Katikati - Mural Town and Omokoroa

Katikati was founded in 1875 by Irish settlers.  There are many kiwifruit, avocado and citrus orchards in this area, and the town has many murals painted on the buildings, showing life in earlier times.

A couple of the many murals in town

We are staying the night at a delightful POP (park over property) just a few kms from town.  Such a beautiful property, with fruit and avocado trees in abundance.  Our hosts brought us some freshly picked apples and mandarins to enjoy, how very kind of them.

Our site for the night

Growing in the home garden

After a trip to the local laundromat for never ending laundry duties, we went to visit my cousin Brian and his lovely wife Bev.  It has been several years since we have met up, so it was good to catch on on the the news – sadly   Bev didn’t want her photo taken, so we just came away with memories.

After a leisurely start to the morning, and being invited to morning coffee on the deck with our hosts, we eventually got on our way.  Not a long trip, just a mere 17km to Cooney Reserve in Omokoroa.  We don’t usually do “freedom camping” but this place was recommended to us by friends Andrew and Debbie who live close by.  Such a wonderful peaceful place place to stay with gorgeous views over the estuary.  There is a very popular cycle track and people were coming and going all afternoon.

Such a lovely place to stay

We were invited around to Andrew and Debbie’s home for afternoon tea.  And to say hello again to their two rag doll cats, Beau and Van.  These two had certainly grown since we saw them in the New Year, particularly Beau who is now a very big boy indeed.  And smaller Van looks so cute with his eye patch.  They were having fun hanging about  on their cat tower.  Later on Andrew and Debbie came back to our caravan and we shared a fish and chip meal together it was so nice to spend time with them again and catch up on all the news.

Beau and Van

Early Morning Start, then on to Waihi

Rat, tat, tat, on the caravan door bright and early at 6.30am on Thursday morning, just as well we were up and dressed - Rick and his co-worker were ready to start work on our caravan.  As they towed it around the back of the factory to work on, we had gathered our things, a water bottle, put Gemma in the car, and off we went out into the dark and foggy morning.  There was only one thing to do at this time of day, we went out for breakfast.  Luckily the café in Mitre 10 at The Base opened at 7.00am, so that is where we went.  It gave Robin a chance to try his new Covid Contact Tracing App, and it worked perfectly.  And look, there is plenty of hand sanitiser in store, small ones, medium sized, and great big containers full as well.  We picked up a couple of bottles to keep in the cars.

What to have for breakfast?  Scrambled eggs for me, and poached eggs with bacon for him, followed by a nice hot coffee.  That should set us up for the day.

Early morning breakfasts

It was still early, so we drove down to Lake Rotoroa to sit and relax.  There were plenty of ducks and pukeko relaxing on the lake edge, waiting for the sun to break through and warm things up, no doubt.  Lake Rotoroa was formed about 20,000 years ago, when the Waikato River changed to flow out at Port Waikato It was originally  a braided river, but most of its braided courses were left as lakes once the river cut its present lower level. Peat then dammed and increased the size of the lakes.

Lovely morning at Lake Rotoroa, Hamilton

The work was completed by 1.00pm and we soon hooked up and went off on our way.  Our route to Waihi took us through Morrinsville, Te Aroha, and Paeroa, all interesting towns in their own right, but we didn’t have time this trip to stop and explore.  Then it was an interesting drive through the Karangahake Gorge, a lovely scenic drive indeed.

 

Karangahake Gorge

We were staying for the next two nights at Waihi Beach NZMCA Park, a newish park and one we hadn't visited before.  This park can take 60 vans, so plenty of room here.   The sites are marked out, and water and rubbish facilities are available.   I was pleased that the book swap system was open and available here, so I could  swap my paperbacks  for something new to read.

   

Waihi Beach NZMCA Park

Waihi is a gold town, and visiting Waihi is a chance to marvel at the huge Martha open pit at the end of the town.  Yes, we have been here before, but it is still a sight to behold.

The Cornish Pumphouse, built in 1903, was undergoing restoration so was closed to the public.  The steam engines and pumping equipment was used to pump out 7000 litres of water per minute from the historic underground Martha Mine.  The pumphouse was retired from use in 1913 when the steam power was replaced by electricity.  In the early 1930s the pumphouse was stripped of machinery and left derelict.  Then in 2006, because of land movement under the structure, the pumphouse was moved 300mtr to it’s present site.  The building was put on teflon pads, which slid along a stainless steel plate on concrete beams, moved by hydraulic rams.  Amazing stuff indeed.

Cornish pumphouse

And standing tall and proud at the side of the road is the Poppet Head, an exact replica of those used in the early underground mining at Martha Mine.  It was used to transport men, materials and the extracted rock.  The operator followed bell signal commands from those working underground at the various levels.

Poppet Head

On the way back to camp we went via Waihi Beach.  Such a pretty beach, a bit chilly this time of year,  with a few hardy souls taking to the water with their surfboards.  But where are the waves, we wondered?

Waihi Beach

Rotorua and Hamilton

It was a rather chilly night at Turangi, thank goodness for our diesel heater keeping us nice and toasty.  We used the camp shower block in the morning, great water pressure but the buildings themselves could do with a little TLC.  Then it was time to hook up the van and get on our way, skirting Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, over 40km long and 30km wide, getting a glimpse of Motutaiko Island.  Lake Taupo had a violent beginning, created by a violent series of eruptions which occurred approximately1800 years ago.

Motutaiko Island in Lake Taupo

We decided to take the road less traveled and drove along Broadlands Road via Reporoa for a change, stopping at the Reporoa Memorial Hall and reading the information board which provided some local history.  Reporoa means “long swamp” and way back in 1901 forest planting commenced.  But the township did not get electricity until 1952 – that seems rather late to us.

A brief stop at Reporoa

Then it was on the the Ngongotaha NZMCA Park, just north of Rotorua for the night.  Although the park is now open to members, the meeting room is locked up tight so there was no book swapping going on – a bit of a shame as I had a bag of paperbacks to recycle.  Members must sign on under the awning.  There is plenty of hand sanitiser around, so things are not completely back to normal just yet.

Although not completely full, the site had quite a few visitors staying.  Its good to see caravanners out and about again.  Our next door neighbour was interested in our cat Gemma, and related how he used to own a Birman cat himself, which followed him everywhere like a puppy dog.

Overnighting at Ngongotaha

From our elevated position, I could just get a glimpse of Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island.  The Maori legend goes that Hinemoa, a girl of high birth, loved Tutanakai who lived on Mokoia Island but was forbidden to marry him.  Every evening she sat on a rock at the lake edge, listening to the sound of his flute coming cross the water.  One night she decided to join him, swimming all the way to the island aided by floating gourds, and the young pair were reunited.  The families relented and the young couple lived happily together.

A glimpse of Lake Rotorua and Mokoi Island

My goodness, it was cold overnight at Ngongotaha, and we awoke to quite a heavy frost.  Then the gas bottle ran out, and Robin had to get out of the warm cozy bed to switch the tanks over.  At least it didn’t happen in the dead of night, as it often does.  As we were due to overnight at the Leisureline factory in Hamilton we planned to arrive in the late afternoon, so had quite a leisurely drive up, stopping briefly at Fitzgerald Glade.  Such a pretty drive, traveling through an avenue of trees with the sun filtering through.  I said hello to Barny the donkey, who shares his paddock with a couple of rather handsome goats, and several chooks.

The road to Fitzgerald Glade, and Barny the donkey

There was quite a change in the weather as we got closer to Cambridge, with thick fog everywhere.  It was only 2.00pm and the trees were barely visible as we drove along, making we wonder if the fog had been around all day, and just hadn't cleared.

A very foggy afternoon in Cambridge

Then the sun appeared and we left the fog behind, arriving at Hamilton in sunshine, although a little chilly in the shade.  We were told where to park up for the night, and were put on power, which is always welcome.  It will be an early start to the morning when the workmen come to take the caravan for it’s service.  We will have to take the cat and go out for the day till the work is completed.

Here for the night

There was also another van staying overnight and booked in for some work the following day, and we met fellow Leisureline owners John and Lynn.  They travel with their pretty bird, a Lutino Indian Ring neck called Jamie.  Here he is happily perched on the shoulder of one of the Leisureline staff.

Hello Jamie, who’s a pretty boy then?

It’s always nice to have the occasional meal out when we are traveling, the Golden Dragon does very tasty Chinese food, just a short drive away.  I was a little worried about eating from a buffet, but with zero Covid cases reported now, I presume we will be fine - I made sure I used the hand sanitiser provided on entry and leaving the restaurant.  Hamilton always gets a lot of fog, and it was like driving through pea soup both there and back.

No cooking tonight

It will be an early start in the morning, the workmen usually come to collect the van to work on it bright and early.  We will take Gemma and go out in the car for the day, until we get a phone call to say the work is completed and the caravan is ready to go.

Time to Hit the Road Again

After three long months the caravan was pulled out of it’s storage spot and backed into the car park outside our home.  It was time to get ready for a three week trip away. So where are we off too?  Hamilton to get the caravan serviced, Opotiki to meet up for a ICA Rally, through the Wairarapa for our caravan club rally, and places in-between.

Time to pack the caravan

First stop was at Marton, to drop over my hard working sewing machine for a service.  Then it was on to Taihape for a lunch stop.  Always a handy place to stop, plenty of room for our car and caravan, a coffee cart close by, and a handy public toilet block at the other end of the car park.  We ordered a coffee to go with our lunch in the caravan, and admired the new perspex   screen now in place.   Fitted originally to keep the virus at bay, it will be just as handy to protect staff in the coffee cart from winter coughs and colds, and to keep the chilly winter breezes out.

Lunch stop at Taihape

We passed stands of these golden coloured trees as we drove northwards.  The leaves have changed from green to yellow, and are not far from fluttering down and leaving the trees bare for winter.

Season of change

Driving past the army town of Waiouru, we traveled along the Desert Road, keeping an eye on the temperature gauge as it dropped lower and lower.  Goodness me, it dropped down to 4C.  That’s getting rather chilly.

It’s getting rather cold

Not much chance of seeing “my” mountain, I expected, with rain and low cloud around.  But there it is, at least part of it.  I never tire of seeing majestic Mt Ruapehu when we pass along this road.

All I could see of Mt Ruapehu

We are staying the night at Turangi Holiday Park.  Turangi is a small town on the west bank of the Tongariro River, built to accommodate the workers associated with the Tongariro hydro-electric power development project and their families.

Many of the single men were housed in over 400 small huts, some of which are still on site here at the camp.  It would have been a cold and miserable place to stay in these small uninsulated buildings over winter, I imagine.

Some of the remaining single men’s huts

We are much more comfortable in our caravan, parked up on power, diesel heater keeping us warm, nicely insulated, all facilities we need on board. The temperature is sure to drop right down overnight, but we should be nice and cozy.  And the price is good too, we are taking advantage of the winter Camp Saver prices – a scheme offered by camps to tempt extra business during the quieter months.

Turangi Caravan Park

Off to Himatangi

It’s Queen’s Birthday long 3 day weekend here in New Zealand, and normally we would be away in the caravan somewhere or other.  But our caravan club is not quite ready to rally yet, so we had a virtual rally and decided to drive up in the car and catch up with our friends from the Wairarapa Caravan Club.  They were staying up the coast at Himatangi Beach Motor Camp. 

We called into the office to let them know we were there, and to find our where the Wairarapa Club was camping for the weekend.  Right down the back of the camp, we were told, and there they are.

We were warmly welcomed by Dave and Rae, and invited inside for a cuppa.  Just look at these cute little coasters, won in a raffle, we were told.

There was plenty to talk about, and lots of catching up to do.  Stories of how we all  fared during lockdown.  And remembering previous trips and rallies, as we tend to do when we get together.

Dave and Rae

Then we popped next door to say hello to Pete and Di, also members of this club.  Pete was having trouble with his TV so Robin pushed a few buttons to get it scanning for the satellite, do hope it fixed the problem.  Other wise there will be no TV for them, they will have to listen to the radio instead. Actually, it was nice to go for a drive somewhere different, and catch up with other people, as we are now able to, after being in our own little bubble of two for so long.

As we were so close to the beach, we couldn’t leave without driving down onto the sand to check it out.  There were cars and people everywhere, and away off the coast we could just make out Mt Egmont.  Sadly, much too hazy to get a decent photo, but take my word, it was there.  It was a bit cold for swimming, but people were fishing, wandering about, playing in the sand, and enjoying the fresh sea air to blow the cobwebs away.   Looks like there has been quite a bit of effort put into rearranging the driftwood into piles on the beach too.

 

Himatangi Beach

On our way homewards we drove over the new Whirokino Bridge, and off to the side was the decommissioned 90 year old Whirokino Trestle bridge.  Demolition has already began, but the old bridge will be used for seismic research into the strength of such structures to withstand earthquakes.  Dr Lucas Hogan of the University of Auckland said the decommissioned bridge created an unprecedented opportunity to do “real life” testing into how a long bridge – the bridge spans 1.1 kilometres – behaved in an earthquake. Very topical at the moment, as there has been several reasonably strong earthquakes centred just out to sea in this area  recently.

The old trestle bridge