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Published: December 24th 2006
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It had to be done!
We just couldn't drive past the RNZAF museum without having a look.... MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SLACK BLOGGERS! Wherever you are and whomever you are with, we hope you have a fabulous time and we will be raising a glass to you all. Of course, we will get to celebrate a full 13 hours before you!!
Once again, I apologise for not keeping up to date quickly but we have been on the move a lot so that we could see everything in North Island that we wanted to see before we set off for Riks brothers on South Island. We are now settled in Blenheim for the Christmas/New Year Period and are enjoying proper beds, family life and taking a break from the road.
Anyway, I left you whilst we were travelling around the Surf Highway, route 45/3 which we carried along until we got to Wanganui. This was quite a big town on the banks of the Wanganui river and we really liked it here. Again, we didn't have brilliant weather, but we were on a decent campsite where we were able to chill out for a bit. A few days ago, we had met a couple from here (Tess from England and her husband Aladdin from NZ) on a campsite
Wanganui
View of the river who had invited us to pop in for a coffee when we were passing through. We took them up on their offer and we had a really nice morning chatting, drinking coffee and Kiera played with their little girl Karuna. There was not a great deal to see in the town but we managed to do a bit of Christmas shopping and visited their resident tower for some fantastic views of the river and surrounding mountains. After a couple of days we drove on to Palmerston North and stayed on a pretty dire campsite but as it was the only one we didn't have a massive amount of choice! Palmie (as it is known locally) is a big student city and we had primarily come here to see Mike and Gails old house and where they used to live. We were then at a bit of a loss what to do as we were about 4 days too early to start heading to Wellington, so we decided to chase the decent weather and head back to the North East coast to Hastings and Napier. We had really liked Napier and especially the hot pools on the sea front so back
Wanganui
The famous tower - fab views we went for the weekend. We stayed first in Hastings and then moved 20kms up the road to Napier, taking Kiera to the local Farm park on the way. It was actually excellent and Kiera had a fabulous time playing with the lambs (as everything just seemed to be running around your feet!) and had a pony ride as well. Sunday morning saw us on the road bright and early as we had a long drive to head back the way we had come!! We stopped in a town on the way called Dannevirke and visited a place for Kiera called Fantasy Cave. This was basically some converted cellars under shops which volunteers have turned into the most amazing scenes with moving models; they were based on either Hans Christian Andersen stories or nursery rhymes. I know there are some of you out there reading this that think they are incredibly tacky, but not US! Seriously, Kiera loved it and so did I, but I think Rik may have been a touch bemused.....
We eventually arrived at a town called Masterton where we spent the night. Unfortunately we didn't get to see much of the town but it is the
Palmerston North
Kiera meets Father Christmas... Shearing capital of New Zealand - they apparently don't appreciate sheep s******g jokes too well!!! Even the pub was called the Golden Shears and it is here that the shearing competition is held every year; the entrance to the town is marked by a rather stunning huge bronze statue of some shearing scissors!
In the morning we set off on the road to Castlepoint which is on the east coast. It was a place where it was one road in and the same one out for 64km. We had heard it was lovely, so I was hoping we wouldn't be disappointed. We weren't and it was beautiful. We found yet another deserted campsite right on the beach front and it was just lovely. The bay is very sheltered, although we were a bit nervous walking along the main road to be confronted by Tsunami warning signs every 10 metres. Apparently they are sometimes the victim of huge freak waves, but luckily for us there weren't any while we were there. The lighthouse at the end of the bay was in a spectacular setting on these incredible limestone cliffs which has been pounded by the sea into wierd and wonderful shapes.
Captain Cook named this area Castlepoint because from the sea it looks like a castle! We spent a lovely day wandering along the beach looking for Paua shells and then climbed up to the lighthouse for the views. Next day it was back in the van for a very windy drive to Wellington via the Rimutaka Ranges (where they did a lot of Lord of the RIngs filming). We went via the Paua Shell factory at Carterton where I was in 7th heaven and Rik was to be heard groaning loudly! The drive over the ranges will probably rate as one of the hairest yet as it was extremely high, bendy and very, very windy - I was very glad to get to the bottom of the valley. We camped just outside Wellington before moving the next day into the Mercure Hotel for a luxury 2 day treat. Our allocated room was right next to the lift. so after sweet talking the manager with a sob story about 7 months on the road and "this is a special treat" we got upgraded to the suite! Result!!! Riks neice Natalie arrived in the afternoon to show us around Wellington and we
Castlepoint
Kiera strikes a pose went to the Te Papa museum which was wonderful. It is quite incredible how different they can make these museums, and this one was again like nothing we had seen before. The Discovery World areas for the kids were inspired and Kiera was in her element. So much so that we went back again the next day, there was so much to see. We also went up to the Botanical gardens on the Wellington Cable Car for some great views and photos and visited the Cool Brittania shop where, I am ashamed to admit, we pounced on the Walkers Crisps, Hellmans Mayonnaise and Tootie Frooties with something akin to desperation!! The only slightly disconcerting thing we found was that Wellington sits on the Pacific Plate fault line (in fact it runs through the Central Business District) and they are currently updating their emergency procedures etc. Consequently everywhere you go there are information boards, leaflets etc advising you about what to do in the event of an earthquake, thereby making it a bit difficult to put out of your mind............
After a hard days slog around the museum it was off to meet nephew Kieran from work and retire to the
Castlepoint
View of the lighthouse from our van pub and then the Indian. A merry night where we got to know them both, culminating in a not too clever head for the ferry journey the next day. Our ferry journey to South Island the next day was quite rough leaving Wellington Harbour, but once in the Marlborough Sounds, it was beautiful. This has been described as the most beautiful ferry journey in the world and you can see why. We are now safely tucked up in Mike and Gails lovely house in Blenheim, surrounded by the Marlborough Wineries (well, it would be rude not to partake whilst here), the kids are home from Uni and we are looking forward to Christmas. Kiera has had two letters from Santa (she has been filling forms in all over the country) so she is quite hopeful he will know she is here visiting. Rik has his 1664 courtesy of his sisters so he is more than happy and wants for nothing, and me I'm just enjoying every minute of this trip (apart from the roads...). We will now spend the next couple of weeks exploring the Blenheim/Marlborough Sounds area and enjoying the family and I will "blog" you all after Christmas.
Castlepoint
Lovely views, strange place Take good care of yourselves and each other and have a very happy Christmas
Lots of Love Nicchi, Rik & Kiera xxxxxxx
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Caroline Curtis
non-member comment
Merry Christmas
Hi Nikki, Rik and Kiera I've always had trouble knowing where to send a Christmas Card to, as you are lifes wanderers, but this year you have excelled yourselves! All of us here in the Curtis/Ginns household hope you have a lovely Christmas together and the New Year brings you much happiness as you continue your travels. I will raise a glass to you on Christmas Day as I cook for the five thousand, as per usual! by the time I do that, I expect you will probably be sozzled and asleep!- Good girl! Take good care of yourselves, lots of love and hugs to you all, Caroline