Posts

Image
 May 12 - Drove to Auckland and then south to Papakura train station. Auckland is like Vancouver, a lot of smaller settlements that the city has consumed. We planned to stay in Drury which is just south of Papakura. While checking train schedules/costs we learned that this Saturday and Sunday (two days we were planning to travel) there are no trains running from Papakura (the station nearest  us) to the city. So we need to go about 5 stops by special rail busses and there's a bus leaving in a few minutes. Denis rushed to repark the caravan in the train parking and we hopped on the bus to the train and into central Auckland. We explored around the downtown, watched a Falun Gong dance and band troupe perform while enjoying a coffee. Walked along the Quay. It's a long bus/train ride but better than trying to find a place to park the caravan and much cheaper.  Today Sunday, we headed in again and caught a ferry to Waiheke Island, 21 km from Auckland harbour. The island is 19 ...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
May 10 - Stopped in Kaikohe to do laundry at Liquid Laundry, no coins involved you have to put money on a card then swipe the card to start the washers & dryers. A bit of an ordeal to get it all figured out. After that and the drenching rain of the last days we thought we deserved a treat and went to Ngawha hot pools, for a detoxifying soak (one of the other patrons told us the toxins were just draining out of her). It was nice but we reeked of Sulphur even after showering. Carried on to Dargaville parked by the rushing Northern Wairoa River in the Gumdigger statue park.  Headed further south to Wellsford, strolled around town and had a good coffee at McDonalds while we used their wifi. May 12 - Drove to Helensville, then visited several wineries. Tonight we are in  Riverhead at  Hallertau Biergarten Tomorrow on to Auckland
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
Pic from Glowworm Caves  May 8 - Heading north, left in time to travel through Auckland in the morning rush hour traffic, crossed the Harbour bridge. Stopped for lunch at Lang's beach, watched the crashing waves while being rocked by the wind. Went to beautiful Whangarei Falls, half the height of Niagara, amazing to us no guard rails! My watch said 23 flights of stairs by the time we walked down and back up,  made my steps goal as well. Drizzled rain but beautiful walk Headed north, bought fresh oysters at Paroa Bay just before we reached Paihai. Parked along the beach, windy rainy night, we really couldn't enjoy sunset or sunrise. May 9 - headed to Cape Reinga in torrential rain and gale force winds. We were a bit hesitant at continuing but kept on. Several places ditches were overflowing and water running over the road. When we arrived along with a tour bus and 3 other caravans the rain had abated but very foggy. We planned to hike to the light house but the path was blocked...
Post a Comment
Read more
May 6 - It has been frustrating to get the blog posted because even when we should have wifi it's very sketchy! 2:30 am in our cabin on the ferry and the wifi is working! Mostly semis on this night time run. Most towns in New Zealand have free standing public toilets (no need to go into a business) BUT some have EXELOO! The interior is stainless steel and white tile, you slide the door closed and a gentleman’s voice tells you to push the button to lock, then advises you that you have a maximum of 10 minutes. Then the lovely piano music begins, Moon River was the selection today. Heavy rain as we left the ferry at 6:30 am heading to Whanganui but it had quit by the time we reached Levin about 90 minutes later. Stopped for breakfast, then continued on our way arriving in time for the Saturday market, bought veggies and had lunch. Toured the museum on the waterfront, saw paddle steamer Waimarie leave on a trip up river. One of the reasons we wanted to check out the market is because t...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
D enis enjoying one of his NZ treats - Hokey Pokey Marshmallow Fish, he say it goes good with wine. We parked at Riverside campground (Murchison) and the river was definitely rushing by after all this rain Ever since we arrived we've been looking for one of these steamers. Denis found them online at Mitre 10 (like Home Depot) but we've been to several locations and none in stock. I convinced him we should check Op shops (second hand stores) tried several, but no luck there either.  Much to Denis' relief something about Op shops and some gift shops seems to cause me to have an allergic reaction. Woke to cloudy skies but no rain (yet). We're travelling to Nelson today, once again along the twisty uphill & down scenic route, rain occasionally slowing but not stopping.   Bought a bag of Nashi pears (small apple pears) from a gate kiosk in Tapawera. Stopped at Siegfried's Winery for a mussel appetizer that we'll be trying to recreate at home! And of course picked...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
 May 1 - Into the rainy spell again. Planned to stop at Mt Cook and Fox and Franz Josef glaciers but pouring rain, wind and fog nothing to be seen. We have to press on because we have a ferry booking back to the north island (Saturday at 1:00 am, cabin booked) Camped in Greymouth, did laundry, real showers etc. We have an electric heater so having power is nice, helps dry things out. Rain abated so we walked to Monteith Brewery for drinks and fish & chips (with Tuimato sauce, ketchup is not usually served with fries here. Wifi was very lame where we camped, so I went to the library in the morning and was able to catch up with the blog.  Pouring rain again! This is the lookout on the Greymouth breakwater, I didn't manage to catch it but waves were crashing as high as the railing. Guess what I didn't climb the stairs to check it out. We stopped in at a fish market and bought fresh fish. Seems like there's a not lot of fresh fish for sale other than at supermarkets. Sorry ...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  May 1 – droved into Queenstown, it’s a combination of Kelowna and Banff. Very busy even now in the off season. Cool day but no rain, we walked around the waterfront. They offer jetboating, parasailing, shark boats & floating dining, Denis plans for something like this at LLB. We just missed our ship, a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw. It is the only coalburning ship operating in the southern hemisphere. It was built to haul passengers and freight between Kingston and Queenstown before the road was built.  We resisted all the water activites  and consoled ourselves with  Fergburger for lunch. Most famous burger in NZ, it was very good and huge! Crazy busy, about 20 places to sit and 50 people people waiting for orders pretty quiet next door at the bar. Denis wants to know why we don't have these in Canada I found a neat swing on the waterfront Off to Arrowtown, very quaint former goldrush town, shopped around, had more ice cream and bought local wine. There was a lar...
Post a Comment
Read more