DAY EIGHT - 30TH AUGUST  -- WHANGEREI TO WHANGAPARONO

Being monolingual I'm finding it impossible to pronounce the names of where we visit. The guide at the cave yesterday tried to explain Maori pronunciation but I sill don't "get it!". So if I make a spelling mistake it won't surprise you at all. I spoke to a very well educated man today from the Islands. He had a very cultured British accent as he had loved in England for several years. He couldn't quite "place" my accent........I told him it was "Greenacre via Wiley Park Girls"

Views from the road leaving our overnight stay. Again the day ranged from sunny, but never really warm and often windy. It would have been a hard. drive for Gary as we visited off main road places and many of the roads here are windy and barely two lane.

Our first stop was the Waipu Museum which celebrates the early Scottish settlers in the area. A really interesting story of early migration and survival! Of course our coffee stop here was great too!

Driving in the back seat in this vehicle you just look at so many beautiful green pastures, cows, sheep, forests and farmland! We were planning to stop to photograph sheep (after all we are in New Zealand )... but luckily we found "Sheepworld".......no one to take our entrance fee and plenty of photo opportunities. There was also a 1--15 minute walk through their native regeneration area...very reminiscent is sights and smells of Minumurra. Glad I took my camera here for closeups. I am using my phone a lot but the camera is great for closeups and landscapes. Loving my black sheeps face and my moo cow.

We had a brief stop for a bread roll as we are going to have dinner out. Then on tp tonight's very well appointed lodge. The rooms in general are large, beds are comfy and the have a spa;l kitchen/microwave so we can make a easy breakfast.

Front of the Lodge. We decided to get takeaway Thai and had it in Gary and Helen's room.They had bought it several days ago and it was a fine end to another busy scenic day.

 DAY   SEVEN - 30TH AUGUST -  OPONONI TO WHANGAREI

Started the day with a rainbow!

These "Hundetwasser" toilets are famous for the artwork and construction. This was the wall opposite as I was on the toilet...a little disconcerting to say the least!

Then a welcome coffee at a bakery. The coffee in New Zealand is really good, especially if they serve you a double shot!

Next a visit to the Waiomio glow worm cave. We had the guide to ourselves and he was a really interesting young man. Not only informative about the cave and its history and the glowworms but was willing to answer any questions we had about Maori's in New Zealand today. He was so well spoken that I wasn't surprised to learn that he was completing his masters in indigenous studies.

We were the first tour of the day and only four of us. We walked into the cave and at first when the lights went out couldn't see any "glows" but after our eyes adjusted it was like the Milky Way. (Took these images from the internet as we were unable to photograph inside)

 

You see these timber hauling trucks on the road.

arrived in Whangarei and it was a short walk to a good vantage point to see the Otuihau Whangarei Falls.

Well after 2pm...starving so after dropping the bags at the accommodation we headed to the town and the local for a late lunch

a walk down to the Art gallery (same artist) too expensive to just have a short time there, then the waterfront, the clock museum and the supermarket to get something light for dinner. Our room has a microwave so we are set! We don't have any trouble sleeping after our busy days, that's for sure!

 DAY SIX - 29TH AUGUST  - OPONONI TO RUSSELL

Lovely night and breakfast at the Opononi hotel, a quant friendly place and very comfortable. A short drive and Gary stopped to we could photograph some cows...wouldn't be a trip to New Zealand without a cow photo!

Then a winding and narrowish road through a couple of small towns to stop at the grounds mentioned below. We paid the works for a tour but first a scone and coffee in the beautiful cafe.

The whole experience was so interesting. The guide explained everything well and had a sense of humor too. The scenery is beautiful (Bay of Plenty) and the exhibits and cultural show terrific.We started at the ceremonial "boat", then the treaty house and Meeting House with a dance group.  Back to the Museum of the Price of citizenship and then the Waitangi Museum.

Displays were modern and well explained and we could have spent many more hours there.

A short drive and a car ferry to the lovely little town of Russell. Here we are staying at the Malborough Hotel, the oldest licensed pub in New Zealand. A gourmet dinner tonight ...but a milk arrowroot for breakfast in the morning!

Everywhere you drive you see clumps of these lilies.