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Published: January 26th 2016
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We are back on the road after a couple of enjoyable months with family and friends. Left Rotorua on Thursday 21
stJanuary (Day 227) and made our way to Waiouru for the first night. We travelled via Western Bays of Taupo so we could call in and catch up with our son who has been building a house in Tihoi for a customer. The house and surrounding scenery is beautiful and on such a clear hot day even more impressive.
Leaving Waiouru the next day in thick fog we drove to Mangaweka Power Station. This is an area that we have often passed as we have been heading to Wellington, but have never had the time to stop. Views of the huge Papa Cliffs with the Rangitikei River below are no less than spectacular. The Old Power Station was built in 1913 and closed in the 1937 when a large log blocked the tunnel. The cliffs around this area are very unstable and make road and rail work in the area difficult. From the Power station you get a great view up to the rail viaduct over the river. There is also a short walk up to the old dam, climb
the small ladder to the top if you are able.
Last stop for the next few days is Wellington. We were parked up on the waterfront at Ngatitoa Reserve by Mana and awaiting a better weather forecast so we can cross on the ferry South. This was a good place to stay with the train station just a short walk across field. Blowing 50 B’s as always here! Love the city but dislike the wind. We have done a bit of walking, and a lot of watching the mad kite surfers here. One day we took the train into the city so we could visit the WW1 War Memorial Exhibition. This exhibition is running at the War Memorial in Buckley St. A great exhibition, my highlights were the photography and some of the wax work people (so lifelike). A quick picnic lunch at the waterfront then off to do the Parliament house tour. This guided tour is free and takes about 1 hour. Highlight of the tour….standing in the chequered floor area where the Journalists hound the politicians as they come and go on tv😊. Actually the library architecture is also pretty amazing, also the Base Isolation Earthquake proofing
used in Parliament House. Lance was surprised by how small the Debating Chamber really is (no touching or sitting on chairs in this room). We think every kiwi (other than the ‘Know It Alls’) should actually do this informative tour it may give them a better understanding of how Parliament works.
Monday we booked the early ferry across the Cook Strait to Picton. The wind was howling but the sea was relatively flat. In the middle of the Strait we experienced thick fog and you could not see a thing. It cleared as we entered the Queen Charlotte Sounds. The weather in Picton today was hot and humid. What a lovely little place to wander around as we picked up a few supplies. On the road again we headed out to take a peek at Waikawa Bay. Lots of children swimming and jumping off the wharf here but the beach is stony and obviously quite sharp on the feet as we watched the swimmers walk carefully into the water. Returning back through Picton and out onto Queen Charlotte Drive (The windy road). A couple of quick stops along the way to take photos of Shakespeare Bay and Ngakuta Bay.
Our final destination for the night is Momorangi Bay DOC camp on the Queen Charlotte Sounds. This is one of the more expensive DOC camps ($15pp) but the facilities are excellent. It’s nice to see all the young kids out and about having fun. Tide was out when we arrived today but as the evening drew to a close it was making its way back in😊.
Up and out this morning for a short walk to Aussie Bay…….well I wouldn’t call it an actual Bay (more like a very, very, very, tiny beach), maybe it’s an Australian thing? Lots of backpackers in their people movers staying here. We also walked the small track at the back of camp known as the Momorangi Forest Experience. This is a cool little track which will take you 20 minutes tops. Informative and would be great for the kids. I even learnt something new today. I had seen a lovely flower on the side of the road when we walked to Aussie Bay. Guess what!..........it’s not lovely it’s a pest called Banana Passionfruit Vine. Ranked right up there with the dreaded Possum. It basically strangles our native plants and is quite hard to
control as our birds drop the seeds all over the forrest.
Leaving camp today we stopped at The Grove Foreshore Reserve for a quick photo of the boat sheds, then onto Anakiwa. This is where the Queen Charlotte Track starts. You need to purchase a permit to walk some of this track. Lance and I have our permits for 5 days ($18 each) which start on Wednesday. We will do sections of this track during our 5 days. Anakiwa is also home of the Outward Bound Education Centre. After lunch we managed a swim off the jetty and out to the swimming pontoon. A bit cold at first, but rather nice once you are completely under. ). They have a shower here to rinse off afterwards which is a bit of a bonus. This is a pretty spot and well worth a visit. Next stop was Double Bay. Unsure of the road we parked the Motorhome on the main road and walked down the steep hill to the Bay. You can free park your motorhome overnight here but there is a limit of 7m. Double Bay sits on the edge of Mahau Sound.
Last stop for the night
Ohingaroa Bay (Mahau Sound).
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Mumtraveller
Lynne Brown
On the road again
So you are on your travels again ...Always good to see your photos to remind me of my NZ trip. Hope to come again next winter.