Stratford to New Plymouth via the Surf Highway

The morning was dank and Mt Taranaki had disappeared in  cloud cover. We drove to Hawera to a recommendation of a good museum

called Tawhiti just 30 minutes towards the coast.
Amazing and overwhelming, more 'stuff' than you could take in, in the 2 hours we spent there! It ranged from tractors to the an underground boat ride. Old shops, old tools, figures that were full size. More detail in village scenes that must have been painstakingly made over years. It's been voted the best private museum and for me it definitely was!
Sun was back out for a stunning drive along the Surf Highway. We stopped at surf beaches with huge waves, a lighthouse that was a great photo with the emerging Taranaki. More beaches and then New Plymouth. A motel for a change, walk along the waterfront, pint, shop in Countdown and washing done in the free guest laundry.

Mt Taranaki on bike.......well some of it!

Weather turned for the good and as we parked our bikes at Dawson Falls the clouds lifted over Taranaki. A walk up the pools loop, paddle and play on the rocks. Back to go down to the falls and the the cycle ride back to Stratford.  Full day and a bit tired!

Plimmerton to Stratford

Long drive around the west coast. Windy city proved to be up to its name when we woke early to get just down the road to Porirua for the 8 o'clock Park Run! 33mins later and looking worse for wear,  1st in her age group, which could be read either way.
Showered and good bye to Moana Lodge hello to Eastern Taranaki Experience in Stratford.  We did stop off in Wanganui to look at the city and river. Saturday afternoon and it was closed, but the river was pretty wide with a rowing event  happening and a small fete of protesters 'stop the sea fracking' just like home.
Our second time at Taranaki and we desparately wanted to see the mountain and cycle it as the weather beat us 3 years ago. Forecast  not good though but fingers crossed.

Wellington and it was quite nice!

Day started fine but breezy. We took the 15 minute walk around the waterfront to catch the train into the big city. Previous experience of Wellington were not that great but the sun shone and the wind got windier still and we really quite enjoyed the day. A long waterfront walk passing all the modern artifacts on the way and trying to work out what they were and reading poems that weren't meaning much to us and didn't  even  rymne. Snack in the post office , walk up a hill and a pint watching an Australian destroyer dock in the harbour. Train back and a blow back along the Plimmerton beach front. Chickened out of a swim again, water warm but wind chill too much! Last night here before moving north-left!

Plimmerton on the north island

Left the hot weather and blue skies on the 3 and a half hour crossing to Wellington. After Marlborough Sound and the sea crossing we entered into Wellington reaches where the clouds gathered. 25 or so miles to the sea front Moana Lodge backpackers.
Our room has sea view and the sound of crashing waves to send us to sleep.  Lesley did a waterfront run this afternoon and we cooked a sofisticated meal consisting of 6 bits of toast, tin of spaghetti and topped with grated cheese!
Looking forward to a chill out here for 2 days. The sun shone this evening and closed with one of their famous sunsets. It's Nic''s birthday today, can't believe

43 years ago....!

Scorcher again, Blenheim, pool, beach and cake!

Last day in Picton, took to the city in the morning and back for a swim in "our" pool.
Drive back out to cool off in Ngaramu beach where the water is shall , clear and Lesley safe! Except for a 'killer' starfish. Finished the afternoon by going to Monorangi bay where they do a good coffee and mean cake! Back on the winding road to Top 10 for a brief pack and light nosh before we promised ourselves a pint before getting up for the ferry tomorrow.

Boat out to Ship Bay for Queen Charlotte walkway

Early out of Picton about 90mins through the fiord's to Ship Bay another Captain Cook stop over!
Boat full of walkers and just cruisers we arrive and almost immediately we take the track straight up hill for about an hour! No else around we have the track almost to ourselves.  From the top view point it gets easier but it's a long day of 14kms through the bush up over the saddle and finally down to our destination at Ferneaux Lodge. Nice place, middle of nowhere, just boat to bring everything in and out! Decent pint and a bowl of beer battered chips while we wait for our pick up at 4.15pm. Hector dolphins spotted on the 90 minutes journey  back......made the day.

Porterage, Anakiwa and swim at Momorangi

Winding  drive for 50kms out to the fiord and Porterage. Refreshments in this deserted hotel. We are beginning to notice the end of the holiday rush, no more so than after calling into Anakiwa to see if it had changed since we were there some 15 years ago ( not much) we fancied a coffee and cake at one of the few places along the Queen Charlotte highway, in Momorangi. A beach to ourselves and warm clear sea to cool off in the afternoon heat. Only a bevy of kyacks disturbed us but they soon went round to the next bay when they saw us!
Back on the wobbly road to Picton before stopping on a high view point to watch the two rival ferries dock, both almost in at the same time! Evening in with a proper lamb dinner and the usual glass of wine watching the Top 10 site refill with more holidayites.

And on to Picton

Leaving Kaikoura the sun was shining on the mountains with layers of clouds adding to the amazing scene. We stopped at a break point to see seals on one side of the road and a 10 minutes walk through the bush on the other side oof the road, to view a waterfall where in the winter, seal pups stay while their parents go out to fish.
The railway line from Blenheim runs down beside this beautiful coast road and we were overtaken several times by the frequently stopping train.
Lunch stop in Blenheim, probably the largest town (city)? In the area and very nice it is too! Food shop in preparation for 4 days stop at Top 10 holiday park where we have a lodge booked.
Arrived checked in , very nice next to the pool again and trampoline. Really nice temperature and in need of a swim we took the Queen Charlotte drive to Ngaru bay just along the road for an afternoon dip.......lovely!
Back to our cabin for a chill as it seemed a really long and varied day.....again!

Shaky city to Kaikoura via the inner Alpine Pacific highway

City is an overused word in N Z but Christchurch is definately one.
Left Governors Bay in tranquillity but just 45 minutes it was rush hour on Saturday morning.  Stopped in New Brighton that had a nice sandy beach with kids doing lots of beach sports and big kids doing a surfing competition.  Walked to the end of the newish concrete  pier before we felt another shake! Pretty close to the epicentre according to the app Lesley looks at several times a day. No fear we left the sad city that is full of closed roads and wrecked buildings......still! Travelled north taking the inner Pacific Coast highway......another overused word as there was hardly a sole on it and it wiggled upwards towards ski resorts and yes more wow scenery.
Ariving in Kaikoura it looks stunning but really is a grockle town full of eating houses and bars but not much else. The beaches have lost their calm sand for much rougher black  grit.....so used our Kiwi Holiday  park swimming pool with hot tubs and really nice facilities! Touched 29C so it was very welcome. Our room has lovely views out to the hills, stunning again. No stay in a pub tonight so eat in with wine and a beer

Brighton pier earlier  today. Quake while we were on it at 10.15am but only 1.8 thank goodness. Last night in the pub it was 3.8!

On to Christchurch via the inner scenic highway 72

Lovely day and left our top 10 holiday home to take in some mountains that looked visible today from some distance. Soon going up and popped into Mt Somers for coffee and a look at the falls but the path was blocked! Onto Mount Hut with fresh snow on some of the higher peaks looking great in the sunshine. Route 72 all the way for a real off the beaten track morning. Then down towards Christchurch before taking the back roads to the Banks Peninsular. 60kms on and we reached the breathtaking town of Akaroa.  Picture book stunning coastal resort with a cruise boat moored off of the bay. Spent all afternoon there before taking the "summit " route back over hills that hetti only just made! Down into Governor Bay to our destination staying in a pub called........Governor Bay Hotel! Great meal and pint overlooking the harbour before walking down to the jetty to walk off our meal.

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Incidently, we had our first "shake" in the pub! 3.8 rictor said and it was confirmed by the bar-bloke and on Lesleys app! She looks at at about 10 times a day.