New Zealand Holiday - week 1 - Santa Monica, Auckland to Russell - 27th January to 3rd February
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Getting Down Under and Heading North
Leaving Home in the darkness with rain falling was not the greatest start to our expedition. Things got much worse when we hit the stationary traffic on the M3. Luckily we had left home nice and early so we were not too stressed. The plan was for me to drop TW at Terminal 3 and then take the shuttle from the car depot. There was no time for that. Check-in at Virgin was easy and friendly. We headed for the Virgin Lounge and a very decent veggie breakfast. A comfortable flight followed on a Virgin A350. We landed at LAX on time and immigration went surprisingly smoothly, apart from my confusion when trying too get my paws onto the fingerprint scanner in the correct order. The next challenge, how to get to Santa Monica?
We wanted to go via an Uber Taxi but we had no Internet access in the Terminal. Regardless, we took the Green Shuttle to the pick up point where we managed to logon and order up a taxi. It arrived in a couple of minutes. Great service and we were in Santa Monica in about 30 minutes. We were booked into the Cal Mar on California. The old place had not changed since our last visit 12 years ago! To be honest we were a bit worried about safety and security in town but we were assured it was pretty safe. With fingers crossed, and avoiding any eye contact, we bravely headed into town. Happily, nobody bothered us. We made it home with our porridge and cereal and some pasta for our evening meal. Despite the obvious and unwelcome elements it was actually quite pleasant in Santa Monica.
3rd Street Santa Monica
Cal Mar - back to the future
Forrest with his Chocolates
The Coastal Strip
The main shopping area in Santa Monica was quite smart. The coastal strip was up-market. We made a pilgrimage to the Santa Monica Pier and dropped into Bubba Gump for a Prawn and Salmon dish, very nice.
Everything grows
It was Street Market day and the stalls show-cased the impressive range of products that grow in California.
We had time to kill after lunch and say by the pool and chatted to another guest attending a wedding. Overall, our short stop-over went well. It was a no-brainier to call Uber to go back to LAX for our Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. The chatty driver took us via Venice and Marina Del Rey. We were again impressed and learned a lot about Los Angeles. We were really early at LAX so took advantage of the Air NZ lounge. Quite an impressive building, but the food was horrible. We were pleased to get on the flight where we found the food was much better. The service was good on the 777 but the sleeping arrangements were a bit complex. The staff have to set your bed with a very clever manoeuvre which seems to involve turning the seat upside down! As my turn came an attractive Kiwi hostess whispered in my ear. “Would you like to go to bid”.
27th January 2024 - Landfall in Auckland
We arrived at Auckland early in the morning, but it was already very busy. Getting into New Zealand with its strict Bio Security is a bit nerve racking, but despite our attempts to declare TW‘s beeswax ointment and my knee cream, we were sent through the fast lane into the real world. We quickly arranged our NZ phone Simms and then suffered a slow and frustrating car collection at Budget. We opted to wait for a hybrid that required cleaning rather țhan take a ready and waiting RAV4. With the gift of hindsight it was a mistake but Hey Ho. Eventually, we collected our car and headed to our initial accommodation on the North Shore at Takapuna, The Emerald Inn is just a stones throw from the beach. The owner allowed us an early check-in, which was a wonderful perk for two extremely tired Poms! We had just enough energy for a second breakfast just down the road at the Takapuna Beach Café before returning to our room for a kip. Takapuna is a pleasant town and appears to be quite affluent.
Takapuna Beach
Takapuna was a nice relaxed introduction to New Zealand. So much is like UK but with a South Pacific flavour. After our snooze we made the first of what was to become a ritual trip to the New World Supermarket for the staples of spinach, honey and pasta and, of course, milk, eggs and bread.
Packing up at the Emerald Inn
Whangarai Quay
Lunch at the Quay
Whangarei
Whangarei
The Whangarei Heads
Taurikura
After two nights we hit the road up to the Whangerai Heads. It's an easy run North up the Motorway. First stop Whangerai and lunch at the Quay, as recommended by Georgie, before setting out along the coast to Taurikura and our little apartment just outside the village.
The Shores - Tarapuka
It had all the comforts of Home, including a washer and dryer. What’s not to like. We took a pleasant walk along the coast road, past the lovely wooden houses. Many of them have a rusty old tractor sitting outside to pull their boats into and out of the water.
Taking a rest
For part of the way walked with an English Doctor and her husband and baby. She was on maternity leave from the Whangerai Hospital and was able to give us good info about the area. Our highlight was the walk to Smugglers Bay, a beautiful stroll through farmland to a deserted beach. It was a bit rocky in the water so we didn't take the plunge but otherwise it was idyllic. In the afternoon we drove along to Ocean Beach which was also very lovely but with no shade and with the sand acting like a huge radiator we could not stay for long. The Heads are, for certain, a lovely unspoiled, and pleasantly rural, coastal community.
Smugglers Bay
Taurikura
Russell and the Bay of Islands
The Church in Russell
Every pew tells a story in embroidery
After only two days it was time for us to leave and head North to Russell and the Bay of Islands. We opted to take the more direct route, which included a 5 minute cruise on the Opua ferry. The alternative would have meant a drive along a winding coastal road. A short drive from the Ferry took us to the Fantail Inn where, again, we were checked in early.
Dream House
Russell itself had not changed since our last visit. Lovely wooden houses and a relaxed ambience about the place. We drove over to Long Beach, a favoured spot on our last visit, and found a shady spot and had a dip. Our host at Fantail recommended the Boating Club just outside Russell for drinkies. We found it to be really friendly and rustic. With its great view and keen prices we stayed on for Dinner. I selected one of my favourites, lamb shanks, and TW had a nice steak.
Our Fantail Inn was about 10 minutes outside Russell and we were happy there. Before we visited we were a bit concerned that Cruise ship passengers might swamp the Russell and we saw a couple of Cruise Ships docked in the Bay during our visit. However, we need not have worried as fortunately the passengers mainly go to to Waitangi or play Golf.
Duke of Marlborough Hotel
The Fantail Inn
Urupukapuka here we come
On our way to Urupukapuka
High on a hill at Urupukapuka
The Otehei Cafe
Desert Island
We booked ourselves on a boat trip for the next day and it made a great start to February 2024. We took the ferry from Russell to the island of Urupukapuka. It cost $60 each and took about 30 minutes to reach the island's wharf. We shared the boat with lots of different nationalities. It was a bit of a hang onto your hat situation as the boat as the boat sped across the calm blue waters. We disembarked and took a walk through green fields up to a Highpoint with 360° view. It was a lovely sunny day so we wandered down to Urupukapuka beach for a swim and a picnic. It was such a beautiful beach backed by green lawns with the sea gently lapping on the pristine sand. There is a Cafe on the island near where the boat docks but loud music was blaring out and it was rammed full of tourists. We found a shady table outside, took in the view, and waited for our return ferry.
Urupukapuka was definitely the highlight of our trip to Russell and the Bay of Islands.
A bit fishy at the stern of our boat
Returning to Russell
A great discovery was a beautiful boutique vineyard, the Omata Winery, located quite close to Fantail. We popped in for a drink and a wander. Our walk took us through the vines and then onto native bush down to a viewpoint above the shoreline. We bought a bottle of their Red Wine which wasn't cheap but it travelled well. It was eventually consumed several weeks later in Nelson. Harvesting the grapes at Omata is a fun task for local residents. We were told local people are invited to do the picking and it turns into bit of a party with copious quantities of food and drink.
TW at the Omata vineyard
Beer at the winery
At the going down of the sun in Russell at the Fantail
Heading West on a Staycation Broadhaven South Beach TW found a last minute cancellation to this 2000 Acre National Trust property. Our cottage usually takes six so it is not a cheap deal for just two people. In normal times, of course, we would have headed east for Austria but these are not normal times. The need for an expensive Covid test before we entered Austria made it inconvenient and impractical. Private Covid tests cost between £150 and £200 and there is no guarantee on how quickly you get results. To enter Austria you need the test to be carried out within the last 4 days. So the staycation made a lot of sense. Spending our money in the UK to help protect jobs was also a strong persuader. So with the car laden with our bikes and provisions we headed west on the 240 mile journey to Stackpole. Crossing the Border on the Severn Bridge No Covid test was required but the Welsh did make us go through a sheep dip ...
French Leave - 14th September 2013 Good Morning ride down the Old Rhine Canal Into the Forest - and out of the wind Crossing the border - walking bridge at Huningue over the Rhine Another good breakfast, another shower of rain and a return to the Old Rhine Canal. Got a bit adventurous after a while and turned off to take a look at some local villages. Am afraid I went a bit around the houses in the flat farming country. Found my way back on track near Volgelsheim. The place names around here do not exactly trip off the tongue. A fierce headwind from the south made cycling very difficult so had to get my head down. I needed my Patisserie stop! A diversion through a massive forest added distance but gave respite from the wind for a while. My downloaded Eurovelo 5 course headed for Mulhouse but I did not need to go there. I headed off to Basel. I think I was paying the penalty for not researching this area sufficiently. I could see the big Rhine Canal through the tree...
An Italian Escape With Covid in abeyance and another health issue resolved it was time to head South for a week in Italy. Bologna 17th May 2022 We chose the noble City of Bologna as our starting point and BA from LHR our carrier of choice. We had a shedload of BA credits from all our cancelled flights over the Winter so we even took checked luggage! Really great to be landing in Italy and even better that they did not make us line-up in the 'Other Passport' queue, we were straight through the e-gates onto the Marconi shuttle into the City. Bologna Station is a bit of a maze and we struggled to find our way out. Eventually we found a long overpass that took us to the front of the building and a Taxi to our digs for the first two nights. Coincidentally this was in Via Marconi. I thought the comms pioneer was an adopted Englishman but clearly he is very well remembered over here. Our La Dolla Apartment was really nice and modern, a bit of a contrast to the lobby and stairs but th...
A water theme for the day - 16th September 2013 At Bodensee - the shore of Lake Constance on a wet day Romanshorn to Rothenbach (timer reset after Lindau) I sat at the wrong table at Breakfast at the Anker Hotel in Romanshorn. My table was apparently set for a couple of elderly ladies. The waitress/boss ignored me after that. No offer of extra coffee, or whatever. Took the 9:36 Ferry to Friedrichshafen, home of the Zeppelin. It takes about 45 minutes to cross Lake Constance/Bodensee at this point. It is a car/lorry ferry but with only two cars on this particular crossing plus, of course, one bicycle. It was raining when I set foot on German soil and started to cycle to Lindau, about 28km to the South. Quite a nice route along the Lakeside but a bit busy in the towns. Lots of tourists wandering about with their umbrellas up looking lost. Cycling around Lake Constance is a popular holiday pursuit and I suffered the ignominy of being passed by a large group on e-bikes. Oh well,...
A Day in Winter - 13th December 2012 All quiet at the Advent Market - Daytime in Bad Hofgastein Winter in Bad Hofgastein Bad Hofgastein Kur Park with the Stubnerkogel in the background Bad Hofgastein Kur Park - across the frozen lake Ducks to water The current High Pressure system has brought low temperatures and clear blue skies. TW had the day off and took a few pictures as she walked into town through the Kur Park. In the evening the Advent Market is full of people enjoying a Gluwein or Hot Chestnuts and horse driven sleighs criss-cross the Park. During the day, all is quiet with just a few shoppers and some very hardy Mallard Ducks in the Kur Park. Open Loop - 14th December 2012 On the tracks We can see the Langlauf Loipe (cross-country loops) from our window and we noticed that they had put in some classic tracks. Had to give them a go. Slide and Glide, Slide and Glide. Looking North in Gasteinertal Looking South No downhill today ...
Pancake Day - Pouring in Punakaiki - 18th October Punakaiki Rocks take a battering Piled up Pancakes Hokitika - the clock tower Blown away on Hokitika Beach The wild weather continued. To be fair to the West Coast, if you drive down when a Severe Weather Warning is in place you can expect a little inconvenience. Even more so if the warning is for strong South Westerlies. Our little Yaris was buffeted by these blasts from the southern ocean as we wound down on Highway 6 towards the Pancake Rocks. We pulled up in a Car Park in Punakaiki that was filled with Camper Vans. Not sure how stable they are in the wind. One Aussie said he had seen one earlier that slid four feet sideways on the road ahead of him. They are very popular here though and range from basic people carriers to more sophisticated North American sized vehicles. We are relatively slow drivers and some have no difficulty passing us. Campers are certainly a reasonable option for a holiday here, th...
25th September Day 4 Feugarolles to Castelsarrasin 84km Hunting for snails Crossing the massive viaduct over the Garonne Really enjoying the cycling along the canal. The prevailing wind is from the NorthWest and our heading was South East. Couple that with a smooth surface and only a slight incline and you have a cycling idyll. There are also plenty of towns and villages en route so, really, it would be possible to do the trip several times and get variety by stopping at different places. So anyway, down for Breakfast on another cool day. Six cyclists now, the lead peleton had been joined by les Frères Eccossais, the Scottish brothers. After a jolly meal we headed off. I joined up with the Scots as the pursuivants, the Three Musketeers, in Tour de France terms. The yellow jersey had already left and we did not catch him. This wasn’t grape country. The fields alongside the canal were planted with a myriad of different crops including tobacco, kiwi fruits (what a...
Heading Northwards towards Picton. From Geraldine we skirted around Christchurch heading for Amberley a small town to the North and our staging post on the way to Kaikoura. The Teviot View Motel was very comfortable and the hosts were friendly. We had a wander on the beach at the end of the road. It was not a paddling day on Amberley Beach. The weather was still a bit wild after the recent storm. I ventured for a hair cut in the Barbers next to the Supermarket. I had to wait a short time but the other customers were friendly and one recommended we go to Ohau Point near Kaikoura to see the seals. Turned out to be an excellent tip. Amberley has a very fine Pie Shop which, of course, we visited and picked up lunch. Kaikoura Kaikoura is a well-known tourist spot. Despite a significant earthquake a few years back, the damage isn't readily apparent. The seabed rose during the quake, it seems. We spoke with a local woman who endured the terrifying event. Whales are the main draw here, w...
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