Napier is a wonderful town to wander the streets and look up at the tops of buildings and enjoy the Art Deco style of those built after the devastating earthquake in 1931.
Sacred Landscape
Walked the labyrinth at Trelinnoe Park, a beautiful garden on the old coach road between Taupo and the port of Napier.
A time of peace.
Opepe
Took a walk with our friend Jen through native forest to the east of Lake Taupo.
Another afternoon of relaxed reading followed by a walk through jaggy sand and still icy water.
Waikato
We cruised the Waikato River to the bottom of Huka Falls where we headed into the wash for a close up view.
After lunch, and a relaxed read on the sun drenched deck, we strolled the southern shoreline of Lake Taupo where one brave soul had a short, sharp swim in the freezing water.
Maori Meanings
We took a boat out onto Lake Taupo and got close to the glorious Maori Rock Carvings at Mine Bay. They are over 10 metres high and accessible only by water – in our case very choppy water.
The face on the largest carving above depicts Ngatoroirangi a visionary High Priest and navigator of the Te Arawa canoe, which sailed to New Zealand from Hawaiki during the great migration in the 13th Century.
Steam valley
We spent the day wandering through the naturally steaming rivers, pools and lakes of Whakarewarewa Village and Waimangu volcanic valley.
It was hard to pull ourselves away from the fluorescent turquoise of the Inferno Crater.
Aromatic
Geothermic Rotorua creates an atmosphere not to be forgotten easily. Smells and steam abound.
Maunga
Staying near Tauranga on the Omokaroa Peninsula we are again in receipt of generous hospitality.
Today we explored Mount Maunga (meaning caught by the dawn) with wonderful vistas of the Pacific but failed to see the little blue penguins that nest in the area.
Peace
Our hearts are with those caught up in the awful events in Paris and with all who long for peace.
Coast
We left our hostel at 5am and drove up to Cape Reigna, the most accessible northerly point of the North Island, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea in a cauldron of waves.
We walked up giant sand dunes. Exhilarating.
It was great to have a nice long walk, paddle in the sea and picnic in Maitai Bay.
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