NZ - Week 2

A couple of hours touring the Zion Wildlife Park and some very close encounters with big cats. Getting up close and personal with a couple of tigers. Someone went in to touch the leopards - but you had to pay $200 each for this so we didn't.

Met up with Christina in Auckland. She was my lodger a few years ago then moved back to NZ with her husband Mark. We'll be catching up with him later in the South Island. Christina's working in Auckland at the moment so took us out to St Hellier for supper and then a tour of  Auckland at night. Very pretty with all the lights. Lots of big boats in the harbour (and I do mean big - some of the masts were about 70 metres high). Not sure if this was an Americas Cup one as it was in the place they usually moor.   A lovely wooden one as well.

Off to Napier to spend a few days with Dee (Christina's sister) who I used to work with in Mobil days. Lots and lots of classic cars around.  Older places flying overhead as well whilst we watched the parade on Saturday. Over 250 cars and motorbikes chuntering around the town.  I greatly coveted a beautiful blue Bentley whilst Dee was taken with an Auburn. Chris liked the superchraged Bentley racer and the two racing Lagondas.

Max the kitten was very entertaining whilst we were there. Only a couple of months old and very sharp teeth/claws. We both have a few marks on our legs where he liked to climb up. Dee and Hannah both wear jeans!

Took the scenic route (gravel road in places and also lots of roadworks where no real road at all) across the centre of the north island heading towards Taihape - the gumboot throwing capital of the world. Slightly cooler weather here as it has been very hot and humid all week.

A couple of goods trains rumbled past us (and also during the night). We seemed to see quite a few trains over a couple of days.

We decided to go north again and headed for Mt Egmont (or Mt Taranaki whichever you want to call it). Drove up above the treeline and went for a walk from the plateau. Stunning views across  from one side to another - you can see the sea on both sides. Continued down and then around the mountain. Visited Dawsons Falls - attractive waterfall with lots of steps on the way down (and up!)
Drove back south again as heading for the Interislander Ferry on Friday and wanted to spend some time in Wellington. Spent the night at Himatangi Beach - best loos/showers so far. Spotlessly clean and recently refurbished. Made some of the others seem quite basic.

Spent this afternoon looking round the Te Papa museum in Wellington. A fascinating place - loads to see - I recommend it if you visit Wellington. We went on a couple of the rides - a submarine one and an adrenaline sports one. Both were in motion simulators and the latter was quite energetic. There is even a bush park outside with a glowworm cave and dinosaur fossils for children to dig up. Loads of information on volcanoes and earthquakes together with the history and people of NZ.

Sitting in the sun writing this - a beautiful evening in Wellington on a very busy campsite - we had to queue to get in. Off to the south island tomorrow - ferry mid morning. Hope the winds will have died down a bit by then as it looked a bit rough as we passed the harbour earlier.

More soon (and I will upload more photos)....