Advertisement
Published: April 30th 2006
Edit Blog Post
Ferry Terminal, Half Moon Bay
On our way to Auckland, we came up with the idea of going to Waiheke Island. So got off the highway and made it to catch the 6:30 sailing. We decided at the last minute to go to Waiheke.
We headed for Auckland after dropping Erin off at the Hamilton airport heading back to Wellington. On the highway we decided to check out Waiheke Island off the east coast of Auckland - which turned out to be just like Saltspring Island off the Canadian West Coast. Lots of artists and granola types and organic this and that - just my cuppa tea again!
We arrived off the ferry in the dark, and fortunately we had a map from the ferry office. The island does not have street lighting, so it was only by the light of our headlights that we made our way on the twisting roads that criss cross the island.
We stayed at a Backpacker's owned by a guy from our era, who owns a big house with lots of rooms and a big back porch ideal for having meals outside, and with party lights hanging perpetually from post to post, ready for celebrations of any kind. The waiter at one restaurant we went to said it's known as Party Central in the summer. The pool was a bit green and didn't seem to be
used much.
There are a few collections of shops and houses grouped around the island, joined by twisty hilly roads which also reveal dwellings sprouting on hillsides along the way. The Backpackers where we stayed was a short hike or even shorter drive to the village called Oneroa. On Saturday morning we went to a farmer's market in the Ostend collection of shops and gas station, on Putiki Bay at the south side of the long narrow island, about a ten minute drive because of the twists and turns of the roads, and the frequency with which we took the wrong turns because of the way the maps are made. Local vendors hawk a wide assortment of home made goods including ethnic and vegetarian foods and hot breakfast (bacon and egg sandwiches- yum)pottery, books, and crafts. I bought my first bag of feijoas after asking how to eat them. Easy - cut in half, scoop out insides like with a kiwi.
I had a lovely long conversation with a Maori woman who was up from Wellington visiting her sister for a few weeks. We were looking at felted wool at one booth, and she told me how the
Ferry Terminal, Half Moon Bay
Called the City of Sails, Auckland is surrounded by bays Maori used it for nappies, and the children never had rashes like they do now. It is so soft on their skin, and absorbent. And she also made blankets to go on top of hay mattresses for her children when they were growing up. It's also a favourite for the old people to keep warm at night when the temperature drops considerably in winter.
We spent the weekend touring the island, walking along beaches, eating in the restaurants or making meals at the backpacker's and having a restful time. However, the rain started Saturday night and we caught the 10 am ferry to get to Auckland in time to secure a place to stay before heading to a gethering of all my Hope relatives in Auckland who were meeting Pat for the first time. It was pouring rain as we left the island so we read our books in the comfort of the lounge on the upper deck.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.12s; Tpl: 0.018s; cc: 12; qc: 62; dbt: 0.0654s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb