over the dam, in the car this time, and down the other side of the lake on Maungatautauri road. We had been driving for about fifteen to twenty minutes when we saw a sign for Hora Hora and we both recollected that it was there Francis had said was worth a visit. We turned left at the school, admiring the weird scenery as we travelled and ten minutes later we were at Hora Hora bridge. There was a place to pull off the road on the right by the lake shore where we had our picnic. No tables. We sat on the grass in the shade of a tree and got damp bottoms. The view was lovely & we were entertained by the beginner water skiers. Came back to Cambridge over the Hora Hora bridge, most unusual. A concrete bridge but unpaved.

Back here for 2.30ish. Had a lazy afternoon watching the birds in the garden- here are two spur- winged plover.  Liz says people shoot them even tho' they are protected, because they are noisy. Philistines!
We had been invited for tea by Diane, so we went over to Kingsley road about five o'clock. A truly lovely meal with a choice of two main courses. I had the Mediterranean Pie, which was spinach, pine nuts and feta in a pastry case, there was also a chicken curry. There were boiled potatoes, buttered and with parsley or rice and courgette fried with onion & baked with cheese, and garlic and cheese bread. We had a couple of drinks and came back about nine pm. Still full of cold. More paracetamol and off to bed.

Rotorua 28/1/10

After lunch we drove to Rotorua. Parked near the Government Gardens and went to visit them. It used to be a spa. There were several buildings from the mid- Victorian era set in a park laid out about the same time. They obviously take their bowling seriously. There were 5 or 6 flat green pitches. There is a golf course and launch areas for boats to go on Lake Rotorua amongst other things. The buildings were not in the main used for their original purpose. One building was let as a function suite, one was a huge pavilion for the bowlers. The Blue Baths is an outdoor pool and concert venue and used to have a first floor cafe (which did not appear to be in use).
There is an alkaline pool boiling away at 212 degrees Fahrenheit called Rachel's Pool- it could easily have been called Rachel's Poo from the sulphurous smell. Of course someone had thrown a beer bottle in it.You could hardly see the liquid from the clouds of steam hanging over it.

One of the buildings was the Polynesian Spa but we never got that far. We walked into the Blue Baths and bought an ice cream which we ate sat on a Victorian bench overlooking a bowling green that was being relaid, then toddled off to the main building which is now the Rotorua Museum and Art Gallery.
It cost $12 dollars to get in and we must have missed some of it because there wasn't much for your money. I bought Lucy a silver and paua shell ring. Then we looked at the museum shop and had a cuppa in the cafe. One of the exhibits was about the campaigns of the Maori Regiment. So many young men died. There were portraits of all of the soldiers and officers. Many of them were smiling and looked like really nice chaps. Mum and I were talking about how some looked European but had Maori names and some looked Maori and had European- mainly English, Scots & Irish- names. I said there must have been a lot of intermarriage between both lots of settlers, and Mum said she didn't think so, it was like Yorkshire here. Not what she meant to say. I howled with laughter and people didn't tut although they must have thought I was being disrespectful.
After 2 hours the money on the car ran out so I left mother drinking tea and went to put some more money in the meter. When I got there I couldn't as it was one of those no return spaces, so I moved the car into a space right outside the cafe where parking was free! We finished our drinks and walked through the park down to the waters edge. On the way we went over a footbridge spanning a stagnant pool, surrounded by flax plants and saw 5 or 6 adult pukeko with several chicks. These are a native bird standing around 14- 16 inches tall, blue bib, red beak and wader's legs. They move like road runners. They are also pretty tame; we stood about five yards away before they sauntered off. (Francis says they are like pheasants- pretty stupid, always getting run over)
We returned to the car and set off back to Cambridge. We met with the famous New Zealand roadworks on the way back. The maintenance consists of putting tar on the road surface, covering it with a layer of coarse chippings then getting cars and other traffic to drive over it to shove the chippings into the tar. They even move the bollards to make sure all the chippings are run over. No wonder the car hire company said they weren't worried about paint chips! Its unavoidable. Even at 30kph the chippings spay up behind and to either side of the car and they aren't small.
Called at Fran's on the way back to pick up my sunglasses, I'd left them on Tuesday night. Rained when we left but nothing up to the previous two nights. A bit of thunder and lightning but nothing spectacular. Took a cold & flu remedy and went to bed and 9.30pm.

Mount Maunganui 28/1/10

Decided to go to the beach today at Mount Maunganui on the east coast. It took a while to get there over very flat country. We could see a mountain range in the distance for quite a long time before we got there. As we approached we could see the clouds hanging half way up the slopes, we hadn't realised we were going straight over the top. The road suddenly rises over a spectacular mountain pass, very steep and winding, with amazing views into steep sided forested valleys. Near the top before the road turns left to reach the summit there is a view point. We, of course, didn't see it until we had driven past. So we had to be content with oo-ing and wow-ing and got no photographs.

The beach was marvellous with the softest silkiest sand I had ever walked on. We walked in the water, beach combing for fancy shells, took a couple of photos and generally played about for a couple of hours.The surf was pretty good, not too high but with a good long travel. I wish we'd put our cozzies on 'cos the water was nice. Not too warm but with the air temperature high it was refreshing.





Eventually we came off the beach and walked into town. I was starting to feel ill. By the time we had sat down with a coffee on the main street it was obvious I was coming down wit a cold. Took a paracetamol, then we had a look at the shops up and down the high street. Mum bought a lovely dress and a T-shirt and the lady in the shop gave her a $40 discount. We wandered up and down and back to the car to get our picnic. The sandwiches were still fairly cool even tho' the temperature in the car was really high. Sat at a picnic table under a Norfolk Pine by the sand dunes and ate our lunch with help from the local sparrow population. (Sparrows were introduced here from Great Britain in the late 1800s).