Blogs from North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 12

Finding myself back in Patea, with my six year old grandson and Bruno the Malshi, I decided take them to see the wreck of the Waitangi. It was really surprising to see how much she had changed since my last visit a few weeks ago. I could see timber this time which I had never seen before. My grandson was very interested for approximately 30 seconds, only because he knew his sister wanted to see a shipwreck so he had something to skite about. The large stick he found nearby was far more interesting as he could poke holes in the sand with it, draw in the sand with it, flick sand with it..... But at least I could say I had introduced him to a piece of NZ history.... read more

The best thing about having young grandchildren is being able to do things with them that I wouldn't do by myself. One of my favourite school holiday activities is riding the Tot Town Train at Kowhai Park with them. It brings back memories of doing this when I was a child, many years (okay, many decades) ago. I always find several other grandparents on the train with me so I don't feel like a complete idiot riding a miniature train. You can ride the train for $2.50 person. It will take you round and round the part of Kowhai Park that was built when I was a child and which is basically worthless compared to the main part of the park. You go past the Pirate Ship, which is tolerable if your kids have a good ... read more

There is a FB page that will tell you all about SteamRail Wanganui Incorporated which "was formed in 1989 with the main purpose of preserving the Wanganui Turntable and any future Railway memorabilia." https://www.facebook.com/SteamRail-Wanganui-Inc-1536363919989567 I have chosen to share photos of the turntable and things I think are worth looking at and photographing nearby. They are just up the road from Trafalgar Square, on Taupo Quay, so if you have someone who wants to check out the extremely limited shopping options there, you can escape and stroll around the old carriages instead.... 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

Patea is my home town and a place I still spend a great deal of time in. Every time I go home I clamber over the sand to visit the Waitangi, a steamer owned by the Patea Co-operative Freezing Company, which attempted to cross the bar but ran aground on 5 May 1923. Every visit is different. Sometimes I can barely see any part of her. Sometimes the tides have washed away more of the sand. But I have never seen her as exposed as she currently is. Being able to stand on her, while the sea swirled in around us, was surreal and very special. She is quite easy to find. When you arrive at Mana Bay you will see an orange lifebelt on a post to your right. Simply walk past this, head onto ... read more