Category: 2022 12 New Zealand
-
A different kind of Christmas.
So, we have noticed that Christmas is almost a non-event here. Seriously, there are next to no Xmas lights on houses or buildings, there is virtually no Christmas music on the radio or in public, and only rarely does one encounter a decorated Christmas tree. Curiousity got the better of us tonight. We went out…
-
Ummm…an awful day.
We know it’s like minus a gazillion degrees at home, so we thought we would share the dreadful day we had: We did the “Dine and Dip” at the Lost Spring Spa tonight. Words fail.
-
Hot water and a Cathedral.
Whitianga is our favourite place so far. Not only is it noticeably warmer than anywhere else we have visited so far, the beauty of the surrounding area is on a new level. Like every other tourist to New Zealand, we went to the nearby “Hot Water Beach”. Geo-thermally heated water bubbles up from below…but only…
-
One man’s obsession, and the QOD.
Today we visited the “Driving Creek Railway” near the town of Coromandel. This dude, Barry Brickell was a legend of pottery, and starting in 1975 he built a short, narrow gauge railway up to a clay pit on the side of a small mountain. He surveyed the route, cleared it and and built it himself.…
-
More turns than the road to Hana.
So today we drove from Ōmōpere to Pokeno. The first hour or so was like a Zumba class for your arms: Made it safely though, and just beat a small NZ downpour. We finally broke down…😲 Had a Kiwi burger. Not sure we need to eat tomorrow.
-
Tides, Tāne, a Maori Songstress and a goofball.
Yesterday was full (yes, Bernie planned it). The morning saw us do a short hike up to the Arai Te Uru Nature Reserve and Signal Station Track for spectacular views of Hokianga Bay upon which sits Ōmōpere. The afternoon was a bit slower. But the silhouette of this bench under a tree caught my attention.…
-
A twisted sense of humour, a massive whirlpool, and Kiwi toboggans.
After driving ~7 hours today, I have reached one conclusion: Kiwis abhor straight roads. Even where it seemed possible they weren’t. The kicker? The posted speed limit is impossible to maintain…unless one is young, dumb and on a motorcycle. I could almost hear the Kiwi civil engineers laughing. I have no doubt they save a…
-
REALLY old stuff, Disney, birds and a sailing ship.
We started the day at Kerikeri, which is home to the oldest building in New Zealand: the mission house. The skeleton of the house was completed in 1822 by the Reverend James Butler. He was sacked a year later, and the house was occupied by George Clark until 1832, when it was purchased by James…
-
Sun, a big canoe and of course another forest.
We have been told by locals that this number of rainy days at the start of summer is unusual. They seem most apologetic. We tell them this is a lovely summer day in Calgary, and that temps can reach -35°C there at this time of year. These are people that have never seen snow. Their…
-
Indulge thy inner nerd.
C’mon, of course YOU would stop at a horological museum. Everyone should have time for that. Ok, it’s a museum of everything clock. And VERY cool!! This transported Englishman, Mr Archibald Clapham, had a serious obsession with timepieces. Fascinating man. Zoom in and have a read. Some of our favourite pieces (there are about 1400…
63 and free 