Head East

Trip Start Oct 01, 2008
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46
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Trip End Dec 30, 2009


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Where I stayed
Havelock North Motor Lodge
(Paraparaumu hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  , North Island,
Monday, November 24, 2008

Low cloud and drizzle in Taupo when we wake, so it looks as if our decision not to do a big walk today was a good one. We drive east along a long road through a sparsely populated part of North Island emerging near the coast in a fruit and wine growing area, Hawke's Bay. Napier is a famously art deco town, mainly because the original town was devastated by an earthquake in 1931 and was rebuilt in contemporary style.


It's a nice place with a lively centre (at least it is at lunchtime) and lots of cafes. We amble about and I enjoy a pie for lunch. As in Australia, a pie is a popular form of nutrition here.


On to Havelock North via Hastings. In the afternoon, we drive to the top of Te Mata Peak. We are north of a place called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, meaning "The Brow of a Hill where Tamatea, the Man with the Big Knees, Who Slid, Climbed and Swallowed Mountains, Known as Land Eater, Played his Flute to his Brother." I think that he was probably attracted by the views, which are great.


The beauty of the moment was slightly marred by the arrival of 4 tour buses carrying passengers from a cruise ship that had docked in Napier. Big people.
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Comments

petewoollcott
petewoollcott on Nov 24, 2008 at 05:55PM

misspelt
I think I noticed a spelling mistake in the Kewi name there blue ....

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu ..... you see, its easily done .... its a double u at the end there and I should know ....fair dinkum !

Great blogs..great pics ... more please ... and more pics of warm places .. its bloody freezing here cobber ... don`t suppose they say that in NZ..no, didn`t think so ...

hope all is well.... it certainly looks it..have a great day .. when you wake up ..we`re off to bed..

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