Our Travels

Wellington to Oakura .
Wednesday we want for a drive through the Hutt Valley. the weather had turned quite cold overnight and the wind was coming from the south. Straight from the Antarctica!
We drove through more hills but once over that it was much flatter and we went to a town called Martinborough. It was wine country.
Drove back to Wellington but missed the turn off and ended going across to the other side of Wellington towards the airport. Drove around a bit then went back to Wellington our accommodation for a pit stop then out to the shops.we were right in the hub of johnsonville and there was lots of eateries so after looking around the shops we bought dinner , a lamb roast to take back to our room so we could just heat it when ready.

Next morning we left around10 and made our way to Wanganui. We stopped for smoko 1 .hr after we left, at a little beachside town and still arrived at wanghanui  not long after 12.30. We found our accommodation and then went for a drive around. It is on the river but also has ocean which looks like it could get a bit rough. Never seen so much driftwood.  We went up to a lookout and they also have an elevator that takes you down to the shops on the other side of the river.
We then went looking for the mouth of the river. There were plenty of people fishing and we saw a couple of guys pulling in some fish at least 2ft long.
Drove around the river area. They had a couple of very old paddle steamers that do river tours but we decided not to bother.
Went to the RSA  for lunch (RSL) and the Brick House restaurant for dinner.

Next day we followed the coast to get to Oakura . Stopped at Patea for look at a very old works along the  river. Before we stopped there the very majestic and imposing Mt Tauranaki (.mt egmont ) came into view. Looking down the main st of Patea with the snow topped mountain at the end was quite something. I would put up a pic but still haven't worked out how.
 The weather was much nicer today. A nice spring day. We arrived in Oakura  and went to have lunch before we rocked up at Rudi  and Verena's house.
We chatted for the afternoon and after dinner went to where their house is being built. It is on a hill with a great view of New Plymouth . They are building an Echo house and it is just the shell and roof for now. The windows are coming from Europe so won't be here till Dec or January.
They have 2 cows that are keeping the grass down and are purely for them to eat at a later date. They have already started a vege patch and planted some nut trees.
Today, Friday, Verena and I went to the shops till lunch and this afternoon we are just chilling.