Mark's Travels

We started the day by the Stone Store in Kerikeri.
It's an old stone storehouse that's been restored.

Stone House - Kerikeri

Stone House - Kerikeri

Stone House - Kerikeri

After that we drove up to 90 mile beach. The wind was quite strong, blowing sand and spray everywhere. The spray was quite intense and our glasses misted up almost immediately. There was a small group of wind surfers, who were getting some amazing speed across the water. However, the spray was intense enough that it was almost impossible to take any pictures. Nevertheless, it was still a great walk along the beach.

90 Mile Beach - wind surfing

It was almost dinner time by then so we drove to Mangonui and went to one of the North's most reputable fish and chip shops for dinner. They have quite a location, with the deck looking out across the bay.

Mangonui

Mangonui

On the drive back we had this amazing sunset.

Sunset - Kerikeri

Sunset - Kerikeri

Sunset - Kerikeri

Today was quieter, but it started with a bit of history.
Waitangi - where the New Zeal;and Treaty was originally signed is now a NZ National trust site.
The grounds have certainly been extended since we were last here in the '90s.

waitangi treaty house

Governors House Lawn - Waitango

Waitango Meeting House

The Trust site also has the Ngatokimatawhaorua - one of the world's largest Maori ceremonial war canoes. It was built for the Waitangi Treaty Day Centenary celebrations in 1940.

Large Waka - Waitango

Large Waka - Waitango

After we'd toured the Waitango grounds we headed into Paihia and spent the day just relaxing on the beach and doing a little swimming.

Yesterday we spent the day on the Tall Ship - the R. Tucker Thompson. We picked a good day to do a tour, because it was the Russell Tall Ship race day, so there were lots of other ships in the harbour.
The captain put on a good act as the pirate captain - he was just missing the eye patch and parrot, but he and the crew were really friendly and made the whole day very enjoyable.
The R. Tucker Thompson is run as a trust, and provides sailing experience for children and school groups, so it was worth taking that tour, rather than a commercial one.

The tour starts with the ships leaving the jetty and heading to the start line. Part of the fun is the water bombing which goes between the various ships. There are even catapults to help hit ships further away.
After we'd been out for about 30 minutes, we were served with lovely scones, with real cream and jam.
The boat then hauled sail and had a shot at the race for the next hour or so, then headed into a bay for lunch.
While we were anchored there people were using a rope swing to go swimming and enjoy the brisk waters.

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

After lunch we headed back to the main port. Before and after lunch we had the opportunity to climb the rigging (in a safety harness). I thought it was quite exhilarating climbing the rigging.

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship

After the cruise we stayed on in Russell, and went tot he Russell Boat Club Hangi (for $15), which is an annual event after the tall ship race where they give out the awards fr the day. The Boat club certainly knows how to put on a good Hangi, with bands. It's all a very family oriented event (until about 1.00 am I believe).
We left around 8.30, to catch the 9.00 pm ferry back, and were treated to a lovely sunset across the bay.

Russell Boat Club Haingi

Russell - Tall Ship

Before we headed out for the day, we checked out the Kune Kune pigs at the farm we're staying at.

Kune Kune pigs

Most of the day was spent visiting Russell,
We took the ferry from Paiha to Russell.

Bay of Islands

One of the important things about Russell, is the Maiki Hill Hoistoric flag pole. It's a very important site. The flag pole was chopped down 4 times just after the Treaty of Waitangi.
The importance of the flag and it's remaining on the hill is describedin the plaque below.

Russell Flag pole information

Bay of Islands

Bay pf Islands

Bay of Islands

Yesterday we spent the majority of the day travelling from Napier to Auckland. The countryside is lovely, but the Waikato River at Taupo was spectacular.

Waikato

Waikato

Kawakawa Toilets by Hundertwasser

Kawakawa Toilets by Hundertwasser

Kawakawa Toilets by Hundertwasser

Kawaka street art

1 Jan 2013
Today we checked out some of the wineries in Hawkes Bay. The first, and most interesting, was Mission Estate. The vineyard is on what was an old missionary established by French Missionaries in 1851 and has a lovely building and grounds.

Mission Estate Vineyard - Hawkes Bay

Mission Estate Vineyard - Hawkes Bay

From there we visited a beach further out from Napier. It was a lovely area, with a small road with all the houses overlooking the bay. Some of the houses looked like holiday homes, but others were much grander.

Hawkes Bay

Aftre that we headed to a more recently developed section of Napier called Quay West.
We had dinner in the Thirsty Whale overlooking the sea.

Napier - Quay West

Napier - Quay West

When we'd finished dinner it was just before sunset and there were some wonderfully shaped clouds which made it an amazing sunset.

Napier - Quay West

Napier - Quay West

Napier - Quay West

Finally we came back to Napier and stopped along Marine Parade to check out a lit fountain.

Napier foreshore

29 Dec 2012
Today's visits were to Mt Taranaki and New Plymouth.
Mt Taranaki was not as spectacular as it could have been - too much cloud cover, but the parks and Dawson's Falls were quite spectacular.

We also visited Holland Gardens, which was a lovely picnic spot.

Holland Garden Taranaki

However, the highlight of the day was the New Plymouth Festival of Light.
It's a big light show, set up in the New Plymouth park which runs from mid december to end January. As well as lighting up the park, they also put on concerts in the evenings. It's quite spectacular. If you're coming anywhere during that period, it's well worth a visit.

New Plymouth Festival of Light

27 Dec 2012
We're doing some travelling around the north island with my sister in law.
Today's visit was to the Hamilton Gardens. The gardens are quite amazing and very large.

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

However, one of the best parts of the gardens was the area which had the gardens from different parts of the world\, the part they call the Paradise section, which contains a:

Chinese Scholars Garden
English Flower Garden
Japanese Garden of Contemplation
American Modernist Garden
Italian Renaissance Garden
Indian Char Bagh Garden

These were really lovely gardens (except the American one).

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens