Blogs from Manawatu, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

It snowed on the mountain. However, we were camped below the snowline and well protected. Apart from a few odd patches we experienced overcast conditions with continual drizzle throughout the day. It is still raining whilst we camp. Our journey today took us from Whakapapa Village to the Manawatu Gorge outside of Woodville. We drove off the beaten track for most of the day taking roads that clung to the sides of the ranges with drop-offs of hundreds of metres into the fast flowing rivers below. Apart from a few farmers we saw only a handful of vehicles. We loved the route we took, as it gave us terrific scenery, despite the drizzle, and as we love rivers, cliffs, lush vegetation, sheep, cattle horses, old farm sheds, stockyards and very few vehicles, we were in our ... read more

If you are travelling between Woodville and Palmerston North, you have to drive over the Saddle Road. I love this road as it takes me across the Ruahine Ranges where the Te Apiti Wind Farm is situated. https://manawatunz.co.nz/te-apiti-wind-farm-lookout/ The gigantic wind turbines have sprung up across the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. From a distance you will be amazed at how many turbines you can see. But the best part of driving over the Saddle Road is finding yourself right beside them or right underneath them. The sheer size of them up close will take your breath away. I found them slightly scary the first time as they reminded me of a sci-fi tv series I loved many years ago and I kept expecting to see them to get up and move to another spot. At the ... read more

Day 11: Hunterville to Palmerston North, 140 km. The Donkey and Spot have to dig deep The Donkey woke up the next morning to more rain, not just rain; it was hosing down, or bucketing down. The Donkey often used these expressions as well as it was closer to reality than the cats and dogs thing. But he did wonder who filled and emptied the buckets, and what if they let go of a bucket, by accident, and the bucket landed on somebody’s head, who would be responsible and can you insure for that? The Donkey decided to stick to hosing down and not think any further because he had to get on his bike. This time he was not going to wait, 1) because it had not worked the previous day and 2) he wanted ... read more

Par Béné. Après notre découverte de la région du Taranaki, nous arrivons chez Terry et Denise, nos hôtes pour notre 3ème mission. A peine arrivés, Terry nous faisait une visite guidée de leur propriété passant par le bord de la rivière, les pâtures aux vaches et aux moutons, la cage aux poules, les nombreux espaces de culture de légumes, et la terrasse avec le jaccuzzi… Terry nous propose ensuite des bières, du vin, des crackers… On se sent comme chez nous dès notre arrivée ! La chance que nous avons, c’est que le mercredi chez eux, c’est soirée familiale. Pour notre première soirée, il y avait donc tous leurs enfants et petits enfants, sœur et quelques amis… Une très bonne ambiance, même si nous ne comprenions pas tout de ce qui s’est dit… Dès le lendemain, ... read more

This is Ruby and this is my first blog post! Not long now 'til we leave ...... read more