We were at the bus pick up point early in the morning and the bus arrived a couple of minutes later. Our host and her brother made sure we got onto the right bus after saying our goodbyes. Still sleepyhead we started on our next leg of our journey.
First stop was at Hamilton where we have to change bus, it was a quick stop just enough time for the loo and grab a sandwich to go.
Waiting for the bus in Hamilton.
The next brief stop was at Waitomo a place famous for its cave and glow worms.
Caves Visiting.
The ride on the bus was interesting and comfortable. I was also getting quite good at taking our own photos.
Comfy Ride!!!
We arrived at New Plymouth round about past 1:00pm and we stopped right in front of a shopping mall. There was a 30 minutes break here for us to grab some lunch. On the menu it was roast meat burger and it was really good.
Oops!!! Forgot to take photo earlier!!!
Our ride - No need to get naked to get on.
We pass by a beautiful little town with Mount Taranaki in the background. It is a volcano!
Quaint little town.
Closer...
Mt. Taranaki - Beautiful asleep!!!
A change of bus in Palmerston North and next stop is our destination which is just about an hour or so away. When we arrived our host was waiting for us at the bus stop where the bus dropped us. My wife first corresponded with her as a pen-pal when she was 10 and she came to visit us some 30 plus years ago. It was really good to see her again…really glad we made the trip
Her place is just round the corner, about 3 to 4 minutes drive. We had a wonderful welcome by her children.
Wonderful, Warm, Welcome!!!
Our host had a good laugh when we told them that we came from Auckland via New Plymouth because that is a real long way.
The long way!!!
If the bus had taken the normal route, we would had made the journey in less than 8hours via Rotorua and Taupo.
The normal way.
Anyway we were happy that we get to tour the whole of the west coast of North Island.
Our host had booked us into a very comfortable and beautiful bed and breakfast place which is just down the road so that our stay would be very comfortable.
The bed & breakfast place.
The hall way.
The bedroom … very comfortable.
Living area....cosy.
Fire place.
Nice.
March 12th ,
Every morning we will have a chat with the owner of the B&B over breakfast and it was always interesting. She is a very capable and wonderful person.
Sharing a joke!!!
After breakfast we walked to our host house which is just a couple of minutes down the road. It was nice walking the cool summer like weather and it was supposed to be autumn.
Cold!!!
Our host’s house.
Our very first time seeing lemons on a lemon tree, it is the neighbor’s tree.
Lemons!!!
Our first destination of visit today was Norsewood. This is where the Scandinavian migrants settled in New Zealand according to history. We were excited because there was a small cheese making factory operated by a family and was open to visitors. They still practised the traditional way.
Getting informations.
With the host’s son and 3 trolls!!!
No, not Larry, Curly & Moe
A Game?
A typical early settler’s home.
"Our hubbies would love these tools!"
A bacon slicer ... I want!!!
My friend the blacksmith.
Can you make me a bacon slicer?
A replica church of the early days.
My wife’s long lost friend!!!
We were disappointed that the cheese factory was no longer in operation because they were not able to keep up with the health regulations requirement with modernisation, what a shame.
Later that day we went for a jungle walk for a look see and met a group of soldiers on training taking a break.
New Zealand soldiers taking a break.
With the boss soldier.
Almost dried up river bed....we drank them all .. hehehe!!!
The jungle walk.
Nice!!!
Tea time…
After tea we went to the town with our host to have a look see while she did her errands and marketing.
Along the main street.
The varieties in the supermart even though in a small town is just wow! The fruits were great!!!
To the supermart.
The neighbourhood High School.
The school office.
There were lots of these flowers all over New Zealand which is a weed and mainly are blue in colour. Googling it I found the name and it is Agapanthus, African Lily or Lily Of The Nile.
Blue is common.
White … a bit rare.
Upon returning to our host’s house we discovered that their neighbor also planted raspberry.
Shhh …. I pluck one … yum!!!
More weed flowers.
My dinner, home cook … yum!!!
March 13th
Today is the day we make a trip down to Wellington for a night on our own. Our host made all the arrangements for us, yes we were really spoilt. We had to go to Palmerston North to catch the Intercity bus. While in Palmerston we met up with our host eldest daughter who is working there.
Giant fans along the way.
With host’s eldest.
The ride to Wellington was about 2 hours and was uneventful. The pastures were all brown due to the draught that they were experiencing.
Upon arrival, we made our way to the hotel by bus and were surprised most of the buses were powered by electricity.
In Wellington.
Bus? … Tram? … Yes, Bus.
The Bay where we stayed.
After checking in we headed straight to Te Papa Museum which is nearby within walking distance.
Te Papa Museum
We were greeted by the trolls from The Hobbit towering over everyone.
Larry, Moe , Curly?
Sea life.
The Colossal Squid was also on display but it was almost impossible to take a photo of it because of the way it is being preserved and displayed.
Skeleton of a pygmy blue whale.
Taking a break along Bush City.
Man made cave in Bush City.
“Come again, ya!”
After that it was free roaming in the city, had dinner and a long walk along the sea front along Oriental Parade.
Taking a break along Cuba Street.
Dinner – A Vietnamese pancake.
Waitangi Park with Mt. Victoria in background.
Boat house along Oriental Bay.
Oriental Bay.
It was a nice walk but the sun did not perform a sunset at all, daylight just disolved into night. When we got back to the hotel and the room was hot, yes it was hot and the windows could not be opened. It felt like we were already back home which we did not missed the heat at all. Suspected that the heater was on so look for a switch to turn it off but there was none. Took the phone, made a complaint and they denied that that the central heater was on because they did not have central heating. Anyway the person on the other end offered us a fan to cool down. When the guy came with the fan, the fan was real tiny, it looks like a joke. We ask him to check the ventilation vents which he concluded that it was strange. I check it again and I guess they turn it off when we made the complaint. Anyway ………
A joke of a fan!!!
Wellington water front by night.
March 14th
Wellington water front by day.
After breakfast, we check out and we told the girl that the room was very hot. She apologized that someone could have turned on the central heating. Since we were never ever going to stay there again, we just let it be.
Since it was a beautiful morning, we decided to walk and explore our way to the railway station to catch our bus back to Dannervirke. We decided to walk along the water front and we had no plans to visit any particular place, just take it as it comes!
Retired ship propellers.
Port Nicholson.
Port Nicholson’s story.
Need a push mate?
Hmmm…Reflection on an Ancient
Past. 
Reflection on an Ancient Past
explained. 
Taking a break with the birds.
The Honey Girl.
Willis Street with Old Bank in background.
I’m Woman!!! I did this!!!
Lunch time.
Roast Beef … no sauce
Kiwi Cappuccino
Pie.
Join us?
This whole building is made of wood.
Parliament is in my hands.... The Beehive!!!
Welcome to Parliament.
The Railway Station.
We were a little early in reaching the railway cum bus station and just had to wait awhile before the bus arrived. It was a smooth ride back to Palmerston North and our host’s husband with their second daughter will be picking us up, he works there and she goes to school there. Palmerston North is about 40+km from Dannevirke.
We took a different route back to Dannevirke to visit one of the Wind Farms.
Wind Farm from a distant.
Getting closer.
Just right underneath it!
One for the album.
Enjoying the breeze at Te Apiti Wind Farm.
Next Rotorua.
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