Catching Up On New Zealand

Before today we basically had 2 driving days.  The one day from The Bay of Islands to Auckland and then yesterday from Auckland to Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula.  We had 2 choices for the drive here and chose the longer one around the peninsula.  It was a very winding road by the edge of the sea with not much to keep you from ending up in the sea and many one lane bridges!  We did enjoy it though and arrived here shortly before 5:00 PM.  This is a beautiful spot right on the beach. 

We awoke this morning to what seemed to me like it was going to be an all day rain so I wondered what we would do.  During breakfast it began to clear and our hostess suggested we take a Zodiac boat ride to see the many rock formations (Cathedral Cove being the most famous). By 10:00 AM we were in the boat and it was a wonderful hour.  It enabled Lois to see Cathedral Cove as she couldn’t have done the 40 minute hike in.  The rest of the day has been absolutely beautiful so you can’t count on weather patterns being like they would be at home – the host said today was like having 4 seasons in one day.  We just got back from an enjoyable walk on the beach.  It is very walkable as the sand is firm.

Fiji Pictures - Additional Comment

I have delayed posting pictures as I wanted to be where I had a solid Interent link.  I have it here.

I will try to post some New Zealand pictures tomorrow.  We are seeing wonderful scenery although it is not unlike that which we would see in Canada.

Some Pictures from Fiji

 

Arrival Welcome

 Lois with 2 village elders after the Kava Ceremony.  They wanted their picture taken with her.  We weren't sure if it was her canes or her blond hair!

Very Relaxing Scenery!

 Honeymoon Island Picnic

 View from Our Bure

 Our Bure

 One of the 2 Pools

 From the Dining Area

 View from the Shower!

 At Dinner When We Didn't Know We'd Be Celebrating Our Anniversary

 Departure Farewell

Lois Being Transported to the Boat

Back in Auckland

Accessing the Internet via WiFi at the B and B’s may not be as easy as I expected.  You will see I have just done 3 posts at once.  I couldn’t get the WiFi to work at the Bay of Islands B and B so I wrote the posts in “Word” and posted them now we are back here in Auckland. 

We are in a different hotel here, just as you come into the city. We have a fabulous view of Auckland and the added bonus is the room has a washer and dryer.  We had planned to find a Laundromat so I asked where the nearest one would be when we checked in.  I was told “in our room” so that was a pleasant surprise!

Our B and B Hostess

Carolyn is quite a character.  She is a 70 year old American who has her Ph. D. from the Univ. of Michigan in Clinical Psychology.  She has lived all over the world and has sailed solo around the world.  At breakfast she sits with us and “holds court”.  (this was our choice – she asked us if we would prefer her not to sit with us).  I find her quite fascinating and she is a wonderful source of information.  Everything she has recommended we have enjoyed.  Last night she suggested a dinner cruise.  I was a little apprehensive, thinking it might be quite a commercial endeavor but it wasn’t.  There were only 17 on the cruise and everything was cooked to order on the boat.  It was a beautiful evening and we both enjoyed it.

For my Stratford friends reading this, she is home every summer to visit her 94 year old mother, who lives in Bay City, Mich. and takes her to Stratford each year.  She doesn’t think she will get her this summer as her mother says she doesn’t think she is well enough to travel.  It’s a small world, isn’t it.

Our First Day with the Car

We have a bright red Nissan so we won’t lose it in a parking lot!  Driving here is not a problem even if it is on the opposite side of the road.  The roads are excellent and the signage is wonderful.  The speed is usually posted at 100 km outside of cities and towns but the traffic seldom moves at that speed.  It moves slower not faster as it would at home.

Our first day in the Bay of Islands area, we thought we would drive to Cape Reinga – it had been recommended by someone at home.  Our hostess, at the B and B, discouraged us as it would take at least 5 hours each way.  Instead she recommended we drive out to the Tasman Sea where we would see similar scenery and it was only about 2 hours each way.  This proved to be an excellent recommendation as we were also able to see the 2000 year old Kauri Trees and also stop for a nice lunch at a seaside resort.

First Full Day in New Zealand

We stayed at a Hilton Hotel right on the harbour in Auckland.  I was a little concerned as it wasn’t really the B and B accommodation I was expecting but it turned out to be a perfect location because we didn’t have a car.  We were close to good walking and many excellent restaurants to choose from.

We got a taxi to the Auckland Museum because we wanted to see the Maori exhibit.  It was excellent and a good preview for a few days from now when we are in Rotorua – the heart of the Maori culture.  We then went on a 10 minute ferry ride across the harbour to Devonport where we had lunch and visited the galleries etc.  I had been told it was a bit like Niagara on the Lake – which it was – but it also reminded us of Oak Bay in Victoria only on a much smaller scale.

Auckland made us think of Vancouver but again on a much smaller scale – lots of water, water craft and good dining by the water.

Welcome to New Zealand

We had a night on the main island of Fiji, close to the airport, but it could have been closer.  I wanted place on the beach but by the time we got there and had to get up at 5:45 A.M., we never saw the beach.  I should have just picked a hotel close to the airport!

It was a 3 hour flight to Auckland and we arrived at 1:40 P.M.  The driver, who met us, gave us a tour of the city on the way here with a running commentary about Auckland so we enjoyed that.  It had been raining but stopped after we were checked in and ready to go for a walk.  We had dinner at a wonderful seafood restaurant near where we are staying.  

We have tomorrow here and then pick-up our rental car Sat. AM.