What a night-rain and freight trains all night. There is a railway line on a bridge running through the site (we thought it was disused) the trains are long and go through very slowly.Apart from that a lovely sunny morning, another good chat in kitchen then left camp around 9.30 ish
IMPORTANT WE HAVE LOST WEIGHT OUR BELTS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED.
Went into Picton after it had stopped raining and found a library, took in laptop charged it and downloaded journal into the blog-we also figured out how to insert photos into the script, by then time to leave for lunch and queue up for ferry. Ferry is quite small compared to our cross channel ferries,didnt seem to have stabilisers going across Cook Strait,other than that lovelly trip with fantastic scenery.
About an hour before arrival at Wellington a message came over tannoy "all cakes and sandwiches $1 each" - managed to get 6 cakes and a big ciabatta for lunch tomorrow. Off ferry quite quickly and at camp Elsdon, Porirua just after 6 pm,booked in for 2 nights, only $40. Lady in the office very helpfull she gave us a timetable for trains into Wellington and a streetmap to get us to the station in the morning. It is a small site and you can just see the sea from the van.Lovely chilling evening when just before 8o'clock a family of 4 kids and 2 adults arrived in a van like ours. how they all slept in it we dont know.
16 October Sunday
Bit of rain in the night but sunny this morning -hot showers yet again.Free parking at railway station and the ticket office was closed so had to buy tickets on the train, only $10 return each, it was approximately 30 mins on the train. Weater a bit wet and overcast on walk to the Te Papa museum on Cable st. Had a coffee on arrival before starting museum, at 11 37 we went to learn how to do the Haka, you stand in front of a screen on which is your personal tuitor,after learning each move you then do the whole thing in one go(bloody laff), when you get out after 6 mins you get to see a film of yourself doing it (what pratts). It is impossible to do justice to the place in one day, there are a lot of interactive displays and even the kids areas were fun.
By 2 30 we were knackered and had a cup of tea before the walk back to the station along the scenic waterfront.
There are a lot more people out now and the weather is glorious.
Back at camp just before 5pm-long tiring day.cooked yet another stir fry-we are so healthy.Just as going to bed the family with the 4 kids turn up again and parked right next to us (the site is bloody empty) and they have another kid with them.
17 October Monday
Left site after 9 30 and went to Pirates of the Caribean mini golf, Colin won by 2 this time and we both got a hole in one on the last hole.
Decided to make our way to New Plymouth for tonight (highway 1 is not the most scenic road), more mountains
it got really dificult to drive as the wind got up and rain got heavier, arrived at Fitzroy campsite 5ish, its right on the beach if we could see it through the cloud and rain ($32 for one night-ouch). The kitchen has to be seen to be believed, one hot plate with only one working ring, the other is straight out of the sixties and the wiring is appalling either taped or left bare, still managed to cook yet another stir fry then ate last cake from ferry. Weather forcast not very good over the next few days.
18 October Tuesday
Very rainy and windy night. Showers ok. Toasters do not work in kitchen, took photos of wiring and state of kitchen-should be condemned.
On our way to Waitomo caves today. Rose drove for about an hour and even managed twisty bits with bends of 25 kph (pat on back).
Arrived at caves just before noon and booked in for the Glow worm caves at 12 30 and Aruni caves 2 pm. Just had time to get to first cave to be met by our guide Evelin. The caves are very different to lime stone caves in the UK, they are so creamy white in colour, we arrived at a boat then the lights were turned off and the boat slowly floated into the Glow worm cave, site was amazing ,all those glow worms lighting up the roof of the cave was like the night sky.Just had time to get back to van to drive the 3k to Aruni cave, stuffed some food down our throats before the next tour, whilst waiting for the guide the heavens opened and poured with rain. As the guide arrived the rain stopped and she led us up a track to the cave entrance, which looked like a slit in the rock. Again amazing so white and creamy in colour which the guide said was due to the lack of minerals in the soil, we were told they think the caves continue for another 20k,took loads of photos hope they turn out.
went round discovery center at ticket office before deciding to go to a DOC site at Pureora. Torrential rain
then sunshine before arriving at 5pm.(Ngaherenga). We were the only ones on the site till 7 30 when an estate car turned up. Good site and loo looks new, only cost $10 in honesty box.
19 October Wednesday
It rained all night and this morning dosn't look much better. when left site continued on Link Road throught the forest to Kakapo-26km of mostly gravel and very twisty. Now heading towards Taupo then Napier. Just before Taupo there was silver pipework following the road?? stopped at edge of lake for coffee to see a Hole in One golf challenge taking place, visibility could be better, also saw some black swans on the lake further along.
On the Thermal Highway to Napier weather became sunny but threateneing rain, which it did when we stopped for lunch-typical. Approx 30km from Napier at Te Pohue could see the sea and coastline. Found parking on Marine parade at Napier, on the parade was a SK8 park for kids where they could hire boards or scooters, they even had a skip filled with foam blocks for the kids to jump into. Had a walk round looking at the Art Deco building,
a bit disppointing, decided to go to Mcdonalds to catch up with internet but their internet access not working. Decided to go to another DOC site at Waikare river Mouth near Putorino, arrived at 5pm with already 2 other campers at site, it is at the end of a twisty gravelly road -FREE.
Forgot that early part of today got stopped by police as tracked vehicle had fallen on railway line at side of raod, whilst waiting a car pulled alongside the police car and had to jumpstart it-photo taken.
then main road north of Napier they found a woman's body in a ditch at the side of the road, we wondered why a tent was covering the ditch when we passed this morning-now we know.
Went for a short walk after dinner, part to the track is unusable due to coastal erosion (2km walk to beach)on way back went through a rather boggy bit- good job had on boots as Rose got covered up to ankles. funny evening, trying to put bed together whilst in the van and raining outside just mentioned how could 3 men live in the van, then Colin thought he could see balloons outside when it got dark.
20 October Thursday
Woke up and decided to stay at site today, leisurely breakfast-other campervan left site then another car arrived to camp with the exisiting family of campers. sunny but windy today after a bit of rain in the night. Spent the morning reading and after lunch walked the twisty path to the beach-it was not 10 minutes as per the sign. It was very windy on the beach, there were lots of tree trunks laying around and somebody had built a shelter, it was a nice walk.
when got back played cards and read, had another stirfry. Just before bed someone arrived in a 4x4 towing a caravan and pulled up beside us - we think he left it there so we didn't have to see him reverse a caravan in long grass- there was plenty of room elsewhere on the site.
21 October Friday
Woke early today and left site by 8.30am. Stopped in Wairoa to use the library to find it shut (Hawkes Bay area having a 4 day weekend holiday). Went onto the hot springs at Morere (wellsignposted) only $8 each including towel hire, it was 39 degrees in the hot pool, heaven,actually sweating whilst swimming. Rose went into cold pool up to her knees, Colin was a wimp. What a nice interlude, after showers we were both hungry so stopped and had drink and cookies. Drove onto Gisborne to use their library, caught up with kids quickly before carrying on Highway 2 towards Wairata where we hope to camp tonight. Found the DOC site (Mangapuka) beside a river, lovely setting, we just got out the chairs and sat in the sunshine-it was hot. Had a walk down to the river which was cold,
how the boys at the next pitch dived in I don't know.
We have had a condensation problem with the bottom of the mattresses getting wet, finally finished drying them in the sun, even remembered to put on insect repellant, nice evening.
22 October Saturday
Insect repellant didn't work , my legs and feet are so itchy with bites, Colin seems to have escaped.
left site at 8.30ish ($7 for the night), weather is brightening as we go, stopped just before 10 for coffee at a rest stop next to beach near Opotiki-lovely. Drove into Whakatane(they pronounce Wh as F) seems a nice place on the coast,before taking highway 30 to Kawera(the place where council Colin's father was exiled to after shooting a copper in Oz), not a lot there.
Decided to stop in Rotorua for 2 nights at Redwood Holiday Park ($60),arrived early afternoon. Talking to the lady who owns the site , they have sold up and close the end of November (to a developer) she was also telling us that her and her husband are going to Bolton in April 2012 for 3 months staying with friends followed by a Mediterranean cruise.She was also telling us about going to see Te Puia which we will probably do tomorrow by ourselves. Had a walk, got as far as across the road to an Outdoorsman shop,bought some gas cans and some insect repellant patches,then went back to site to catch up with journal, and charge both phone and camera batteries. Had sausage and mash for dinner (no broccoli). Stuck insect repellant patches on curtains when went to bed.
23 October Sunday
sent text to Emma as it is her birthday.
Noisy last night with cars and doors slamming. My left foot was very itchy and sore in the night. Had egg on toast for breakfast, makes a change from cornflakes or toast.
Went to Te Puia today which is the NZ Maori Arts and crafts Institute, went for the combo of guided tour and authentic Maori concert (cost $57 each butcos paid by mastercard got 15% discount-result). we gathered at the gateof the Meeting House
and were greeted by a gentleman who told us how to approach and behave inside the house. He then chose Colin to be our chief for the ceremony, a Maori came out of the house and did a Haka to Colin
and laid a leaf on the ground that Colin had to pick up and then back away, he led us to the house where we had to leave our shoes outside. I was called to the front to walk in with Colin.
colin and the guide sat in the front row with me behind, as only men can sit in front seats, the performeres then gave us a son of greeting and Colin had to go up and touch noses twice with each male. the guide left and sat me in the seat next to Colin, we had to remain seated for the performance but were allowed to take photos.
I was called onto stage with other women and we were shown how to dance using a rope with a ball on the end-lost my coordination a bit but it was good fun. colin and other men were taken onto to the stage and had to do the Haka. Great show.
when we got outside an american lady asked Colin if she could take his photo-fame.
Just had to time to get to meeting area for guided tour-our guide had a good Maori name of Paul, he told us until the settlers arrived the Maori did not have a written language,and they have only 14 letters in their alphabet with no F which is why WH is the f sound, locally the site is known as Waka keeping the H silent otherwise it would be WHAKA, the real namen is Te whakarewarewa.
Paul took to the Carving School to see the work
-you can only enrol if you are male and have Maori blood with the training taking 3 years. the carving was amazing. the weaving school he showed us how flax is used to make rope and the traditional skirts.
He asked who liked reading and I was the only one who put a hand up, he gave me what he had been making to me as a bookmark.
colin has a leaf and I have a bookmark.
Paul then took us to see the Pohutu Geyser as it was preparing to erupt (which it does 20 times a day), it was amzing watching it get bigger reaching up to 30 metres,
we then walked onto the big mudpool where the temperature is 90degrees.
Went and had a bit of lunch before the crowds and got talking to an australian couple from Victoria. John gave Colin information about maps by Hema which show the all the tracks in Oz and the CB channels to use, he also gave him his home address should we be passing-nice couple.
went back into park and had a wander by ourselves returning to the Kiwi house-they are nocturnal so no lights or camereas allowed, strange birds. Scooted round gift shop and bought another sticker before finding a supermarket and a pharmacy for anthhistamine tablets (pharmacist was telling me that studies have shown blood groups A and AB are sweeter tasting to the biting insects, great I'm A)
Back to camp to cook steak and jacket spuds, the steaks were enormous then in tv loounge sorting photos to go into blog, decided not to watch Rugby final.
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