Here are the photos for the Katikati posting.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Katikati and beyond
Katikati and Beyond
On our third day we were happy to leave the city behind. South of Auckland were lush green hills, with sheep and cattle grazing. Vegetation changed to tree ferns and pine trees as we headed through the Karangahaken gorge. We stopped for lunch at charming town called Katikati and viewed the famous murals created by the townspeople in the 1980s to attract tourists and prop up the flagging economy when kiwi prices dropped. My favorite was the one with the minister chasing the tempermental ostrichs on his farm, brandishing the bible. Griz liked the lifelike 1920's auto repair shop. Griz stopped to have a chat with one of the residents on a park bench. I joined him- but the conversation was rather limited. The fellow who took our photo said that the headline photo in the paper that day (Hilary's funeral) was of Sir Edmund sitting on that very bench.Apparently Sir Ed (as they called him) had a summer home near Katikati.
The highlight of the day was a visit to see our friends Ruth and Frank, who were staying at a cottage in Omakaura. We had a lovely beach walk,got up close with the beautiful norfolk island pines and saw kiwis growing (this is a big kiwi growing area). The fruits grow on what look like vines, held up on wooden structures and wires ( a bit like grapes). They are sheltered by huge cedar hedges to protect them from the wind and sometimes also have high fences around them. We feasted on fish and chips and got caught up on travel adventures.
The next day Ruth and Frank headed back to see their son John and Jessie in Palmerston North, and we headed to the Coramandel.
We stopped at a bird santuary along the way,and Griz got to play his Conrad Lorenz part by feeding the baby birds and having them follow him. Some of the birds were quite entertaining,especially the furry rooster who was hoarse from too much crowing.
Our drive to the Coramandel was quite exciting- narrow winding road lined with pines and tree ferns and spectacular views of the sea. We finally reached our cottage at Hahei beach and settled in to our new home. The beach is spectacular- pink sand, with the beach fronted by islands- a true tropical paradise. We watched the full moon rise over the water and turned in- a new adventure awaits tomorrow.
On our third day we were happy to leave the city behind. South of Auckland were lush green hills, with sheep and cattle grazing. Vegetation changed to tree ferns and pine trees as we headed through the Karangahaken gorge. We stopped for lunch at charming town called Katikati and viewed the famous murals created by the townspeople in the 1980s to attract tourists and prop up the flagging economy when kiwi prices dropped. My favorite was the one with the minister chasing the tempermental ostrichs on his farm, brandishing the bible. Griz liked the lifelike 1920's auto repair shop. Griz stopped to have a chat with one of the residents on a park bench. I joined him- but the conversation was rather limited. The fellow who took our photo said that the headline photo in the paper that day (Hilary's funeral) was of Sir Edmund sitting on that very bench.Apparently Sir Ed (as they called him) had a summer home near Katikati.
The highlight of the day was a visit to see our friends Ruth and Frank, who were staying at a cottage in Omakaura. We had a lovely beach walk,got up close with the beautiful norfolk island pines and saw kiwis growing (this is a big kiwi growing area). The fruits grow on what look like vines, held up on wooden structures and wires ( a bit like grapes). They are sheltered by huge cedar hedges to protect them from the wind and sometimes also have high fences around them. We feasted on fish and chips and got caught up on travel adventures.
The next day Ruth and Frank headed back to see their son John and Jessie in Palmerston North, and we headed to the Coramandel.
We stopped at a bird santuary along the way,and Griz got to play his Conrad Lorenz part by feeding the baby birds and having them follow him. Some of the birds were quite entertaining,especially the furry rooster who was hoarse from too much crowing.
Our drive to the Coramandel was quite exciting- narrow winding road lined with pines and tree ferns and spectacular views of the sea. We finally reached our cottage at Hahei beach and settled in to our new home. The beach is spectacular- pink sand, with the beach fronted by islands- a true tropical paradise. We watched the full moon rise over the water and turned in- a new adventure awaits tomorrow.
auckland day two
Auckland Day Two
Our second day we ventured into Auckland proper. Even though it was grey and rainy, we enjoyed the ride and looking at the boats in the harbour. We ventured on the busy streets, picked up our rental car and headed slowly to the Auckland museum. Griz did a great job of driving , trying to get used to driving on the left. Unfortunately, the rainy day and museum free day (how were we to know) brought thousands of kids and families there too.
We did enjoy the natural history section with a replica of a giant moa (30 ft tall - some huge bird!) and Griz had a chat with the resident penguin.
We also liked the Maori artifacts section, with carved marae and an actual carved canoe (80 ft long). We watched a show with Maori dancing. I had a chat with one of the Maori warriors. ( I preferred the real exhibit).
After our big city adventure, we were happy to get back to our seaside village, a Thai dinner, and another walk along the waterfront.
Our second day we ventured into Auckland proper. Even though it was grey and rainy, we enjoyed the ride and looking at the boats in the harbour. We ventured on the busy streets, picked up our rental car and headed slowly to the Auckland museum. Griz did a great job of driving , trying to get used to driving on the left. Unfortunately, the rainy day and museum free day (how were we to know) brought thousands of kids and families there too.
We did enjoy the natural history section with a replica of a giant moa (30 ft tall - some huge bird!) and Griz had a chat with the resident penguin.
We also liked the Maori artifacts section, with carved marae and an actual carved canoe (80 ft long). We watched a show with Maori dancing. I had a chat with one of the Maori warriors. ( I preferred the real exhibit).
After our big city adventure, we were happy to get back to our seaside village, a Thai dinner, and another walk along the waterfront.
grizzlo arrives iin Auckland
Arrival in Auckland
After a long but relatively comfortable flight ( I managed to watch 2 movies) we arrived in Auckland. Our shuttle took us to our B&B in the seaside suburb of Devonport,but since it was 8:30 am on Sunday morning our room was unavailable until noon and we were forced to explore before crashing. We were struck by the tropical vegetation- bouganvillias, hibiscus hedges,and big blue agapanthus flowers everywhere. We had a lovely breakfast and the best cafe latte in the world in a charming cafe overlooking the water. We had a great view of Auckland from the ferry dock, and enjoyed the Victorian architecture of the grand old hotel "The Esplanade" , and lovely Victorian cottages on the waterfront promenade. We got really ambitious and climbed climbed one of the town's extinct volcanos at North Head and had great views of the city. The head was a former maori pa or fort and then became a defensive fort for Auckland which was in active use until the 1960s.We watched parasailers on the famous Cheltenham beach and saw kids sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard- a kiwi version of tobogganing. The highlight of our day was having dinner with Wendy's sister Deborah- great food, lots of laughs and wonderful kiwi hospitality.
After a long but relatively comfortable flight ( I managed to watch 2 movies) we arrived in Auckland. Our shuttle took us to our B&B in the seaside suburb of Devonport,but since it was 8:30 am on Sunday morning our room was unavailable until noon and we were forced to explore before crashing. We were struck by the tropical vegetation- bouganvillias, hibiscus hedges,and big blue agapanthus flowers everywhere. We had a lovely breakfast and the best cafe latte in the world in a charming cafe overlooking the water. We had a great view of Auckland from the ferry dock, and enjoyed the Victorian architecture of the grand old hotel "The Esplanade" , and lovely Victorian cottages on the waterfront promenade. We got really ambitious and climbed climbed one of the town's extinct volcanos at North Head and had great views of the city. The head was a former maori pa or fort and then became a defensive fort for Auckland which was in active use until the 1960s.We watched parasailers on the famous Cheltenham beach and saw kids sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard- a kiwi version of tobogganing. The highlight of our day was having dinner with Wendy's sister Deborah- great food, lots of laughs and wonderful kiwi hospitality.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Grizzlo in Victoria
Grizzlo in Victoria
Our New Zealand adventure started with a visit to Victoria to visit our friends Susan and Gary. We enjoyed a hike to Goldstream Provincial \Park and saw giant cedars , bald eagles,and magical, moss covered woods. We wined and dined and watched the sun set as we walked along the \Pacific. We took a trip to the harbour ,shopped and watched a multidisciplinary, opera and native dance show at the art gallery.All too soon it was time to say goodbye and start the next leg of our journey.
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