So on a sunny day, we left Rotorua, taking the road across the mountains towards Wairoa on the East coast. We knew it was partly an unsealed road (dirt track) what we didn't know was it had hair pin bends, often steep single tracks, and was over 150 klms.
We were told as we arrived half way at a camp site that it was the worst road in NZ (with a big laugh) Jucy our van was upset and struggling, especially on the up slopes after the rain...it felt like we might slide & plunge over the side on occasion, but we did arrive safely in the end, at a place called Lake Waikaremoana where there must have been a fishermans convention taking place...with all the usual tall tales that go with it. While listening to one, the kiwi started to reach into the chest freezer to show us the catch, and dropped the lid on his head which threw his glass of red wine all over Colins beige shirt....no worries Colin said, I only have 5 for the year !!
We eventually got to the coast, and did an amazing drive onto the Mahia peninnsula, uncrowded, wild, dramatic & very windy.
Headed down to the sofisticated part of the coast, Napier & Hastings in Hawkes bay.
Napier was shaken to the ground in 1931 and was rebuilt retaining the art-deco buildings. The town is on a large stretch of beach, so just spent our time wandering.
Went to Cape Kidnappers on the way to Hastings, visited a colony of Gannets as part of a tour, stunning area. The Gannets were unphased by us being close to them, but the smell was not nice...fishy. The Cape name is due to the fact that the Maori tried to kidnap a member of Captain Cooks crew.
The place with the longest name in the World, even longer than the one in Wales, was here...
Called:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoro nukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
Means:
The brow of a hill where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed & swallowed mountains, known as land eater, played his flute to his brother.
WHEW !!
Moved on to Martinborough visiting Mount Bruce conservation park and saw real kiwis and enjoyed feeding the eels......
Martinborough is known as the boutique wine capital of NZ.....we hired bikes & spent the day on a self guided wine tasting tour, it was great, we eventually swerved our way home and promised to go back the next day and buy some wine, but we couldn't remember which ones, so we left it.
Ended our time in North island with a day in Wellington, considered flying out of Wellington & skydiving into Picton on South island, but couldn't leave Jucy behind, so had to give it a miss....shame.
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