Thursday 11th May, 2017 Taupo

Woke up to a real change in the weather was going to rain all day so rather than spend a cold wet day in Taupo decided not to stay another night and up sticks and headed for home.

In all the holiday was great, perfect weather, rich vivid green hills and farms, blue sky nearly all the time and not forgetting the brillant colours of the Autume  leaves. Very enjoyable and good to see the parts of the country I hadn't seen before.
Cheers until the next blog. Hawaii in September.  :-)

Wellington to Taupo....Wednesday 10th 2017

We left Wellington at 8.00am and would have arrived to Taupo at 12.30pm if we hadn't  stopped. But we decided to stop after we left Turangi at a few bays along the shores of Taupo. Also we couldn't get into the motel until 2.00pm.

We had a great drive through today as the weather was perfect and even warm.The countryside looks so pretty at this time of the year with the  colour of the autumn leaves, the rich green fields and just to top it all off is the brilliant  blue sky. It just can't get better. And as you will see we took a few photos as it was such perfect conditions.

We had a coffee stop at the Woolshed Cafe which was on the southern side of Sanson which is just south of Bulls. Would recommend it if anyone who is passing. An old woolshed converted into a cafe  and really well done. Good selection of food and nice atmosphere. And very clean.

This is taken from the road so it is just down this driveway on this a farm.

The two levels give it character. 

Standing on the top level looking back to the selection of food.

Starting to approach Mountain country Ruapehu in the distance. We have now done the complete circle of our trip back onto Highway 1. We  went down this until we turned off to Palmerston North. We went down  via the East Coast down to Wellington and today came back.  This time though we came through Taupo city as we used the new by-pass on the way south.

Driving through Waiouru township Ruapehu in the background.

Close up of Ruapehu. I know I posted these similar photos on the way south but it was such a perfect day  I just had to take more photos.

Goodbye Mt Ruapehu

Hello Mt  Ngaurahoe. 

Getting closer.  

Just had to stop and get some Autumn leaves. 

Just past Turangi.

Just north of Turangi again and if you look closely you will see 3 fisherman standing in the river. PT sitting on the rock on the left.

Our first two bays.

Mean Fishing at the mouth of the river flowing into Lake Taupo. We were told that they had only caught two fish there today. Evidently the water temperature is still too warm.

You can see the men Standing in the lake just under the jutting out land behind them.

River mouth men just out of the picture to the right.

We then drove out to a new subdivision on a small peninsula on the lake. On the way stopped to show how beautiful peoples' gardens are this time of year. This is in the older part.

This is the park down on the lake edge, water behind me, looking up to the new subdivision. Some lovely new houses up behind those trees. 

Same area looking along the lake edge.

Arrived at our Motel Le Chalet Suisse, just after 2.00pm. Looking across to the lake from our room. Not the best of Motels we have stayed in. Although very clean and a bit tired. Not worth a photo. Disappointing.

Wellington .. Tuesday 9th May 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM

Who is twelve today

Not a lot to post today as we went to Parliament at 12.00pm for an hours tour of the three buildings and then waited around until 2.00 pm to go into the Chamber to listen and watch the question and answers time. Bit of fun. We weren't aware on how noisy it is within the chamber. We were also fascinated with the fact that they have had the Parliament Building strengthened for earthquakes. We were taken down into the basement to be shown the process that was undertaken. The three main buildings are all on big rubber bushes about 60cms across and about 1.5metres apart and thus every individual floor is designed to slide backwards and forwards in the event of an earthquake. Very interesting. Our hotel is very handy to most  places to see so we just had to walk down the road to the Beehive. Like yesterday we walked most of the day from one place to another.

Yes you guessed it... The Beehive.........

Parliament House.

The gardens.

From the left The Beehive, Parliament House and thirdly the Library, all attached so you can walk right through them inside. 

That's all we have to report today. We did go out first thing this morning down to Parliament  to take these photos as we  knew we couldn't take our cameras into Parliament so thought it easier just to leave everything back in the hotel and arrive just with ourselves. 

Last night here in Wellington and off to Taupo tomorrow first thing as it will take us about  5 - 6 hours. Two nights there, but the weather looks like it could be changing for the worse but we have had a good run of the sunshine.

Wellington....Monday 8th May 2017

Great weather today sunny all day. Left hotel for Te Papa at 9.00am to go in the early bird tour to the Gallipoli display. A good move as we were allowed in half an hour earlier than the public were at the usual 10am opening. The Gallipoli section was fantastic very moving. It really informs you what those poor guys went through. Quite unbelievable.

 

Front entrance of Te Papa Museum

 



Our men in action.

The boxes their food supplies were send to the soldiers. Mainly tin meat (bully beef) and biscuits which I noted were from Canada.

Map of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
 

Standing over his dead fellow soldier

Remembering him.

On the 20th day

Their main diet was dry bread and tin corn beef (bully Beef) Look how big their guns are.

The flies were so bad you can see them on their opened tin beef and dry bread.

To the left the soldier was feeding the bullets  through the gun the middle soldier was firing his gun. Soldier on the right had been shot dead.

We had the opportunity to make a poppy and place them below this soldier. 

Outside we walked through bush walk of native plants.

 Above and below at the back of Te Papa looking over he harbour. Perfect weather but quite windy from the north.

  

 

The Australian Memorial

 



This Memorial commemorates the long and close relationship  between the people of Australia and New Zealand. The rugged red Sandstone columns represents the heart of Australia. The 'red centre' each column stands on a band of the same red stone. Between them the bands of grey stone symbolise the New Zealand landscape. The central column is inscribed with the words 'ANZAC'.

 

 

War memorial in the Memory of the New Zealanders who have died in active service in the defence of their country and in honour of those that served or suffered.

 

 

Inside this beautiful building.

 



All the wreaths that have been left by several countries from the recent Anzac Day celebrations.

 

The tomb of the unknown New Zealand warrior

Standing on the steps next to the unknown warrior looking down over to the Australian Memorial

War Memorial Museum
 

 

 

Walking through the Cuba Street mall. Brought some new boots here today. A little bit of retail therapy.  

 

PT relaxing in the Club lounge over a coffee and reading the paper after we walked 9.50kms around the city today.

. 

 

Looking over to Oriental Bay.

 



 

Looking down to the street from our 26th floor in the hotel.

 

 

Another busy walking day and great weather. Keep forgetting to say on our first night in Wellington we experience a small earthquake in our room on the 26th floor at 8.00pm. We both looked at each other and said was that an earthquake, then a minute or so another one. It felt a real sideways sway back and forward. I said do we run!!!!!!!PT says no just wait and see. Not a nice feeling when you are on the 26th floor. We found out the next day that there was 4.5 quake 10 km North West of Blenheim 37km deep. Classified as moderate. Nothing since...So far....   

Off to do Parliament tomorrow.