Time to Head Home

The four day ICA Christmas Rally had come to an end, so it was time to head home.  We decided to have an easy slow trip, and allow three days for our homeward journey.  Our first overnight stop was back to Ngongotaha, in Rotorua, passing along the very picturesque road past Fitzgerald Glade.  There is a nice cafe here, which we have stopped at previously, but not this time. We were aiming to get to Rotorua for lunch time.

Nearly at Fitzgerald Glade

The Ngongotaha NZMCA camp is always very busy.  It fills up quickly during the afternoon, and empties out again each morning.  Of course, some campers stay for days at a time, but we were amongst the overnighters.

Ngongotaha NZMCA Camp

Something obviously caught Gemma’s attention, probably a bird or two,  and she peered intently out of the window.  No, she is not allowed to chase birds, although she would dearly love to.

Let me out, Mum

Driving through Taupo the next morning we saw many cyclists taking part in the Annual Around the Lake cycle race.  This race draws contestants from all over New Zealand and overseas and as many as 5000 cyclists take part each year.  There are quite steep hilly parts of the road for the contestants to deal with, this is obviously a race for the young and fit.  We noticed several rest and water stations along the way for the cyclists to stop at, plus an ambulance or two parked up, just in case medical help was needed.

Around the Lake Race

Once passed all the cyclists, we traveled on to Turangi, another nice roomy NZMCA camp.  Not so many stayed here overnight.  Fish and chips from the local shop were on the menu for our dinner, and then the rain and the wind arrived overnight, and shook the van around. 

Our next night at Turangi

Driving along the Desert Road the following morning, I was thrilled to see Mt Ruapehu in all it’s glory.  This isn't always the case, depending on the weather,  so we stopped for a photo opportunity.

Mt Ruapehu

It was just as well we had stopped to take a photo when we did, and several minutes later the low cloud had rolled in, completely obscuring the mountain.  The temperatures dropped, and we drove through the mist.  By the time we reached Waiouru the weather had cleared.  Our looked forward to coffee break didn’t happen, as the coffee cart was closed!

Pea Soup weather

Our final stop of our trip was at the Marton NZMCA Park, a very pretty little camp indeed.  This used to be a former local council run camp in earlier times, and we remember staying here   many years ago with our caravan club.  We enjoyed the gifted trout fillet for dinner, I wasn’t quite sure how to cook it so pan fried the fish in a little butter – delicious.

Marton NZMCA Camp

From here it was about another 100km to home.  As we drove slowly past Otaki we saw the multitude of patched bikies who had gathered here for the funeral of a high ranking gang member  There was a heavy police presence on the road, with a helicopter flying overhead to keep an eye on the hundreds gathered. 

We soon made it home, unpacked, stopped for lunch, and put the washing machine on.  That’s it till our next trip away, and that’s coming up fast.

Three nights in Blenheim

Where to from Koromiko?  We spent the next three nights at Blenheim, at Waterlea Racecourse CAP (charges apply parking).  Although not an NZMCA camp, it is only available to NZMCA members, at $12.00 per night, with a maximum stay of four nights, but is not available during race meetings.  We have stayed here before in the past, and remembered that parts of the grounds were flooded and Robin had to use our 4WD to pull out a motorhome which was stuck in the mud.   As it was raining heavily the day we arrived, we took care to keep away from the suspect areas. 

After choosing a site, settling in, and paying our camp fees, we had a quick lunch then set out to find a laundromat.  May as well spend a couple of hours doing the laundry on such a wet day, we reasoned.  The laundromat was busy, and one customer came in and commandeered five large washing machines!  She did mention that her machine at home had broken down and a  new one was not available till well after Christmas.  Seems she will be looking forward to many more visits while waiting for her new machine to arrive.

Then we remembered there was a Coupland's bakery close by – always exciting as the nearest Coupland's to us at home is many miles away up in Hamilton.  Purchasing  a Kiwi Cash Key from the information Centre was next.  We don’t need it at the moment but well may do so as we travel around.

The rain had departed the following day and I climbed up the grandstand to take a photo or two.  We are there in the crowd somewhere.

View from the grandstand

Our next door neighbours were keen e-bikers and had a little kiddie cart to take their Jack Russell terrier Tammy with them on trips.  Tammy was securely buckled in, and away they went for a morning ride.On their return they mentioned they had ridden 60km, that’s a long ride indeed.

Ready for a ride

A flick through the local visitor guide gave us a few places to check out.  “A Marlborough institution, the Burleigh Gourmet Pie is an absolute must-taste”.  Robin is always a fan of a great pie, so we drove out to Renwick to check it out.  The place was so busy, customers arriving, then departing with armfuls of pies.  One lady had gathered up about two dozen frozen pies, and told me she was a regular customer and liked to have a good supply in the freezer.  We decided on frozen pies as well, two for tea that night, and the other two for the freezer for a meal later on.  We chose chicken, leek and mushroom, and belly pork pies.  When we called in, the list of pies already had “sold out” stickers on several varieties, it is such a popular place.

Burleigh Gourmet Pies

Lunch in a classic English Pub “where you can be sure of a warm welcome” sounded like fun, so we stopped at the quaintly named Cork and Keg.

Stepping inside, we were warmly welcomed indeed.  With thick ceiling beams, a large brick fireplace, and plenty of brass and jugs everywhere, the Cork and Keg certainly had an English country pub ambiance.  We placed our lunch orders, and sat out in the beer garden, sheltered with plenty of sun umbrellas and a large sun shade.

Our lunches arrived, popcorn shrimp for me, and buffalo wings for him, and Robin indulged in a large glass of Guinness.  I’m not really a beer drinker but I can remember having the occasional small Guinness myself when we traveled around Ireland some years ago – it seemed the thing to do at the time!

Lunch at the Cork and Keg

What’s that sign we spotted?  Fresh strawberries were for sale – just what we needed.  Not only that, but strawberry snow freeze ice-creams too.  The car park was packed, and happy customers sat outside licking their ice-creams.  And if they were anything like me, trying to finish the ice-cream before it all melted and ran down my hand.

That’s a very big strawberry!

Hedgerows Strawberries is a very large hydroponic operation with a huge glass house that seemed to go on and on. With thousands of strawberry plants growing happily inside.

Hedgerows Strawberries

Driving around this area we passed vineyard after vineyard.  The Marlborough region is very well known for producing fine wines, and there are many well known labels produced here.  For wine lovers, there are plenty of wine tasting tours available. 

 

Vineyards galore

While driving along we spotted a couple of these interesting signs on an undulating roads.  Be careful in bad weather!

Drivers beware

Drop-In Rally at Foxton Beach

Catching up with Bill and Val on Friday, we made our way to the Drop-In Rally at Foxton Beach School.  Club members Don and Pamela were already on site and Dereck and Dot arrived soon after.  So we are all parked very close together and have made a nice little area to it in.  The wind is rather blustery so it is good to have some protection from the wind.  We made good use of our seating area, seemed to spend most of our time there, and in the evenings too.

Being a drop-in rally, it is all very laid back.  Vans keep arriving and slot into spots, while others leave to travel on elsewhere.  People make their own fun, meeting up with friends, and  New Year's Eve is the big night here at this rally.

Some of the vans in the school grounds

School art

Robin met up with former workmate Bruce who as more than happy to show off what he had under the bonnet of his car.  It’s always interesting how the blokes will congregate and have a little look-see at anything mechanical.  Bruce and his wife Rae, also have a Birman, a big Blue boy called Misty.

What’s under here then?

Dave and Rae from the Wairarapa Caravan Club are staying nearby and came visiting on their electric bikes.  They certainly looked the part in their helmets and high-viz jackets.  It was so nice to catch up with them again.

One afternoon we heard music playing which sounded suspiciously like a Mr Whippy ice-cream truck.  It wasn’t Mr Whippy at all, instead it was a close relative, Mrs Cool.  We joined the crowds and lined up for a chocolate dipped ice-cream.  What a mess I got myself in, the ice-cream was melting faster than I could eat it.

Ice-cream time

New Years Eve rolled around, and we decided to have our own little party under the awnings.  Some of the campers had gone up to the hall early and set up their tables and chars to reserve their places, so there didn’t seem to be any spare room.  We would put in an appearance at the hall just before midnight we decided.  THere was plenty to talk about as we sipped on bubbly, and shared some supper together.

Our very own New Year's Eve party

Then at 11.45pm we walked up to the hall to join in with the other revelers to welcome the New Year in.  The DJ played my favourite song, “Ten Guitars” so I sang along with that as we watched the hall full of dancers.  The count-down started, and there were calls of Happy New Year resounding around the hall.  The evening concluded with a spirited version of Auld Lang Sine, and Now is the Hour.

A hall full of dancing campers

We  wish all our readers, bloggers and friends  a Happy New Year and may 2019 be a good year for your all.  Full of good health, fun and friendship, and happy travels.

Rottnest Island

Overnighting on Rottnest Island gave us two days to have a good look around, and we wondered if we would  get to see those little animals we had read about, the quokka.  We were picked up bright and early from the hotel by the courtesy coach and taken down to the ferry terminal to board the Rottnest Express.

   

The first part of the journey took us for a scenic cruise along the Swan River and past where all the rich people live.  This area is called Millionaires Row.  Several dolphins were following the boat, swimming in the wake, and treating us to energetic leaps out of the water.

Where the wealthy people live

Leaving the Perth skyline behind us

We arrived at Fremantle to see huge container ships in port, most of them seem to be car transporter ships or container ships.  And by contrast the “Fremantle Rainbow” is a piece of modern sculpture made from shipping containers.

Fremantle Port

Then it was across the open sea to arrive at Rottnest Island.  The island is 11km in length and 4.5km at the widest point.  No domestic cars are allowed, only service vehicles and a few tour buses.  It is a bikers paradise.

Rottnest Island was named by Dutch explorer William de Vlamingh in 1696, meaning rats nest, mistaking the quokkas for huge rats. A quokka is a marsupial the size of a hare or domestic cat, and as with other marsupials, such as the kangaroo and wallaby, the females suckle their young in a pouch. Quokkas are generally nocturnal and spend most of the day sleeping and resting under shady bushes and dense vegetation. But on the island they can be seen opportunistically feeding during the day, and are not the least bit shy of people.  It wasn’t long before we saw our first quokka, there were plenty around the small shopping area close by the wharf.  With their dark brown fur and long hairless tail, it was no wonder that they were confused for a large rat at first sight.

Our first quokka

After booking into our accommodation for the night, it was time to board the bus for our “Discover Rottnest” tour.  The bus had to carefully drive past crowds of cyclists who were exploring the island by pedal power.

The island is rugged and windswept, with great fishing, we were told, and lovely clear water.  Dolphins live in the waters, and whales come by on their annual migration.

Our guide stopped the bus so we could see a huge osprey nest built on a rock a little way out in the sea.  We could just make out a little head sticking up, it is Mum sitting on eggs perhaps?

Osprey nest

This imposing Wadgemup Lighthouse was built in 1896, with a 45,000 candle power revolving first order dioptric light.  This was the last lighthouse in Australia to become fully automatic, in 1986.  Wadgemup is the old aboriginal name for the island and means “place across the water where the spirits dwell”

Wadgemup Lighthouse

Another quick stop a little further along to show us a sleeping quokka.  They sleep all curled over.

Sleeping quokka

The next stop was at the West End Boardwalk, nice easy walking over recycled plastic, which needs very little maintenance, we were told.  The wind was ferocious, and the coastal views spectacular.  With the crumbling rocks and pounding waves we were warned not to veer off the pathways.

At West End Boardwalk

Damian, our tour guide, who also worked on the ferry, was very informative and kept us entertained the whole trip. A great way to see the island and find out some of the history.