With Robin's passing, and the sale of our caravan, it was clear that if I wanted to keep tripping around the country I would have to come up with "Plan B". So I have recently embarked on a coach tour traveling up to Cape Reinga. Robin and I had planned to travel up that way in our caravan next Summer, taking our time, probably about 8-10n weeks or so, to rediscover those places we had last seen over 30 plus years ago. Bay Tours 10 day "North to the North" trip seemed quite timely, so I jumped aboard to join in. Here are some of the highlights of my time away.
Bay Tours Coach
It took us a couple of days travel, with stops along the way to finally say we were in the far north, arriving at Paihia. The Fuller's cruise out to the famous "Hole in the Rock", something I had not done before, was a fun day out, and luckily the weather was fine enough for the captain to take the boat through the hole, turn it right around and out the other side. That doesn't always happen, we were told.
Captain gave us a great commentary
The famous Hole in the Rock
A BBQ lunch was part of the deal, held at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island, famous for being the home of American author Zane Grey's fishing camp. Zane Grey and his passion for big game fishing in the Bay of Islands in the 1920s put New Zealand and this area on the map, dubbing it "the anglers Eldorado". His presence is quite prominent in Paihia, and our group dined at the Zane Grey restaurant that evening, making it a nice finish to the day.
Zane Grey's restaurant, Paihia
Another first for me was a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where there was the traditional challenge. A young South American man was nominated to take up the challenge of our behalf, and he did very well. There was a cultural performance, followed by a visit to the newly opened Te Rau Aroha museum featuring the Maori Battalion and other warriors, and a tour of the grounds.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Taking part in the Fuller's 4WD 90 Mile Beach and Cape Reinga tour was real a highlight. Although really only 55 miles or so long, the beach is smooth. flat, and goes on forever.
90 Mile Beach
Then it was on to Te Rerenga Wairua, Cape Reinga, the northernmost point in New Zealand. A very spirtiitual place indeed, the Cape is the departing place of Maori spirits, and where the Tasman and Pacific Oceans meet. It was quite a long steep walk down to the lighthouse, and I found out later that the car park has been moved some way back to where it used to be all those years ago on our previous trip. So it wasn't just the passing of years which made the climb back uphill such a challenge.
Cape Reinga lighthouse
We always need a photo of the sign post
Very calm Meeting of the Waters
The weather that day was fine and hot, not at all windy. Most in the bus group made the walk down and back, and walking sticks were a bonus! I'm so pleased I've been again after all these years.
Staying overnight at the quaint Opononi Hotel was like stepping back in time.
Opononi Hotel
And who can remember Opo the dolphin from the Summer of 1955-56? Opo was "world famous" in New Zealand and there was a song about her played on the radio. She loved swimming with people, tossed beach balls and escorted boats. Opo died suddenly in March 1956 and is buried in front of the War Memorial Hall.
Opo of Opononi
I can remember our caravan club traveling up to stay in the motor camp here in Opononi many years ago. Some of the electric connection boxes were a bit suspect, and we were lucky that our member Ray was an electrician - he made sure they were safe for us to use. Ray was called Speedy, as he was always the first to leave camp in the morning, and the first to arrive at our destination. Just as well for us in this instance.
The final highlight to share is visiting Tane Mahuta, known as Lord of the Forest, a giant Kauri tree in the Waipoua Forest. Estimated to be about 2,500 years old, a girth of 51 ft, and 148 ft high, Tane is New Zealand's largest known kauri tree. A giant of the forest and a spiritual being in his own right, Tane Mahuta is magnificent indeed.
Walk this way through the Waipoua Forest
Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest
On the final day of our trip, homeward bound, there was a problem with the coach engine. Luckily during our lunch stop at Taupo a mechanic was available to check out the problem. Not so easy, it wasn't what the driver thought it was, and the problem was hard to pin down, after discounting several possibilities. So the decision was made to continue on our way to Napier. The coach was very slow going up hills, but performed fine going down hill and along the flat, and we made it up and over the Napier Taupo road. Plan B would have been to send a second coach to rescue us, but luckily it wasn't needed.
What's the problem here?
So how did I manage on this trip away? There certainly were some sad moments without Robin by my side. Although he wouldn't have enjoyed a 10 day coach trip, he would have loved traveling at our leisure as we had planned, revisiting places we had seen before, and discovering new adventures. I'm so thankful we had all those happy years together, and got to see so much of our beautiful country.
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