Garden Ramblings: New Zealand

It's hard to believe that we've been here for almost 3 weeks now. We're having a wonderful time and the weather has been great. Sunny and warm everyday so we're really enjoying summer.

After our trip to Napier, we had a few days in Hamilton. One day we went for a long walk along the Waikato River. Then another day I helped John with his computer and John fixed lunch for us along with Peter and Richard on his deck. We also had a day of shopping. It's fun to see what the shops are selling here. Pat couldn't resist adding some shoes and clothes to her already bulging luggage - packing to go home should be interesting!

Last weekend we went to Raglan. Raglan is on the west coast where Bryan and Peter have a beach home (bach). We went for walks through town and along the ocean beach. Saturday night we had a wonderful fish dinner on the deck of the bach. Sunday morning John, Richard, and Josephine drove over to Raglan and joined us for brunch on the deck. We had a great time munching and talking the morning and part of the afternoon away.

We returned back to Hamilton on Sunday afternoon since both Bryan and Peter had work on Monday. So we all got ourselves organised for Monday. Bryan and Peter went to work and we went on a 4 day "tiki tour" around the Coromandel peninsula. The first night we were in Coromandel township. Then on to Whitianga and Waihi Beach on the second and third nights. We were traveling north, and because you drive on the left (wrong!) side of the road, we hugged the coastline all the way from Thames to Coromandel town. The scenery was beautiful and the beaches were breathtaking! And the roads were narrow and very twisty! Lee did a fabulous job of keeping us on the right side of the road and negotiating all of those curves!

Both Thames and Coromandel sprang up when gold was discovered on the peninsula. Unfortunately, the good was embedded in rock, and very difficult to get to. Both towns are now quiet and peaceful. Coromandel has a population of 1,600 residents - and many top restaurants, cafes and motels, as well as great little shops. We stayed in the city center, but were able to walk everywhere, including a bush walk up to a Maori pa - a fortified area with a view of the surrounding area. There were also great oyster beds in the harbor - a great place for seafood. On Tuesday morning we took a ride on the Driving Creek Railway - a narrow gauge railroad that was created by a well-known NZ potter (Barry Brickell) to bring clay down out of the mountains. The train ride was a hoot, the scenery on the way spectacular, and the view from the top (the Eyefull Tower!) was amazing!

After the train ride, we headed on around the peninsula, to the east coast, where we headed to Whitianga, located on Mercury Bay. We stayed in a great motel, again, downtown, but within walking distance of the beach and harbor. The motel was owned by John's nephew and his wife, and John had sent them an e-mail and picture, letting them know that we were coming. We were fortunate to get their last room!

Regarding motels in NZ - they all come with kitchens, and in many cases, bedrooms, too! It's like being at home - kitchens are fully stocked with refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, etc., and they give you a carton of milk, for your morning tea! We were able to have breakfast in, every morning. Very comfortable and convenient! Bathrooms are compartmentalized - there is a little room containing the toilet, then a room with the sink, cabinet and shower. Very user-friendly with multiple people!

We had a lovely dinner in Whitianga - found a restaurant serving ahi tuna - yum!!

Wednesday was a beach day - we left Whitianga, headed for Hot Water Beach! This is a beach where the thermal water comes down through the rocks and onto the beach! You can dig a hole and it fills with hot mineral water! Then the surf mixes with the water and cools it! Quite a hoot! We didn't dig a hole, but when we squished our feet down into the sand, it was HOT! We also did a great beach walk there, and found some neat sea shells. After Hot Water Beach we went to Cooks Beach, where Captain Cook landed and claimed NZ for the crown. Again, it was on a beautiful white sand beach. We hiked towards Cathedral Cove, but decided that it was better reached by boat, and instead, went to Hahei. Hahei is another beautiful little beach town, located on a pristine, long white-sand beach. We stopped at the local market, picked up a couple of beers and some chips (we decided to be bad!) and headed for the beach. We found a lovely spot under a tree for our refreshments, then did a long beach walk. The beach at Hahei is pink! There's a pink shellfish there, and it gets crushed in with the sand, causing the pink tint. We picked up more shells there!

We ended our day in Waihi Beach, and had a motel right across the street from the beach - perfect! We stopped at a store and picked up stuff for dinner, and after we unpacked the car and stocked the fridge, we headed for the beach. The beautiful white sand beach there is about 5 miles long - we walked about 3.5 miles, picking up various sea shells, including conch, along the way - I was in heaven!

Thursday morning we went to Bowentown and walked the beach there, as well as the northern end of Waihi beach. The northern end of the beach was rich in seashells, and we came home with a ton of them! :)

Then we headed home, with a stop in Morrinsville for lunch and a wander. A wonderful adventure!!

Tomorrow we head south, destination Wellington, with stops along the way. We'll come back via the west coast - the Tasman sea. Check back next week for updates!!

The first picture is of John, Peter and I at Hamilton Gardens in Hamilton. The second is a picture of one of the trees that was used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings series. The tree is located in Tokoroa.

The is a view ot Thames. We are at the top of a hill, where there is an amazing monument to New Zealanders who lost their lives in WWI.

This is the Waikato river in Hamilton. There is a lovely walk all along the river. You can go for miles and it's just beautiful.

Lunch at John's! He and Richard installed a flagpole, and he raised the American flag in our honor!

"The boys" on the deck at Raglan last Sunday!

This is some of the "bush" on the Coromandel peninsula - ponga ferns!

This is the view from the "Eyefull Tower" - amazing!!

Here we are on the little narrow-gauge train. Lee and this Dutch gentleman agreed to take pictures of each of us, all done with sign-language!

Here's the little train - aptly named "Snake"! The track up the mountain was winding, with a lot of switchbacks.

At the top of the mountains, between Coromandel and Whitianga. This time the Swiss fellow we traded photographs with, spoke English! The view behind us is Auckland, but it was too hazy to be able to see.

Hot Water Beach!! Unbelievable!! As you can see, everyone was enjoying their individual spas, and the local market was taking advantage of the need for shovels by selling them!