Gaming with our Godsons …

During the surprise party (see previous post) our young godsons, Tom and Ollie, invited themselves around to our place for lunch and to play games and so they came and I introduced them to the wonder and joy of the board game, finding a recruit at least in their father Dave who enjoyed beating us all in his first game of Ticket to Ride.

Keeping Busy…

After our marathon holiday we were feeling the strain a little and Sue had to return to work the day after our long flight home, so it was with a small amount of trepidation that we ventured out for the day on Saturday.

The old regular gang from GPE, plus the more recent Honeywell associates gather each year to celebrate and this time it was Bill and Linda who arranged things. We met at theirs for a hot beverage and a biscuit before heading out into the unpromising weather. The walk was around Nonsuch Park and was a damp affair but we persevered with the promise of meal and drinks to follow. The meal has tended to tended to increase in importance of the years we have been doing this event and we were well catered for at the HG Wells public house.

Afterwards we had arranged to go to Chris and Carole’s (with Deb) for a quiet meal and a catch up after our holiday, but it seems they had different plans for us having arranged a surprise Anniversary and 50^th Birthday party with some of our friends. Carole had made a couple of most amazing cakes and laid on a wonderful spread and it was not until the wee small hours that we stumbled into our bed exhausted.

Land of the Long White Car Journey…

11^th Dec - Departed London in the evening after taking a leisurely drive via a Carluccio restaurant at Walton on Thames and spending a relaxing while in the airport lounge taking onboard some ‘liquid personality’ with a brief stop in Singapore to change planes (first leg on the A380 double-decker and the second on a 777), we arrived in Christchurch on the 13^th Dec in the morning and met mum who had flown down from Auckland.

13^th Dec

-       First we picked up transport – a wonderful, huge, white Toyota Highlander with room enough for all of us plus our luggage (once I had determined the best way to fit it in – Tetris-like). I was very sad to return this vehicle at the end of our travels and return to the Vauxhall Meriva ‘Pope-Mobile’. 

-       We spent the day in Christchurch, a place is still in ruins with empty lots, rubble strewn areas, and only a few signs of re-building even after four years from the big quake. The historic tram was now running a full circuit and the only healthy looking trading areas seemed to be the pretty New Regent Street (where the tram runs between a row of older shops – there is a cool steampunk shop called the Clockwork Emporium & Cafe), and the funky Re:START Mall which is built out of converted shipping containers. The old cathedral is still in a sad state of partial collapse but the new Cardboard Cathedral was fabulous to see. 

-       We stayed at the conveniently located Airport Gateway Motor Lodge in a family unit. Sue and I in one room, mum and Deb sharing another twin room and Jamie in the lounge area (this was pretty much the standard configuration during our journey.

-       Sue and I picked Jamie up from the airport in the early hours as he was flying in from Sydney after spending a few days there and in Canberra with friends.

14^th Dec

-       We travelled to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo with views of Mt Cook (where we had a picnic lunch near the pretty lakeside church and dog statue) and Lake Pukaki with its pale ice blue waters. 

-       We arrived in time to take a ride across the lake on the fabulous old steamer Earnslaw in the sunshine, enjoying the views, the onboard bar and the live piano music.

-       We stayed at the quaint Settlers Cottage Motel in the nearby picturesque gold mining town Arrowtown and we went out for an evening meal at The Fork and Tap (they forgot Jamie and my meals which came late). Here Debbie and Jamie dragged us into a birthday celebration being held by a few locals and Sue impressed them by downing a pint after losing (she says wining) a drinking completion. The bar staff became a little unhappy with the rowdy group (especially when one girl used toilet paper to redecorate the ladies loos) and we excused ourselves when they started to suggest we go back to theirs to share a bottle of whiskey.

15^th Dec

-       We went back into Queenstown in the morning and arranged to go on the Shotover Jetboat in the morning. It was a fabulous trip for the four of us (mum deciding to watch from the shore) where we shot through steep gorges inches from the rock face and got soaked by the 360 degree spins. We also had an entertaining driver who pointed out the Remarkable ranges that were one of the backdrops for Lord of the Rings. We then headed off towards Franz Josef stopping at the Kawarau Bridge where AJ Hackett started his first Bungy experience and where Deb and Jamie jumped off the bridge (Jamie face first into the water giving himself temporary bloodshot eyes). We travelled on via Lake Hawea (wonderful reflections of the mountains in the mirror like water), had a fabulous lunch at the gorgeous Cardrona Hotel sitting out in their garden before continuing to Lake Wanaka and through the dramatic Haast Pass.

-       We stayed at the modern and well appointed Aspen Court Franz Josef in the shadow of the mist shrouded mountains and had a lovely Thai evening meal at the KingTiger down the road.

16^th Dec

-       In the morning we drove to the Franz Josef Glacier car park and walked towards the glacier. Sue and I had been here many years before and we were surprised by how much the ice had receded up the valley. Where you used to be able to touch the face of the glacier you are now prevented from getting close (apparently some tourists had died, crushed by falling ice). Still the views were amazing and the heat in the sunshine was a bonus for what is often regarded as the wettest coast of New Zealand. There were plenty of helicopters taking adventurous types up to the top of the glacier to walk in the ice and snow.

-       We travelled on towards Hanmer Springs stopping for lunch at Café 39 in the pretty town of Hokitika (cafés have sprung up all over the country and often provide delicious and interesting fare) then detouring to visit the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki (dramatic layered rock eroded into fantastical shapes by the actions of the sea).

-       We met up with Steve and Samantha at the Monteith’s Brewery Bar (that Steve manages) for a slap up meal and a catch up (Jamie managed to finish the ½ kilo steak where Steve did not quite manage). 

-       Our accommodation was at the Tussock Peak Motor Lodge owned by the guy Steve works for.

17^th Dec

-       We went for a bathe in the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools (an unusual experience of trying to relax, especially when a photographer waded out into the water asking if we wanted pictures taking). At the I-Site tourist centre we went to book for the whale watching and could only get tickets for first thing the next morning. Before we left we caught up with Steve again for brunch before travelling on to Kaikoura.

-       We stayed at The Seahorse (private house accommodation). When we arrived it was not ready for us so we rang the housekeeper and went out into town for a while. We went to the supermarket and then stopped to watch cormorants (shags) and seals at the end of the peninsula. By now the weather was turning bad and so we returned to the house for a relaxing evening. The accommodation seemed to be circa 1970 but the house was comfortable (the shower weak and feeble) and it was nice for us to have more space to ourselves.

 

18^th Dec

-       We had an early sailing with the Whale Watch Company from their (Whale Way Station – offices in an old railway station). It was a grey, dismal morning but we did see four whales (well most of us saw the three closest ones – apart from Sue who was fiddling with the camera on the phone. Jamie and I saw a distant fourth one). We also saw dolphins, a seal and albatross along with various other birds. I was feeling a bit queasy as we neared the end of the journey so we had a coffee and muffin at the nearby Allure Café (muffins seem to be a staple of NZ cafes and often come warm with a pat of butter).

-       We went back to the local I-Site having already decided that we did not want to go back out onto the water to swim with the dolphins, to see what else we could do. We found a local river rafting company willing to take us out. Mum opted not to join us so we dropped her off at the house and then drove towards the Clarence River Bridge. On the way we stopped to look at the seal nursery by the side of the rode enjoying the antics of the baby seals as they frolicked about on the rocks below us. 

-       The Clarence River Rafting company are run by a lovely bunch of people and we had a raft to ourselves with our friendly guide Jordan. The tone for the afternoon was set by our experience of trying to get into the wetsuits (one size fits no-body) and we had a good giggle on our journey down the river to the sea. Our guide got Jamie to jump of rocks (face planting painfully after a somersault) and all of us to free-ride down rapids. He also provided a stop for tea and biscuits and gave us plenty of local knowledge of the river and surroundings. 

-       We were tired and hungry when we arrived back and so after showers and a few nibbles we went to The Pier Hotel for dinner where Deb enjoyed half a crayfish as much as the rest of us enjoyed our food.

19^th Dec

-       On the next morning we headed off towards Picton stopping briefly in Blenheim for lunch at the Café Home. 

-       We had booked a wine tour with Sounds Connection and were being picked up from our hotel at 1:15, so we checked into the Picton Beachcomber Inn and had enough time to unpack before the minibus arrived. 

-       The driver was a lovely entertaining guy who gave us an informative talk as we travelled back towards Blenheim. Our first stop was at Hunter’s where we tried a wide range of wines (mostly whites), after this Jamie and I joined a few beer drinkers at Moa Brewing (a lovely range of beers poured by a relaxed German brewer) and the girls continued on to another vineyard. We then regrouped and went onto Framingham Wines where they have a lovely courtyard and attractive tasting room (good wines too). Our last wine stop was Drylands (a much bigger affair that include distinguished labels such as Selaks, Nobilo and Kim Crawford). Our return journey included a tasting stop of a different kind, chocolate maker Makana, and yummy it was too.

-       We returned to Picton and the hotel (which had a lovely view over the harbour where we could watch the ferries come and go). Dinner was at the DA’s Barn which was a quirky place full of local characters, busy and happy people enjoying the offbeat musical entertainment. Gina and her staff were friendly and attentive busily keeping the large number of patrons happy. The food was substantial and hearty and the beer and wine cold and refreshing. A very entertaining evening.

20^th Dec

-       It was an early start this morning (the main reason why we stayed in Picton) as we took the Bluebridge Ferry through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington. It was a calm and uneventful sailing.

-       We went to see if we could check into our rooms at the Shepherds Arms Hotel (a place Sue and I stayed in many years before in the lovely Tinakori Road area of town with a village feel to it) but they were not ready, so we walked up to the Botanic Gardens and around the area before having a bite to eat in the hotel bar. 

-       Jamie and I headed off to our pre-booked Weta Cave Workshop tour (where they make props for movies such as the Lord of the Rings). The girls headed into town to do some shopping but when we returned we found them in a bar called the Foxglove on the waterfront (one of the great things about Wellington is that the centre is compact and it is easy to get around). After we joined them for a drink here we moved on to Mac’s Brewbar where I had a Beer Tasting Platter of six of their finest.

-       Later we continued on to Cuba Street, the eating, drinking and entertainment centre of the city stopping briefly at the Plum Café for a refill before having dinner at the Duke Carvell’s Swan Lane Emporium (a wonderfully hip and atmospheric place with a delicious menu. We had a selection of small plates including the dramatic Flaming Ouzo Cheese and the NZ speciality Creamed Paua). Suitably fortified we continued up the street until we came to the lively Laundry lounge and bar where we enjoyed a few cocktails and listened to some live music before abandoning Jamie and returning back to the hotel quite late. The hotel was basic though Sue and I had a suite with a four poster bed but we were out for the count as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

21^st Dec

-       We were a bit worried that Jamie might not find his way home but in the morning it was Mum and Deb that we couldn’t find (they were in a café across the road). 

-       After breakfast we checked out and went back into town to look around the Te Papa Museum and then to ride the Wellington Cable Car to a vantage point near to the Botanic Gardens. 

-       We had a delightful lunch in the Canteen in Bond Street, a lovely quaint and painfully trendy little café with great food and restful atmosphere.

-       We travelled to Napier and to our second home-let accommodation called Deco by theSea, in Westshore. This was a lovely place decorated with period furniture and in a peaceful road close to the sea.

-       Sue, Deb and I went shopping for supplies for a BBQ we were planning for the following evening and took the scenic route home through the main street of Napier and around the bluff.

-       Here we arranged to meet a couple of Deb’s friends and visited their lovely house on the top of the hill for a catch up. On our way home we stopped at the Hawkes Bay Seafoods fish and chips (just in time before they closed). It seemed that the shop had cooked excess food so we ended up with a mountain of fish and chips, much too much for us to eat, delicious though it was, so unfortunately much of it got thrown away.

22^nd Dec

-       The next morning Deb’s friend Pete had volunteered to drive us around Napier showing is up to the view point at Bluff Hill Domain (where we saw a cruise ship come in), and then through the Art Deco centre of town before dropping us off at the Mission Estate where we had booked lunch for Deb’s 50^th Birthday. We had a tasting of their wonderful wines before we had another fabulous meal with good wine out on the lawn in blazing sunshine before being picked up by Bay Tours for our private wine tour of the region. 

-       Our driver was an American and he took us first next door to Church Road (a place Sue and I had visited many years before) where they provided us with a lovely selection (more reds in the Hawkes Bay) in their brand new, and spectacular, tasting hall. Then it was into Moana Park (a small vineyard specialising in low allergen wines) where a lovely young woman plied us with tasty samples, and finally we ended up at the much larger Sileni estate where we were introduced to the delight of cheese with desert wine.

-       We then returned to the house where we got ourselves prepared for Deb’s birthday party with her friends joining us with the family (the children enchanting us all with their adorable antics). It was a very convivial evening, enjoyed by all.

23^rd Dec

-       Travelling back to Pukekohe we stopped at Lake Taupo, having a quick coffee in town before driving up to the Huka Falls and having a picnic under the trees beside the river.

-       We arrived at mum’s place and unpacked, repacking for our stay in Howick that evening. After a quick wash and brush up we drove out to the Howick Motor Lodge (the cheapest accommodation and the one where we had to compromise most on space). We visited the All Saints Church and saw the plot where dad is interred with his parents before heading down to the Windross House at Cockle Bay for our 20^th wedding anniversary meal. Gary followed me back to the motel to drop of my car. The Windross House is an old colonial building that has been converted into a restaurant and was where my grandparents had their 50^th wedding meal. The beach was also where Sue and I had our wedding pictures taken. We were joined by Gary and Catherine and family friends George and Noreen and we had a lovely meal together. Gary later dropped us back at the motel.

24^th Dec

-       In the morning we drove back into Howick and had another look around the church, buying gifts in what used to be the old Monterey Cinema opposite, before driving down to Cosy Place where I used to live. 

-       We then drove into Auckland city via the bays and waterfront parking up at the Sky Tower where we had bought tickets for Jamie and Deb to walk around the top of the tower. We watched them (Sue nervously) from an indoor observation deck as they walked around and afterwards they joined us for a quick drink before we walked out in search of lunch. We strolled down Queen Street to the Ferry Building and then on to the Degree Bar overlooking the Viaduct Basin. 

-       We returned to mum’s place where she was with her Settlers Way neighbours as they sat around eating and drinking in their street party. Later we went out to Harry and Anne’s for their Saddleton Road traditional Christmas gathering in the barn where we spent an entertaining evening.

25^th Dec

-       Christmas was spent with the family and started with Gary and Catherine coming over in the morning. Gary cooked us breakfast on the BBQ and we opened presents and relaxed, getting ourselves ready to go over to Catherine’s parents for dinner. Her father Brian came over to pick us up (he also kindly arranged for a taxi home later). We had succulent roast turkey, BBQ roasted lamb and a honey glazed ham complete with pineapple rings and cherries. In addition we had all the trimmings and copious puddings washed down with liberal amounts of wine courtesy of the Pipers.

-       We returned home full of the joys of Christmas.

26^th Dec

-       Jamie was flying to Melbourne in the afternoon so we spent the morning at the Auckland Botanic Gardens with a picnic lunch under the trees. We then drove him to the airport and had a couple of last drinks with him before seeing him off on his continuing journey. He was going to spend time with friends there with others joining them from the UK for New Years and afterwards driving down the Ocean Road. 

-       We drove out to Clevedon for an evening Meal with George and Noreen and their family and friends.

27^th Dec

-       Back on the road again with our second (much smaller) tour, this time around the central North Island. We started by heading towards the Coromandel Peninsular and just after Thames we stopped at the colourful Waiomu Beach Café which serves some of the best muffins we have ever tasted. We sat out in the courtyard and admired the unusual furniture (a sofa made from an old bathtub and a spare tyre table); inside a separate cottage was a lovely collection of local art.

-       At Coromandel Township we went to the Driving Creek Potteries where the main attraction is a hand built narrow gauge railway that winds its way up the mountain to the Eyeful Tower. We hadn’t booked this and it looked like we might be disappointed as the sign showed it being sold out all day, but we asked and were put on a standby list and got on the very next train out. 

-       Another must stop place was the Coromandel Smoking Co. where we picked up a few bits for lunch and ate them watching fishermen coming and going at the boat ramp.

-       A long and winding road took us over to the ocean side of the peninsula and we briefly stopped to look at the murals painted on the town’s buildings along the main street of Katikati. 

-       Our flagging energies from spending such a long time in the car were boosted when we were overtaken by a couple of large bikes, the latter of which sported and unusual pillion passenger – a dog wearing snazzy blue goggles (or doggles). We followed them for several kilometres trying to take their pictures. 

-       Eventually we arrived at the holiday destination town of Mt Maunganui and found our accommodation at the Mission Belle Motel run by a nice woman from Essex. We unpacked and chilled out with a drink before venturing out to watch the sunset from one of the beaches and ending up with another delicious meal, this time at the Blue Restaurant & Bar

28^th Dec

-       In the morning we strolled through the busy town (a cruise ship had arrived) and down to the ocean side beach which was full of happy people playing in the surf and on the sand. 

-       We packed up the car again and headed towards Rotorua where we detoured to visit the Buried Village of Te Wairoa with its moving display (the tree with the sewing machine stuck in it – from the volcanic explosion – has been removed and has been relocated in a new museum area), and the lovely walk down to the waterfall. We had lunch here in the café before heading into town where we went and checked our tickets for the evening’s entertainment at Te Puia, and then on to visit the lakeside. We parked up and walked around to the pretty Saint Faith’s Anglican Church by the lake at Ohinemutu with its etched image of Christ on the window that appears to be walking on the lake. We were amazed by the steam coming up through the paved street and through the drains and by the number of helicopters and seaplanes that were sharing the pier with the old steamer. 

-       Our accommodation was at the Pohutu Lodge Motel, not particularly luxurious but it was ideally located next to the Whakarewarewa geothermal park and only a short walk away from Te Puia where we were going for our Maori cultural evening. The evening started with a walk around the geothermal park where we witnessed the geysers erupting in all their magnificence, the mud pools burping wetly, and a stuffed Kiwi (the live Kiwi being asleep).We saw the carving and weaving halls and then we then had a traditional challenge and welcome at the meeting house where we were entertained by traditional dancing and singing before being led to the plush dining room where a tremendous spread was laid out for us including the traditional hangi food that we saw being lifted out of the heated pits earlier. Our visit finished with a trip back to the geysers to partake in a hot chocolate and a story while seated on naturally heated steps.

29^th Dec

-       In the morning we had breakfast out at the colourful Fat Dog Café & Bar where a bunch of bikers where feeding themselves up before climbing onto their huge bikes and riding off with an ear splitting roar.  The portions here were even too much for our now well accustomed stomachs to accommodate, delicious though it was. 

-       We were travelling to a different would this morning, one populated by little folk with hairy feet and prodigious appetites. Unfortunately the Hobbits of Hobbiton must have been indoors having their second breakfast but we still saw the stunning village bathed in sunshine and under scorching heat. Everything looked as if the occupants had just stepped away for a moment – the vegetable plot was cultivated, there were props at the doorsteps to the hobbit-holes to indicate the profession of the owner, and even the man made oak tree on the top of Bag-End looked amazing. Our tour took us around the whole site and we ended up at the fabulous re-created Green Dragon Inn for a refreshing drink.

-       We did not have time to linger too long as we had to get to Waitomo so that we could complete out Middle Earth Trilogy (Te Puia, Hobbiton and Waitomo). Sue and I had visited here many years before but since then the original entrance burnt down and has been replaced with a much grander affair, also adventure tourism has increased and many other caves have opened up and we were blown away with the massive man made entrance and stunning limestone formations of the Ruakuri caves (here we witnessed some of the black water river rafters pass by – like white water but in the dark) The Waitomo Glowworm caves still had the ability to amaze with the bioluminescent little worms lighting the ceilings like the night sky, even if the caves were not as impressive as some of the others. 

-       We had a picnic stop before we climbed back into the car and headed back to mum’s home.

30^th Dec

-       Be now we were looking forward to a little quiet time so we did a little shopping in Pukekohoe that had to include a stop at the Muffin Break (cheese and steak pie – mmmm!).

-       In the afternoon mum had arranged for a few people to come over (it was Gary’s birthday but he didn’t want us to make a big deal out of it). I had good friends Ian and Susan come over with the kids (now grown up young men) and we had a lovely evening catching up and reminiscing about when we were young and vital. 

31^st Dec

-       Our friends had asked if we could drop by at some point to catch up, but as you can see we didn’t have much spare time available. We had a late evening check-in for our flight and mum didn’t want to come out to the airport so we arranged to say our farewells at home and then travel into Auckland.

-       We drove up Mt Eden to show Deb one of the many volcanoes that make up the Auckland skyline close up and had a dramatic view across the city before heading over to visit Greg and Fi where Bart and Kim, Avette and Terry, Mary and Gary, Chris, and Caro came around. We had a lovely afternoon / early evening catching up before we headed off to airport in the evening. 

-       We thought there might be a chance of a party going on as it was New Years, but it was quiet and empty with only a few scarce souls raising a glass as the hour struck twelve.

Depart Auckland 1^st

We took off in the wee small hours and had a very long day arriving in the afternoon of the same day at Heathrow having spent more than a whole day in transit. One of our bags was the last off the plane (someone’s has to be) so it was already going dark as we picked up our car and headed for home. First stop was to Sue and Deb’s mum where we had a comforting plate of ham, egg and chips before dropping Deb off at her home and wearily making our way back to ours for a night cap and our bed.

Confined for hours on end in a car (even a big car) was tiring (as is evidenced by the many photos of Deb and Sue asleep) and we did find several reoccurring themes during our epic journey. ‘It is what it is’ indicating that however much you plan you cannot accommodate for all eventualities (but for the most part everything did come together with surprising success). ‘On the road again’ was a perpetual phrase as we did not linger too long anywhere as I was determined to maximise our time and see as much as possible (Jamie was quite impressed with my spreadsheet that detailed driving times between places and activities). ‘Wowsie’ and alternatively ‘Wowsa’ which we exclaimed at the various new picturesque vista or natural wonder we encountered (certainly New Zealand is a very photogenic country in the sunshine).

All in all it was a very enjoyable holiday for everyone concerned, though it might take us a while to recover from it.