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Published: January 20th 2018
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Before heading to New Zealand we motored north three hours away from the 40 degree heat of Sydney to stay with friend Liz Warne in Salamander Bay. Liz hosted us royally and we enjoyed the local sights including the largest moving beach in the Southern Hemisphere called Birubi. We also watched a magnificent storm roll in and out; wind rain, lightening, it had it all. It was easy to sup the odd glass of wine from Liz’s house with views over the bay.
After three days we headed back to Sydney airport, leaving at 06.45, strangely the kick off time of the Sheffield derby, back in Blighty. (0-0 a good result under current circumstances).
We flew Qantas on a 737 and the 12 of us in business class were well fed and certainly not left short of wine.
First port of call was Hamilton, about a two hour drive south from Auckland. The purpose of our trip here was to wish my aunt Deenie a happy 100th birthday. We also met with Matt Whitley, who was the overseas player for our cricket club Gerrards Cross in 2017.
Hamilton is a small town and on a lovely evening
we took a stroll up the river. It seemed strange that we were generally alone. There was no one mucking about on the water, but we did come across a very smart rowing club, but all locked up.
After a lunchtime with Deenie, we headed north back past Auckland and onward to the ‘Bay of Islands’. Our destination appropriately was Russell, a quaint little village with a very fine old hotel The Duke of Marlborough. If in that neck of the woods we highly recommend a visit.
The weather here was wet and windy and after Sydney a chilly 24 degreees. However as experienced sailors we took the plunge and went out on a tourist boat for dolphin watching and island hopping. It was pretty choppy and of course when the bottle nosed dolphins were spotted, the boat stopped and wallowed. This sadly for some was too much for their delicate constitutionS. For the rest a good lunch was had on one of the islands.
Onward again after two days and further north to stay with friends Harvey and Sally Harrison in their magnificent house that sits above a unique little village called Whangaroa.
We were
greeted with more wind and rain and we only got brief glimpses of the bay before mist descended. Whangaroa has two claims to fame. The fishing club has over the years claimed more deep sea game fishing records than any other. The walls are filled with pictures of Marlin, shark, tuna etc. The other point of interest is that during the Second World War the USA was seriously considering hiding their pacific fleet from the Japanese in the bay. It is very deep and very difficult to spot the entrance from the ocean.
Harvey took us to a vineyard for lunch and on the way back he gave us a guided tour of the many bays. For those that know their golf will we aware that this is where the great Kauri Cliff golf club is. To our hosts’ delight the weather had improved enough on our return to allow a short tour of their enormous bay. To my delight, back in the fishing club bar, I won ten pork chops in the weekly meat raffle. Harvey and Sally were happy to take the chops as payment for our accommodation. Also after all the chefing Harvey did it was
nice to contribute to the restocking of his freezer!
We are now back in Auckland staying at a strange hotel the Cordis. There is some renovation work going on, but as far as we can see it is devoid of a bar! And it is supposed to be a 4/5 star hotel.
Tomorrow we are going to Waiheke Island. We have been told to visit the Mudbrick Vineyard and restaurant. We are only too happy to oblige.
Well that’s it from New Zealand a country I have not really got my head around. The countryside changes in the blink of an eye. One moment you are in hobbit land and then you find yourself driving across rolling plains, full of cows (not sheep, they must be on South Island!). The locals are friendly, fashions and life generally seems to be in a time warp but perhaps that is the charm of the place.
We now start the long journey home starting with an 11.5 hour flight that leaves at 18.05 on Monday and arrives in Santiago, Chile at 13.25 also on Monday. It will be an interesting to see how the jet lag goes.
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Ian McCallum
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JEALOUS GUY
All looks absolutely magnificent whilst we get so many storms here that they have run out of names!! Looks like you all are having a wonderful time and brings back memories of four and a half years in Sydney. I am nr early all square on Reschs now thanks to the ODI!! safe home and enjoy every minute. Ian and Amanda