Tuesday 30 December at 19 Roband Ave

  Glenfield, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Wednesday, December 31, 2008

04.12.08          Thursday. Arrived on time in Auckland after a good but long and tiring flight. Straight through Immigration and Customs, apart from Jane being ticked off for not declaring her walking shoes! We were a few minutes early for Paul and when he walked in the terminal he was attacked by a flying mother that had not seen her son for nearly 3 years. Picked up Jake from school and food for evening BBQ, (first of many I expect). Made it through till about 9.30 before crashing. Just missed Sandra who had a late shift.


 
05.12.08          Friday. Awake early, breakfast on the patio, sun shining! Sandra off today. First task was picking up car from Apex City Depot in Auckland City, that went smoothly and then off to the Albany Shopping Mall, where Sandra works, to do some Xmas shopping and beach gear, towels, sun block, hats etc. Back for late lunch and then pick Jake up from School, Sandra showed us round; a lovely school, lots of open space, own swimming pool. Out for dinner all together to Loan Star Diner in Devonport. V large portions, we were all stuffed, Jane not too well, I think the jetlag catching up with her.
 
06.12.08          Saturday. Day out with Jake; first port of call is Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World, the NZ equivalent of Sealife Center. Very good, snowcat ride through Antarctic enclosure with lots of penguins, did that twice; underwater tunnel walk with sharks swimming overhead and lots more. St Heliers Bay for lunch and walk along the beach and paddle, nice spot. Back to city centre and the Maritime Museum, Jake very interested and plenty of interactive things to do. Called at the "Mad Butcher" , (name of a retail meat chain not a serial killer!), for BBQ supplies. Finished the day with BBQ No 2.

 

 

07.12.08          Sunday. Visit to Takapuna Sunday Market with Jake, followed by a tour of Devonport, very nice also very expensive area of Auckland. Parked at North Head Reserve and walked to the top, lost Jane on the way, very careless, but we did manage to find her again. Back home for late lunch with Paul, who has been gardening, yes I did say gardening! Helped clear the patio of weeds and dead leaves. BBQ No 3 at Wendy and Martin's, met with Greg, ( Martin's son), and wife Laura and Tam, (Martin's daughter), husband Lauren and daughter Sophie. Nice people and what a great house and location Wendy and Martin have, views across the water to Auckland City from front and back.
 
08.12.08          Monday. Paul and Sandra at work and Jake at school. Decided to take 10.30 Ferry across to Rangitoto, a volcanic Island about 25mins ferry ride from Auckland Ferry Terminal. Landscape like something out of Jurassic Park, black lava flows and twisted vegetation, 1 hr walk up to summit and then walk around the rim of the crater. Fantastic views from the top both of Auckland and other Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Walked back down via McKenzie Bay, according to Fuller's guide 21/2  hrs, according to signposts 31/2 hrs, if the signposts are right we are going to miss the last ferry. Fortunately the signposts are wrong and we arrive at the quay with an hour to spare. Enjoyed the walk up but not the walk back, scenery monotonous and very dusty. Weather for day was cloudy but good conditions for walking, it looks as if there is a storm brewing.
 
09.12.08          Tuesday (for the 2nd time, entry made yesterday lost!). Tuesday dawned wet after heavy overnight rain, this is not the weather we signed up for. Departed Roband Ave at 9.00 for drive north to Doubtless Bay and Cooper's Beach. Both scenery and weather remind us of driving up the west coast of Scotland. First stop at Matakohne to visit the Kauri Museum. Kauri is a gigantic New Zealand fir tree, important in NZ past history for both timber and also gum, it is now a protected species and is not felled any more. However Kauri logs have been discovered in swampland which have been dated at over 100,000 years old. The Museum was excellent and told the story of how this tree once played a very important part in the life and industry of Northland. Continued after lunch through rolling countryside with sheep and cattle farms until we entered the Waipoua Forest, the transition is incredible, one minute you are travelling through open countryside, you turn a corner and you are deep in the forest with trees and lush vegitation right up to the edge of the road. The road winds through the Forest for mile upon mile.Made a brief stop to visit "Tane Mahuta", which translated from the Maori means "God of the Forest", this is thought to be the biggest living Kauri, it is massive and well over 1,000 years old. We exited the Forest as dramatically as we entered it, we turn a corner and laid out in front of us is a beautiful bay and village of Opononi, it quite took the breath away. Due to slight misunderstanding between map reader and TomTom we missed our turn just north of Oue and instead of continuing up the west coast route we approached Doubtless Bay via SH12 & 10. Cooper's Beachfront Suites are just that with our own private path down to the beach, about 50m from our door. BBQ No 4 for evening meal, local fish and scallops.

10.12.08    Wednesday. Up early to pick up our coach from Paradise Connexions for tour to Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. Picked up at 8.30 by driver Bob, who was a mine of local information and kept us entertained with songs and stories whilst we were on the move. Only nine of us on the tour and thanks to local knowledge Bob managed to keep us ahead of the other, (larger), coaches from Fuller's and others, so at the various stops en route were not overcrowded. Cape Reinga is magical, you can literally see where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet with a line of surf stretching out from the Cape, you can understand why this is a special place for the Maori people; the point of departure from this world into the next. Lunch at Taputaputa Bay, Jane actually paddled in the Ocean, pictures to prove it, if can ever upload them to the blog. Return journey via 90 mile beach, at the start of which made a brief stop to try out sand taboganing. The idea is you climb up this giant sand dune, when you reach the top you lie face down on a surf board, about the size of a large tea tray, push off and hang on for grim death wilst you hurtle down at breakneck speed.If you are still in one piece when you reach the bottom, you climb back up to the top and do it all again, beats bunji jumping, at least you stay in contact with the ground! 90 mile beach is ............. I can't think of words that do it justice, you have to be there; driving along on an ordinary metalled road is very tame after thundering along the beach at 80 klicks with the Tasman surf just meters away. Bob treated us to a Maori farewell song before dropping us off at Cooper's Beach. BBQ No 5, more fish.

11.12.08          Thursday. (Writing this on Sunday at Buffalo Lodge, Coromandel as no internet in Paihia. Packed cases ready for departure from Cooper's Beach after lunch and then made our way to Mangonui, unfortunately the Whaling Museum was not open today but we walked around the village Heritage Trail and finished up on the waterfront for a coffee and cake. As we were intending to travel to Paihia westabout in the afternoon we took a trip around the Mahinepua Peninsula Scenic Route, beautiful coastal scenery and stunning views. After a quick lunch we bade farewell to Janet and George at Cooper's Beach and set off for Paihia via Kaitaia, arrived at Paihia in the Bay of Islands, about 5pm. Our accommodation here is the Te Haumi Homestay, run by Sheelagh & John Ball. We have not done a homestay before so we were not quite sure what to expect. Our hosts were very attentive, perhaps a little too much for us, we were invited for drinks with them before going out for dinner and then coffee on our return before turning in. We could have done with a little bit more of our own space but there was nowhere to sit in our bedroom. Having said that, the view from their lounge over the Bay was stunning, our room and own bathroom comfortable and spotless and the breakfasts great. Dinner this evening at "Only Seafood" on Paihia seafront, as the name suggests a seafood restaurant, par excellance!
 
12.12.08          Friday. Today booked on the Fuller's full day Cream Cruise, to include swimming with dolphins. Departed Paihia Quay at 9.30 am, and after a brief call at Russell headed out into the Bay, almost immediately found quite a large pod (20+) including babies some just a week or so old. Conservation rules require that if there are young  dolphins then there is no swimming, this avoids putting pressure on the mothers feeding their young. Although disappointed this was more than compensated by the fact that we were able to follow the pod for over an hour ad were treated to a truly wonderful display of social interaction between the family members and towards the end some fantastic aerial displays. Got some good photos and if I ever get to download them to the blog you can see. Headed out towards Cape Brett at the seaward end of the Bay and the Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Is, too much of a swell to go through . Landed on Urupukapuka Is for lunch and a walk and then headed across to the west side of the Bay, passing the Waitangi Treaty House, (more of that tomorrow), before returning to Paihia about 4.30 pm. Not too disappointed about not swimming as the weather not that warm today. Returned for a shower and drinks before heading out into Paihia for dinner. Battery on video camera has had it, it won't take any charge, however, did manage to take some short video on the new still camera. Also spoke to Sony Shop in Auckland who have replacement battery so we will call in on Sunday to pick up.

 
13.12.08          Saturday. Morning set out to visit Russell, the early capital of New Zealand before it moved to Auckland in 1841. To avoid the long journey round by road, about 70 miles, took the car ferry from Opua to Okiato, ($11 for car, driver and passenger). Opua is a busy little marine center with lots of boats, big and small, and lots of marine related industry, might be a good place to set up shop, Jane has already spied a place "for sale" overlooking the harbour and taken note of the estate agent! We like the look of Russell as well, much less commercialised  than Paihia although it wasn't always such a sleepy little fishing village, it was known as the "hell hole of the Pacific" in the early 1800's. Walked the Heritage Trail to Flagstaff hill and back through the town. Called in at Sally's Café, as instructed by Tam, (Martin's daughter, who is a good friend of Sally's), unfortunately she was not there so left message explaining who we were. After lunch on the Quay, made our way back through Paihia to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and signed up for the 1 hr guided tour and the Kapa Haka. The latter is a 30 min theatre show, I was elected "chief" of the visitors, not difficult as I was the only male in the party, and as such had to accept the challenge of the Maori Chief on entering the theatre. This involved picking up a fern frond that had been placed on the ground, the trick is that you must not look down but hold eye contact with your challenger, history has it if you do look down you are likely to loose your head! It was a good show involving lots of audience participation including a Haka. The guided tour focused on the history of the Maori and the 1840 treaty between the Maori tribes and the British settlers. Went back to "Only Seafood" for dinner again, just as good the 2nd time around. Full moon tonight and looked good on the water across the Bay so took some photos.

 
14.12.08          Sunday. Long drive again today, just over 400 km through Auckland to Coromandel. Made an early start about 8.15 am, and was raining before long and for the next couple of hours. Called at the Sony Shop in Newmarket, just south of Auckland to pick up a new battery and some lunch. The drive up the Coromandel Peninsular from Thames is quite spectacular, the coast road hangs on the edge between the sea and the forest, progress was slow with lots hairpin bends and narrows and yes, they do have "Sunday Drivers" in NZ. Arrived in Coromandel about 5.30 pm, "Buffalo Lodge" is truly spectacular and Evelyn the perfect hostess. The Lodge is built on poles on the steeply sloped hillside, surrounded by bush and has spectacular views over the town and to the Hauraki Gulf beyond. As she had no other guests whilst we were there Evelyn had upgraded us to the Honeymoon Suite, this has a very unusual bath "with a view" located in a glazed bay cantilevered off one side of the lodge with view over the bush, floodlit at night. Dinner at Umu in town, very good.

 
15.12.08          Monday. Were due to be Kayaking at Cathedral Bay, Hahei, on the east side of the peninsular in the afternoon, however, checked by phone just after leaving the Lodge and the sea is too choppy and bad weather expected so rapid change of plan. Booked afternoon ride on the Driving Creek Railway and then drove into Whitianga and consulted the "I Site", (local Tourist Information Office) for recommendations. Picked up lunch and then headed  for Rings beach, a lovely quiet little cove, we were the only ones there! Sat watching the waves, collecting shells and eating lunch until it was time to make our way back to Coromandel for our rail trip. This is a 1 hour miniature train ride through the forest up to the "Eyeful Tower" (terrible pun) observation point. The rails cling precariously to the hillside but the views are stunning. Back to Buffalo Lodge for a refreshing cuppa and after a wash and brush a romantic dinner for two cooked by Evelyn, amongst her other talents she is also a cordon bleu cook!

 
16.12.08          Tuesday. Heavy rain overnight and still low grey cloud obscuring the view over the Bay when we wake up. Where is this New Zealand summer! The Maoris call this land " Aotearoa", the land of the long white cloud, it should have been the long grey cloud! Another of Evelyn's wonderful breakfasts to send us on our way, fresh eggs from her two hens, freshly baked croissants, home made jam and honey. Decided to go to Hahei and walk the path to Cathedral Cove, where we should have been kayaking yesterday. Had lunch on the beach and it was actually warm enough to swim, reword that, it was actually warm enough for me to swim, it is never warm enough for Jane to swim! Coastal walk and scenery stunning again. Continued our journey south to Rotorua about 2.00 pm via Whangamata and Tauranga, the latter being quite a large city and port. Journey took longer than expected and didn't arrive at Lakestay Rotoiti until 6.30 pm, after a little trouble finding the turn off the main road. Another fabulous spot, 5 Km down an unsealed forest track right on the lake edge. There are also a number of sulphur beds and hot springs around so there is a distinct smell about the place. Hosts Reawyn and Graeme are very welcoming, it seems to be the norm here. After tea and cake into town for dinner; the journey back down the track in the dark was interesting; lots of wildlife including a wallaby, yes we are in New Zealand not Australia, and I am sure I caught a glimpse of a Kiwi, Jane is not so sure, she thinks it may have been a speedy hedgehog.



 
17.12.08          Wednesday. Another wet night but seems to be clearing as we have breakfast overlooking the lake. On Graeme's advice we start discovery of the Rotorua area by a visit to the City Museum. Rotorua is in the center of the famous geothermal area of New Zealand, and in Victorian times the Museum was a health spar and bath house dispensing all kinds of therapeutic bathing to visitors from around the world. The area is also known for the eruption of Tarawera Mountain in 1886 in which many people lost their lives and a Maori village was destroyed. The museum has preserved some of the old bath house and its workings and has excellent displays that tell the stories of the area. Paid a visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, which is a Maori community based around various hot lakes, mud and sulphur pools. It was interesting but rather run down and gave the impression of taking the tourist dollars for as little effort as possible. For our afternoon exercise we walked to the Okere falls at the north east end of Lake Rotorua before returning to base for a wash and brush up prior to the evening event. This was a visit to the Mitai Maori Village for an evening of Maori cultural and a traditional Hangi meal. We shared the event with about 300 others so it is quite commercialised but nevertheless very well done and includes a night walk through the adjacent Rainbow Park with a very knowledgeable guide. The attractions here included, glow worms, floodlit trout pools and a Kiwi reserve where they rear young Kiwi from eggs to the stage where they can be placed back in the wild. The survival rate of eggs and young Kiwi is so low due to non indigenous predators, (rats, stoats and possum), that this is the only way they can maintain numbers for survival. No other wild life on the way home tonight but we did get stuck behind a "house on the move", a complete house on the back of a low loader blocking all three lanes of the carriageway!
 
18.12.08          Thursday. Departure day again, said our farewells to Graeme and Raewyn and on the road for 8.30 am. First stop Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland about 30 Km south of Rotorua. One of the attractions here is the Lady Knox Geyser, which performs at 10.20 daily. This may sound very precise for an act of nature, but it is helped on its way  by a bio-degradable detergent which breaks the surface tension in the hot pool below and releases the column of steam and hot water. An average day today about 10m high, it can be as high as 20m. The rest of the Park is truly a wonderland and looks like a landscape from another planet, this is certainly one of the best visitor attractions so far, up there with 90 Mile Beach. Stopped for lunch at Huka falls just north of Lake Taupo, quite a spectacle, just missed a jet boat shooting the falls. The view from the top of the hill as you come in to Taupo is amazing, the expanse of the lake below and in the distance the snow capped peaks of Mts Tongariro and Ruapehu. The afternoon's journey along the SH 5 was uneventful, little traffic and what slow moving vehicles we did encounter on the inclines either courtesly moved aside or was easily overtaken at one of the many overtaking points; they know a thing or two about road building these Kiwis. Accommodation at the Pebble Beach Motel on the sea front is very good. Room comprises of a self contained  lounge/bedroom with kitchenette and spar bath with separate bathroom also balcony overlooking the sea. Dinner in tonight, resisted the spar, we'll save that for another night.









 
19.12.08          Friday. Visited the "I Site" and picked up information about Art Deco Tours of the area. Decided to do the Self Drive Tour of Hastings, (about 10 miles) and Havelock North, (about 15 miles from Napier). First located the local Sony agent who made suggestion about the problem charging the Video Cam, this proved successful, problem solved! Set off to Hastings and followed the suggested route through town Art Deco sites not as prolific as Napier, (more about that tomorrow), Hastings is more industrial, fruit packing and storage, but the center of town is nice, best place was Rush Munro's Ice Cream Garden, not Art Deco, but has been selling ice cream from this location since 1930's; has a delightful and peaceful garden just off a busy road, where you can sit and enjoy your ice cream. On to Havelock North, which the locals insist on calling "The Village", it certainly has a village feel about it. Again not too many Deco sites here but continued up to Te Mata Peak. The road up to the Peak is not for the faint hearted, narrow with a sheer drop, but the view from the top is breathtaking. You can see the whole of the Hawke's Bay Plain stretched out below for miles around and inland to the mountains around Lake Taupo. Lunch at the top and then a leisurely drive back to Napier via the "Strawberry Patch" to pick up strawberries and asparagus for tea and the Te Mata Cheese Company for cheese tasting also a small purchase for tea! Purchases for tea completed by 2 fillet steaks, (for $10!), and back to base to cook it. 



 
20.12.08          Saturday. This morning is a walking tour of the Art Deco Buildings in Napier, which means virtually every building! The amazing thing about Napier is that virtually all the buildings in the center were flattened by the earthquake in February 1931, there was also significant damage in the surrounding areas; 157 Napier residents lost their lives, a major tragedy in any community. Within a remarkably short space of time, by early 1933, the town had been rebuilt. That says an awful lot about the character and resilience of all those involved. The new town was built in the modern style of the time and hence Art Deco Napier was born. Also, a remarkable coincidence, our hosts at Lakestay Rotoiti were Graeme and Raywyn Natusch, one of the principal architects in Napier at the time of the earthquake was Natusch & Sons and many of the new buildings were designed by this firm. Graeme mentioned that his father was an architect in Napier and it must be his grandfather that was on of the "Sons". There are many beautiful buildings varying from the downright plain to the very ornate, most are wonderfully maintained and walking into the interiors of some that are available to view on the inside is just like stepping back in time. This afternoon a tour of some of the vineyards in the area, booked with Vince's Wine Tours but our guide was Robert, a Brit who had been through Canada before ending up in Napier 15 years ago, because the golf courses are better here! There were 9 of us in total, 1 English lass from Jersey and 5 guys, all originally from the UK. The wine tour was their Christmas party and as we picked them up from the pub in Havelock North, they were ahead of us. One was a vision technician, (window cleaner), and one the local cobbler, who also happened to be the mayor of HN, we didn't discover what the others did. Visited 5 wineries with tastings at all, all very different, mostly small vineyards and so wines unlikely to be seen in the UK. We learned a few things about growing and tasting, like you are not supposed to swallow, however, by the time we got to the last we were beginning to feel the effects. Made some modest purchases to try over Christmas. Back to base and refreshed with a spar bath.









21.12.08          Sunday. Departure from Napier today sadly, I would like to have spent longer here. Dropped in on the Art Deco Center to purchase some postcards and a book about Napier. On the way out of town passed by a couple more Deco buildings including the well known Rothmans Building which is now owned by a furniture storage company. Back across the mountains to Lake Taupo and turned left to Tongariro, more rain and cloud on the way but if we have to have it, I would rather have it while we are traveling. Stopped for a break at Turangi at the bottom end of the lake which advertises itself as the trout fishing capital of NZ. I think it must be the closed season as Turangi was closed, apart from a bakery which sold very good hot pies. After lunch stopped at Lake Rotopounamu to walk off the pies, nice walk around this secluded lake about 6k, then onward to the Chateau Tongariro. The Chateau is an imposing building set among ski lodges and although there is a summer trade, when the snow has gone, it seems a bit like a ghost town outside of the Chateau as all the Lodges appear closed. Booked to go on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing tomorrow, we may live to regret this! 18.5k, 7-8 hrs described as challenging. What they don't tell you is there is nowhere to purchase any food for the trek, apart from the hotel who want to charge $20 for one sandwich, a bottle of water and a musli bar, I think we might slip out with a "doggy bag" at breakfast tomorrow! Early to bed to build up strength for tomorrow's big challenge.



 
22.12.08          Monday. Awoke to a beautiful clear day with perfect views of snow on the mountains around us. Coach picked us up at 8.00 and arrived at the Mangatepopo car park, the start of the hike along with a large number of others, it appears that we are not the only fools, but both a little apprehensive about what we have let ourselves in for. We felt a lot better when an American couple came up to us and said "glad we are not the only old fogies doing the walk"! The first part is an easy hike up the valley to Soda Springs which took about an hour. The next section from Soda Springs to South Crater and is known as the "Devils Staircase" no prizes for guessing why, it is a never ending series of steps and upward climbs over loose ground, just when you think you have reached the top there is another climb ahead of you. Fortunately the walk across the South Crater is nice and flat to the base of the climb to the Red Crater but the climb up the side of the crater over loose rock more than makes up for it. The leaflet describes this section as follows, "This section can be scary when the winds are strong as you may get pushed around and even need to be on your hands and knees. Please do not walk too close to the edge of the Crater because if you fall in you will not come out." WOW! what an incredible sight when you reach the top, you can imagine what it would be like on Mars. This is the top 1886 meters a climb of 700 m from the start, it is all downhill from now well almost. The decent is past some spectacular scenery, Emerald Lakes are bright green due to chemical content, strictly no swimming, (unlikely, we are still above the snow line), and the larger Blue Lake. It is also not without its hazards such as having to traverse snow drifts, which Jane described as the scariest part of the hike. Reached Ketetahi Hut about 1.30 pm and stopped to eat lunch and then down through tussock grass, over mountain streams and past thermal activity with steam, sulphur and the usual smell. A quick transition as we enter the wet and humid forest at the bottom of the track, although this section is just under an hour it seems a lot longer, and then ..... triumph, elation, we've done it! Out of the bush into the Ketetahi Car Park at 3.30 pm, 18.5 k in just under 7 hours. After a short wait, the coach takes us back to the Chateau and a well earned cold beer or three. After conquering the hazards of the day without mishap, Jane manages to badly bruise her toe walking up the stairs from the bar to our room, loss of nail is imminent. Time for a quick dip in the very unusual pool and a sauna to stave off the aches and pains, then dinner and bed. A good day.












 
23.12.08          Friday. Check out of Chateau and start our journey back to Auckland. Just north of Te Kuiti make a short detour off SH 3 to visit the Waitomo Caves. Well worth the visit, walked through this incredible underground cave system with gigantic stalagtites, (they are the ones that hang down I think), and stalagmites. It opens out into a huge cave called the Cathedral which has almost perfect acoustics and just to prove it we all sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas"! In the dark the roof of the cave is covered with millions of tiny points of light from the Glow Worms, we got into a boat which is navigated through the underground river section by the guide pulling on suspended ropes; it is very quiet and pitch black until you look up and see the glow worms like stars in the night sky, only many, many more. It is magical. Continued our journey back to Auckland via Hamilton, where we stopped to get Christmas wrapping paper and an ice cream. Also made a detour via the eastern coastal areas of Auckland, but by this time the weather had closed in with very heavy rain, what a welcome back. Arrived back at 19 Roband Ave about 8.30 pm. 


 
 
24.12.08          Saturday - Christmas Eve. Paul and I dispatched to Glenfield Centre to get ingredients for Lemon Meringue Pie and cheesecake for deserts at Wendy & Martins tomorrow, the shortcrust pastry proved a bit of a challenge but we were successful in the end. After lunch Paul and Jake went shopping for Christmas presents and we did our present wrapping. BBQ.
 
25.12.08          Thursday - Christmas Day. Jane up early to finish off LMP and Cheescake (Strawberry). The Lemon bit went OK but the Meringue bit proved a bit of  a disaster, whisk not powerful enough . Paul sent out to Tam's to borrow food processor and some more eggs. Second attempt proved more successful. Arrived at Wendy and Martin's 11.30 for Christmas (BBQ) Lunch. Lamb, already cooking, from Woka & Beth's farm, was running around the field on Monday! Fantastic spread, 15 of us including the kids sat down to lunch, followed by presents for the family and "Secret Santa". Back home by 5 pm and with that usual post Christmas Lunch feeling of too much food and wine a walk seemed in order, so off to Mirangi Beach with Jake felt much better for the air and the exercise.





 
26.12.08          Friday - Boxing Day. Sunny and warm. Sandra having to work today for the Boxing Day sales, the rest of us decided to go to the beach. With picnic, bogie board and beach gear packed we head across to the west coast to Muriwai Beach about 40 minutes from Glenfield. Being on the west coast, Tasman Sea side, it is a surf beach, it is also unusual in that it is a black sand beach which glitters, quite busy but plenty of space, it is miles long. Jake is straight into the water with bogie board closely followed by Paul and I. Water is quite shallow a long way out with a strong undertow but plenty of lifeguards. Jake soon gets the hang of the board and has some good runs in. Grandad can't resist having a go. Altogether a good day at the beach. Back home for BBQ.
 
27.12.08          Saturday. Jake out today with friends swimming at Hot Pools up the coast, Sandra working, Paul busy, so we went into Auckland to explore. Went to The Domain a large parkland area south of the City centre which was created for a big exhibition in the early 1900's. The Winter Gardens are two large glass houses one full of tropical plants and the other full of temperate plants. Near by is the Auckland Museum and War Memorial building. The Museum was excellent, particularly the 2nd floor Natural History sections. The Earthquake House was very realistic and quite scary. After the Museum drove through the southern suburbs via Remuera to St Hellier's Bay and sat on the sea front with yet another ice cream before driving back via the coast road. Out at Wendy and Martin's again for another BBQ.



 
28.12.08          Sunday. Sandra at work, Paul wanting to keep out of the sun, so the three of us went to the black sand beach at Muriwai again for another dose of sand, sea and surf. Tide well in and to start with surf not very good, but after lunch things improved and both Jake and I got some good waves. Stopped on the way back to pick up strawberries for tea and couldn't resist the fresh fruit ice cream! I drove the BBQ tonight followed by those lovely strawberries.
 
29.12.08          Monday. What a miserable day! I am talking about the weather, it had obviously been raining for some time when we woke up and it did not stop all day, just varied in intensity. Today we going to see Peter and Sheila up at Whangerei, which is just over 2 hours away. Arrived about 11 am, still raining but that didn't deter us; went to Whangerei Falls about 5 mins from Peter's house and walked the river and bush for about an hour. Falls impressive but those of us not equipped with umbrellas got rather wet - Sheila's tumble dryer to the rescue. Nice lunch, a chat and looking at respective family photos, also Peter rolled out his 1974 white Rolls, which provides an interesting hobby and gets occasional use as a wedding car! Returned to Auckland via One Tree Point and Marsden where Paul had been involved with some houses whilst at Ralstons. Still Raining! Chinese takeaway for tea, very large portions.




30.12.08          Tuesday. Took Jake to the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, (MOTAT). Not the most impressive museum we have ever been to but there were  a few exhibits that the kids seem to like. Once they got it working, (initially closed due to computer overload), the virtual reality motion theatre in the shape of a flying Saucer was popular. Once seated inside it took off from MOTAT and flew to the South Is over mountains, rivers and the Fiords and was very realistic. Tram ride between MOTAT 1 and 2 was good and reminiscent of the Crich Tramway Museum, the driver was an enthusiast and had been there, and just about every other tramway in the World! Paul & Sandra having a night out, pictures and meal, we stayed in with Jake.