Mangatainoka Reserve and Tui Brewery

The next stop on our ICA Rally was at Mangatainoka Reserve, over the road from the famous Tui Brewery.  The sun was beating down, and the temperatures were sky high, so Happy Hour was outside in any shade we could find.  Not enough shade for all of us together, so we split into small groups and settled down on the shady side of the vans, that worked quite well.  Splashes were coming from the adjacent river, as a group of local boys were clambering up the bank, and jumping off to cool down.

Most of the group walked across the road to Tui Brewery to dine on the Friday Special of Pizza and Chips.  Must admit that we looked like a group of geriatrics escaping from the Rest Home as our large group crossed over the busy road, laughing and chatting away. 

We soon settled into our allocated tables outside,  orders were placed and the pizzas started to arrive.  Not ones to pass a bargain by, we purchased two pizzas with the second one being half price, so had plenty left to take back to the caravan with us.

Al Fresco dining in the Beer Garden

As the sun started dropping below the hills and the temperatures cooled, we made our way back, and Val and I walked onto the bridge footpath to get an overview of the Reserve.  And here we all are, luckily there was plenty of room for our large group.  Several others were already camping there when we arrived, and they must have wondered what was happening when we all rolled in one after the other.

 

Camping overnight at Mangatainoka Reserve

Takapau and the Oruawharo Homestead

It was a 67km drive from Kairakau to Takapau stopping at Waipawa to check the tire pressure in the spare tire, now on the caravan after the blowout a couple of days ago.  Luckily the trip went well, with no further mishaps.  On the way we passed two bridge signs, quite intriguing, we thought.  Only in the the country, we thought,  and we had an animated discussion of the merits of the first bull versus the second bull!  There were no bulls in sight, we noticed,  as we drove over these two small bridges.

We arrived at Takapau (meaning sleeping mat) Motorhome Caravan Park, where we are staying for the next two nights.  This site has the distinction of being  the very first NZMCA Park in the country.  The large building on site was originally a dairy factory, and later  part of the Norsewear knitting factory producing socks and gloves. The NZMCA purchased the property in 2005 and later sold it in 2013.  It is now in private hands, and still operating as a Motorhome Park.

Staying at Takapau

Scott the caretaker also works in the honey business and had honey for sale for those who had pre-ordered.  Never one to pass some delicious Manuka honey by, Robin had ordered a 2kg pot at a very competitive price, so he was a very happy camper indeed.  The grounds are surrounded by large trees, giving us welcome shade for Happy Hour.

The highlight of our stay here would have to be the visit to Oruawharo Homestead for High Tea, served in the pretty little church, Vincent’s Chapel,  which had been moved onto the property several years ago, and is now used for weddings and other functions.After a very interesting talk given by owner Peter Harris about the history of the property, his wife Dianne served our lunch.   Savouries, fancy little sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and a selection of cakes arrived at our tables, with a choice of fancy teas or coffee. 

High Tea in Vincent’s Chapel

Fully fed, we were invited to have a look through the homestead.  What a wonderful building it was – lovingly restored after years of  neglect, and only weeks away from being demolished.  The Harris’s couldn't bear for this to happen, so stepped in to buy it.  This grand house is one of the largest private homes ever to be built in New Zealand.  The house was built by Charles Tringham, a Wellington architect, in the Italianate Style.  We had been here some years previously, so were very keen to return.

Oruawharo Homestead

The house was in an awful state when purchased in the year 2000.  When you realise that the roof leaked, all the glass was missing from the windows, the house was infested with possums, rats, birds, and no doubt insects, and vines were growing through the walls, you can imagine the dedication and passion needed to bring it to a livable condition.  The house was empty, so suitable period furniture had to be sourced, along with everything else required. 

Inside the homestead

Timber furniture and fittings glow with a wonderful golden hue, and we admired the glamourous German flocked wallpaper used in some of the rooms downstairs. There were lovely old photos on the walls, gorgeous paintings, tapestries, several collections of old dolls, wonderful colonial furniture -  such a lot to look at and admire.   And look at this wonderful ceiling in the music room.  The retired builders in our group were in awe of the workmanship in this project.

Colonial furniture and the intricate timber ceiling

Our host kindly took group photos for us as we stood on the steps outside, a wonderful memento of our visit.   They appreciate all their visitors, we were told, as it all helps to fund the never ending maintenance bills.   A visit to remember, indeed.

ICA Rally members on the steps

We returned back to Takapau via Waipawa, taking a round-about route to visit the famous Waipawa Butchery for some of their award winning meat and tasty sausages.  The owners are local farmers and so proud of their product that they opened up their own butcher shop.  Others from our group had the same idea and the shop was packed with happy campers all set to buy some tasty farm fresh meat for the BBQ.

As the day drew to a close and the sun started to sink into the west, a glorious sunset filled the sky.  A lovely finish to a great day.

Sunset over Takapau

Kairakau Marine Club

The next stop on our ICA Rally was three nights at Kairakau.  It was a bit of a squeeze but all the vans fitted in, with the excellent parking skills of Bill and Martin.  Toilets, showers, a hall to gather in, and most welcome to the ladies, a washing machine was available to do the never ending laundry chores.

The keen fishermen in the group were very happy.  Down to the adjacent beach they went each day, carrying their rods and drones to take the lines out.  The competition was fierce, they were all hoping to win the prize for biggest fish caught.

ICA club fishermen and the handy drone

For the rest of us, it was lovely to take a walk along the sandy beach in the warm sunshine.  Locals and family groups frolicked on the beach, with a few hardy souls taking a swim.    We watched the occasional  surfer as they waited for the right size wave to carry them ashore on their surf boards.  One of the locals is an expert in the art of mosaics, and her work is dotted around the place, including this rather fabulous settee overlooking the beach.

Down at the beach

Kairakau is tucked in under big looming cliffs, stark and dramatic indeed.  The weathered peaks on the cliff tops encircle the small beach settlement like a lover’s embrace.

Jagged cliffs

The usual Morning Teas and Happy Hours took place in the handy hall, with our final Happy Hour outside in the sunshine, with a million dollar view looking out at the beach.

Bill announced the winner of the Fishing Contest – ably won by Helen, who landed the largest fish.  Sadly for the men, most of the other catches were tiddlers!

Helen was the winner!

Happy Hour was followed by a group BBQ with everyone eating outside together.  This was a lovely way to finish off our final night at Kairakau Beach.

On the Way to Kairakau

We departed Napier on Sunday, after stopping to dump and fill up with fresh water so we would be all ready for the next stop.  Napier was named after the British General Sir Charles Napier and developed from a whaling and trading station in the 1840s.  It was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake which devastated most of the buildings, causing 256 deaths, and raised the shoreline considerably.  Driving down Marine Parade at Napier is always a pleasant sight, as the street is lined with Norfolk Pines.

 

Marine Parade, Napier

It was a slow and reasonably winding drive to Kairakau.  We were just coming down the last hill, only a few kms from our destination when there was a load bang, followed by a drawn out tinkling and scraping sound.  What on earth had happened?  We pulled off the narrow road and Robin went to see what was  what.  There’s been a blowout on the caravan, he reported.  We needed to be in a safer position so slowly drove up to a farmer’s driveway off the road, with scraping and clanking noises following us all the way.

Blow out on the caravan tire

We were lucky indeed that several ICA members soon arrived and stopped to help.  The back wheel was backed up onto a makeshift timber platform, with the jack under the front wheel, and Buddy and Reg soon had the damaged wheel off.  We really appreciated their help as they went to work so willingly.

Help has arrived

This is what they found, rather unusual it seems.  The tire blew, and ripped apart the inside rim.  Nobody had ever heard of this happening before.  It seems that Robin drove off the edge of the road, which must have caused the damage. 

The damaged wheel

We went back the next day to check out where this happened.  Sure enough, there was a six inch drop from the edge of the road, and scrape marks as we slowly came to a stop.  Guess we were lucky only one wheel was damaged, and not the two on that side of the van.  The spare is on the van, and now we are arranging to get a new wheel sent down. 

Scrape marks, and cell phone showing depth of drop from road.

Art Deco Festival

Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital of the world.  Following a massive earthquake (7.9 on the Richter scale) on the morning of Tuesday 3 February 1931, fires destroyed most of the commercial heart of Napier. The city was rebuilt in the style of that era and by the end of the decade Napier was the newest city on the globe. The annual Art Deco Festival celebrates the rebuilding of the city after this horrendous time.  Our intrepid group of ICA travelers parked up close to all the action at Napier Intermediate School, just a shortish walk to the city centre.  It seemed longer to those with knee and hip problems, but everyone made it there and back.

Nice to be parked on green grass

The Art Deco Trust puts together a very full programme,  and as first time attendees, everything was new to us.  The highlight to us was the vintage car parade, with 300 pre-1946 cars registered.  We walked through Clive Square and admired a young family dressed up for the day.  It was lovely to see so many getting into the spirit with their vintage styled clothing.

We spent some time in this area admiring these beauties as they awaited the start of the display.  How did the passengers clamber up into those dickey seats and get settled while dressed to the nines, I wonder?

Waiting to take part in the parade

In my opinion, there is nothing more thrilling than a pipe band - the Hawkes Bay Caledonian Pipe band started playing and got my toes tapping and my (diluted) Scots blood racing through the veins.

The Royal New Zealand Navy Band looked extra smart as they started playing before the parade.  The navy played a crucial role in Napier during the 1931 earthquake.  At 10:46 am on 3 February 1931 an earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale shook throughout New Zealand, its epicentre just 15.2 kms north of Napier. The initial shock lasted for 2.5 minutes.  In the city of Napier, buildings and chimneys toppled, roads broke apart and the earth heaved and opened.   Water rushed out of the harbour as the ground rose. HMS Veronica was ‘left high and dry, all the wire mooring lines broke, but the ropes, made from New Zealand flax, held, and prevented her from rolling over on her side.’ Commander Morgan landed rescue teams to assist the injured, feed the hungry and help establish a sense of order amidst the chaos.  Fires were ablaze on shore, power and water supplies were cut and hundreds discovered they were homeless.  Two merchant ships at anchor nearby, the Taranaki and Northumberland placed themselves under naval command and assisted in the relief efforts. 

Royal New Zealand Navy Band

Once the car parade, the bands, and marching girls had moved off, it was time to make our way to see some of the other delights on show.  Ladies walked by dressed in their beaded finery, fancy feather headdresses, and some sporting fox furs around their shoulders.  The gents were also elegantly dressed, braces, hats some in knickerbocker trousers too.  And look what fun this bunch of revelers are having.

That looks like fun

There was a concert in full swing at the Sound Shell, this is free entertainment for the masses.  Seasoned attendees knew to take some folding chairs with them, while others had to stand, sit on the grass, or find somewhere to perch on.

Concert at the Sound Shell

Flying displays by the Warbirds Display Team roared overhead.  We watched as they flew in formation, and looped the looped.  Then one would break away from the group, fly up high, then nose down seemingly in a suicide mission, luckily pulling up in the nick of time and continue on his way.  Thrilling stuff indeed!

Warbirds Display Team

Getting footsore and a little weary we wandered back to the van, stopping to admire some of the Art Deco buildings as we passed by.  There are many, many Art Deco buildings, as this was the style that the city was rebuilt in after the earthquake. 

Art Deco architecture

Later in the afternoon our group had their own Best Dressed competition, and what a lovely bunch we were.  After the judges put their heads together, the winners were announced.  The Best Dressed Couple was Val and Graham, the Best Dressed Lady was Jeanette, and Jim took the prize as the Best Dressed Gentleman.  Congratulations to all.

Val and Bill, and us, Jenny and Robin

All in our finery

Some rain fell on our last evening in Napier, quite heavy for a while so it is sure to be welcomed by the region.  It didn’t stop us sitting outside under the awning though,  and the cooler temperatures were a relief.