Auckland to Hawke Bay and back.

[drron]

The last of the museum.

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And finally this one is important in local history.A 1931 Dennis fire engine.It began duty in Napier just in time for the great earthquake so used to fight many of the subsequent fires.

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So if you really enjoy English cars this is a place of interest.for most not worth it.entry fee $10.

 

[drron]

If you are in this area on a Sunday try to make it to the Hastings Farmers market.I thought it was really good.

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It's not to often you see Damson products for sale.

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Over 40 years ago i had an old patient who had 2 Damson trees in her yard.She loved them.
Damson - Wikipedia

 

[drron]

We then started on our drive north to Wairoa.Stopped on the coast a little north of Napier.

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a few waves to the south but north was pretty flat.

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By accident I had stopped near a few of mrsdrron's favourite Kiwi trees.

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A little late for the pohutukawa or NZ Christmas tree to be flowering.

 

[love_the_life]

They are spectacular flowers.

 

[drron]

We continued north.the higway heads into the mountain and becomes quite twisty.thick vegetation.

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At our next stop I discovered this fellow very much alive.didn't want me touching him.

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But a bit of thinking and we were both happy.

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We had stopped at a beautiful spot.

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[drron]

Even better and separated by just a narrow causeway Lake Tutira.one of the highlights of our trip.

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[drron]

An unusual thing in the middle of the lake.

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The causeway between the 2 lakes.

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With wonderful views.

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[drron]

The weather,the colours,shadows and reflections made it an awesome picture.

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[drron]

At the camping area there were some black swans hanging around.

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To the right just out of sight was a man and his young son.
What a lovely spot to camp.

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[drron]

As we were leaving we stopped for a last look and a bit of a walk.We were spotted.

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Somehow I feel they are quite used to humans.

 

[love_the_life]

I had to look up the location of Lake Tutira. It certainly looks lovely.

 

[drron]

Yes LTL it really is a great spot.Lots of walking tracks from the campground so for anyone who loves camping it would be a great place to stay.

We now headed off to Wairora at a sedate pace.As I said it is a very tortuous road in some places.Now I was being very good pulling over if cars were behind me.Most of them sounded their horn in appreciation and occasionally with a short flash of the hazard lights.I did note that the more expensive the car the less likely I was to be acknowledged.I guess they just couldn't give a toot.

An amazing train trestle bridge.

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The bridge over the Wairoa river.Actually the third or fourth bridge across.One got wiped out in the 1931 earthquake,another when Cyclone Bola hit in 1988.The Queen openned this one in 1989.

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It would appear that fishing in the river is good judging by the look of this fellow.

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A beautiful park west of the bridge.

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Then there is the lighthouse.Although in the early years ships came up the river and berthed near where the bridge is this lighthouse actually came from Portland Island well out into Hawke Bay.

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[drron]

We drove to the mouth of the river.

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Seems incredible that even ships of the 1900 era could get into Wairora.The river mouth though is a long way from where it was then.
This picture is taken from the same spot of the last and the 1900 river mouth is several hundred metres to the left of this little point.

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[drron]

Made our way back into town.

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Past a few old buildings.

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Then to the supermarket and bottle shop as for the next 2 nights it is in a cottage on a sheep farm with nothing for miles around.

 

[drron]

Provisioned we headed to the Cottage-that's what it is called.Another that is on Airbnb but mrsdrron had booked direct.first the pictures.

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I wonder who would use those cupboards?
Small bathroom and a second bedroom.

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Laundry and fridge in the back hall.

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The kitchen and below the dining area.

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And there was a welcome bottle of HiHi sparkling from Gisborne.I don't recommend you go out and try and find it.

 

[drron]

Next the sitting room.

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Even a firepit loaded with wood.

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In some ways a pity that we had been staying in Chambourcin cottage the nights before as that was perfect for us.This is very rustic.The furniture is old,not really going together.The toilet was obviously outside originally and now a small room cut out of the bathroom with sliding doors to the kitchen and hallway.However the host was very nice and made us welcome.Enough firewood which was replenished for reasons you will see later.
It was just as well that we arrived in basically perfect weather as the views are awesome.First from the kitchen and then the dining area.

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[drron]

I then went for a walk around the property-our little bit of it.

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lots of fruit trees.

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A storage shed which looked like an old tobacco drying shed.

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Then mrsdrron came out with her camera.

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[drron]

Now her pics.She concentrated on the fruit and flowers.

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And me checking if there were any more macadamia nuts.

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[Antoallison]

Now her pics.She concentrated on the fruit and flowers.

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And me checking if there were any more macadamia nuts.

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Not that it’s a competition and I have enjoyed your scenic photos so far ....but does Mrs Dron have a better quality camera than you ?

 

[drron]

Wash your mouth out.
She has exactly the same camera as me.
but she doesn't shake as much as I do-a familial essential tremor.