Wednesday, 17th January 2018
I haven’t updated my blog for a couple of days – in fact since Monday 15th January when we drove over to Picton to catch the ferry to Wellington. Our touring of the South island came to an end and due to the fact that we had some bad weather on our trip, we have missed seeing a few of the interesting sites such as the glacier on Franz Josef and sailing the Marlborough Sound. Perhaps a reason to come back again over a few years? Anyway I have been keeping notes on my iPad as these last couple of days I have been the co-driver and had time to look up places and jot down a few notes. We’ve been lucky that ever since we left Nelson, we’ve had only good weather!
Crossing over to Wellington Monday 15 January 2018
A bit of a panic attack this morning – we just left our Vine Cottage at Blenheim, when I thought I did not have my iPhone with me. Gerry called my number but he got my voice mail so no other choice than to return. To the BnB to search for my phone – anyway while everyone was searching I had a flashback – I had purchased my phone in my camera bag!so panicky for nothing and we were on our way again.
As we knew our way to the ferry terminal in Picton,it only took us half an hour to get there and we had ample time to have coffee.
The ferry boat left on time, even though we were made to wait for quite some time on the quayside. The trip was 3hr 15 minutes and actually quite pleasant – for the kids there was a magician’s show and also a film in the cinema and enough food and drink should one want that. Gerry and I spent quite some time on decking just watched the beautiful fjord like scenery go by. We also noticed that this ferry was built in Gerry’s home town – Krimpen aan den Ijssel – so obviously we felt safe on it…..
Once we berthed at Wellington harbour, it was an easy disembarkation – my thoughts went back to the many migrants who landed here so many years ago so that they could make their new home in NZ! We’re so happy we have the Eve’s GPS – within 20 minutes we were at our B&B in the Seatoun suburb – Beachfront – lovely hosts who welcomed us and a lovely home which they opened up to guests. That evening we went into town and explored some areas before having dinner and returning for a good night’s rest.
Tuesday, 16th January, 2018 – Discovering Wellington
The following morning we were up on time and while at first we thought of catching the bus into town, we took the car all the way into the city centre and parked it in garage close to the Wellington cable car. That was the first sightseeing of the day – to climb up on top of the hill at Wellington by cable car and admire the view from there – there is an observatory and the botanic gardens where we had a stroll and then coffee break before returning by cable car back down.
From here we walked to the Waterfront and as it was round about lunch time, we saw office workers enjoying their lunch break outdoors – skating, running enjoying their picnic lunch under the trees ….. and even swimming! What a great way to de-stress from the working environment – although just watching everyone, I don’t think the New Zealanders are stressed out!!
Our walk along the Waterfront led us to New Zealand’s top National Museum and art gallery – in fact Te Papa Tongarewa is Maori for: the place of treasures of this land. And indeed, what we saw ( and most probably it was only one fifth of the whole exhibition) were truly treasures of New Zealand. And interesting enough, this public museum is free of charge and we saw many kiwi families walking around – the most interesting subjects were the Maori settlements in NZ ( about 1.000 years ago) and then later the European settlers.
Once we were outdoors again, we walked towards Cuba street, where we had a drink one of the cafe’s – according to the Lonely Planet, one had to experience Cuba Street with all its bars, cafe’s and shops – anyway before we knew it we had again walked some 5 km and it was time to make our way back to the Beachfront.
Today it is 17th January – and a beautiful sunny and warm day to travel from our Beachfront B&B in Wellington to Napier – a 320 km drive up north. Craig prepared a hearty breakfast for us and at breakfast table we met a Danish couple who are also travelling up north – chatted for a while and found out that they were what we in Dutch call a “bankstel “ meaning a couple who got to know each other by working at a bank – this couple worked at Nordea Bank in Copenhagen.
Leaving Wellington, we followed the state expressway for an hour so that was good driving heading towards Palmerston North. However this must be quite a new expressway as our GPS could not recognize it and kept telling us to make a U turn! The highway became less busy after we went through Kapiti Island exit and even though it is a two lane road, it is smooth driving. The countryside is made up of rolling hills now with little villages and fruit stall along the way.
At Levin we turned right on highway 57 which would take us to Palmerston North and we had only been on the road for 1.5hours. We now had the mountain range to the right of us and we’re driving through flat country – very much like in Holland…..grazing cows and farmhouses and agricultural land
Stopped for coffee and cake for Gerry at Palmerston North – an agricultural and rural university town also well known for the All Blacks Rugby team – their museum is also located here. It was 28degrees and we just strolled along the square – besides the war memorial there is not much to photograph in this town as it is quite modern. But our coffee was a work of art!
On our way to Napier we were supposed to go through Woodville, however after driving some 10km, we were warned that the highway was closed and hence had to make a detour by getting back to Palmerston. Anyway the views were fantastic on this pass and luckily we had not wasted much time.
Went through Dannevirke – a farmer’s town sprawled along the state highway – what was interesting to see here -we saw an office of Rabobank! And also the welcome to the town sign had a great big Viking on it – it seems as though the settlers were Danish and Dutch – will need to check this out!
(In the meantime have checked this out – apparently the first settlers were Danish, Norwegian and Swedish and had arrived in the 1870’s under the Public Works Act and the purpose of the town was to provide the sleepers for the Napier – Wellington railway line. After the native bush was cleared , the land was turned into pasture land for grazing animals.)
It was about time to have some lunch -we still had some cheese and crackers and some cherries -when we saw a signpost going to Norsewood. As this sounded also Scandinavian, we decided to stop to explore and we were surprised as this is a village where time stood still.
Although its population is only 330, they have managed to turn this little hamlet which was founded by Scandinavian settlers in 1872, into a heritage trail. When we had finished our lunch we walked one of the trails – very interesting to see the old buildings still standing and re- enacted to those days when the settlers first came.
Passed through Hastings which was also destroyed in the 1931 earthquake -also an agricultural region with loads of fruit trees -very fertile ground. Also fruit stalls along the road side but as it was getting rather late – it was already 16.00, we decided not to stop and drive further to our final destination – Napier.
What a pretty place this is! – Napier was destroyed by the 1931 earthquake but by 1933, it was practically built up again – in Art Deco style. After we checked in at our motel – Quality Inn, which is right on the beach, we went for a walk on the beach and then into the city centre. This town is so well preserved! This evening we had an Indian tandoori fish dish for dinner and it was delicious!.
