Coromandel Peninsular

On the way to Coromandel, we came across some
prehistoric remains, reminiscent of Dartmoor.

Just had to stop to snap Pagets Lane!

We stayed at a delightful lodge near Coromandel Town, overlooking Preece Point &

Mercury bay, where Kathy & Stuart were our friendly, hippy and hospitable hosts.

A room (kitchen) with some view!

The interior

The letter-boxes at the end of the lane are typical of NZ's home-made attitudes.

The name's Bond .....

Awaiting results of last night's breathalyser test!

Giant, thousand-year-old Kauri trees saved from extinction by 1940s conservationists after most had been exterminated. These are 9m circumference: they can reach 4,000 years of age.

The pillage goes on .....

but only pines these days thank goodness

A picnic spot with ensuite shower ...

Some of the insect life defies description ...

One mad Kiwi's folly - aged, asexual potty potter Barry Brickell, (he's the Cliff Richard of the peninsular) and took 32 years to hand-build the 2.6km of tortuous narrow-gauge railway track, to ferry his clay back and forth to his workshop. He's now turned it into a tourist scenic railway and using the proceeds to reforest his 60 acre hillside with native New Zealand trees. Luckily, he don't sing in public, even when it rains.

The little train climbs about 350 metres by a cunning system of loops and switchbacks, a precarious trip to the summit and his folly, the Eyefull Tower, also built by his own hand.

He also recycled thousands of bottles to form retaining walls.

Hawkes Bay and beyond

Hawkes Bay sculptors create memorials from tree trunks.





















Hippy surfers' motorhome to add to our Pontius collection














3 days' golf at the local Napier Golf Club, picking bogeys out of nowhere.

We also got dragged into playing golf croquet with 120 other crumblies! It's very different to association croquet and a more complex game than we had thought; much more enjoyable, in our opinion, as it allows everyone to play all the time, rather than waiting ages for your partner or opponent to demolish your turn - R&R watch out!

Hamilton

After Breckenridge Lodge, we started to make our way further north to the Coromandel Peninsular. Although some rainy days ahead, we managed to look at these lovely Italianate Gardens in Hamilton.

Breckenridge Lodge & Napier

Overlooking the vineyards, Breckenridge Lodge (above) is our luxury sojourn for the next fortnight, complete with host chef, Malcolm Redmond. We were treated to gourmet dinners in the company of other guests from all over the world.






















We visited wineries, mostly by bicycle, including Mission Estate (top) the oldest vineyard in New Zealand, transplanted from the original old church, now a local restaurant (above).
The Irish monks started off by just making sacremental wine but soon found a mass market for their product.


NEIGHBOURING NAPIER
Art Deco Capital of the world, rebuilt in 1933 after the disastrous earthquake and fire razed the original city to the ground in 1930. All the buildings are in this surreal 30s style - awe inspiring.




















Some examples of the architecture, cars and designs of the period.
Apologies for the badly dressed models!

Rotorua, North Island (NZ)

Having spent 2 weeks in UK helping to organise Mum's funeral, and feeling pretty miserable about having lost her so soon after Dad, we decided to return to New Zealand to continue with our world trip, as Mum would have wanted. She was going to come out to see us in France in the spring, but sadly neither she nor my Dad managed to make it. After 64 years of being married, I hope they are reunited and watching our adventures from afar.

23 January 2010

Arrived in Rotorua just in time to catch Richard's latest performance,
this time with a Maori score.......

The Maoris were very welcoming, as were the
hot springs and geysers which spouted forth.
















This native guide was called Paul O'Garvey and was fiercely proud of his Polynesian/Ulster parentage!












The other geysers spurted on cue and we all splutterd from the sulpurous vapours.












This mud cauldron was actually bubbling furiously, but Irene failed to capture its palpitating pulses.

Governor's Bay, South Island (NZ)

In Omaru we happened across some more 40s nostalgia; Ford Prefects, Standard 10s and Hillmans outside this local Heritage Radio Station broadcasting vintage songs on vintage equipment. This was the source of my dedication to Mum - Mario Lanza's 'Be My Love' which was followed, coincidentally, by one of my Dad's favourites, 'On Top Of Ol' Smokey'.

We found the most idyllic camping spot overlooking Governor's Bay and spent 3 nights watching the stars from our Spaceship. The local beach Maoris helped Anton to complete the ethnic clues from the Christchurch crossword. See Anton surveying the Bay from his memorial bench.

A fossil - fossil gazing!

Dunedin, South Island (NZ)

Early January, just before we heard the bad news, we arrived in a pretty chilly Dunedin but stayed in a delightfully friendly B&B. The following day we explored the mystical, unspoilt peninsular, teeming with bird life and devoid of all humans.
No-one was using the extensive Pukehiki Library!

We trekked out to 'Lover's Leap' and didn't take the plunge. Instead we met up with this lump of lard - too sleepy to attack me this time.




























Speaking of lumps of lard, I caught this one doing some exercises in the entrance to New Zealand's only castle, at least the hedges were trim!