Spring skiing on a volcano

Although it has been a mild winter, the arrival of spring was still eagerly anticipated.

With youngest daughter home from uni we hatched a plan to get a day's skiing in before she had to go back. Luckily the weather played it's part and the cover came off the Admach, the batteries were charged and the cupboards stocked.

We stayed at the Department of Conservation's Whakapapa Holiday Park where we have visited before. We were lucky to get one of the last sites overlooking the Whakapapaiti Stream. A delightful spot.

Whakapapa Holiday Park

 There are not many days in a season like this one. Fine, not a breath of wind and unlimited visibility. There was never a queue at the lifts and we managed to get more than enough skiing in, perhaps a bit too much for me.

Mt Ruapehu

Molly is a way better skier than me and her only fall for the day was caused by my ineptness at getting off a chairlift with her.
The last time we skied here the day ended badly with Molly damaging her knee in a collision. Back at the cabin that night the lahar warning siren went off. This means you have three to five minutes to get to safety before being washed away by mud, slush and stuff. Whilst deciding how to carry an incapacitated Molly to safety the siren stopped. It would appear to have been a test. Good for the heart that.

Molly

A magic day.

Ngai's View - Far North April 2013

After 22 years of living in New Zealand I finally got to take my lovely Clint around the top of the North Island. We have had a horrible drought in New Zealand and even now here in Central Hawke's Bay after significant rain elsewhere we are still very dry so I was a little worried how everything would be up north but they had some rain before we left and were starting to green up.

We met Clint's Aussie parents in Parakai after they had flown from Brisbane, picked up a motor home and managed to negotiate the North Western motorway in Auckland. It drizzled that night but that was the end of the rain for the whole of our part of the trip.
I am very fond of Parakai and have stayed there a few times now. Love the hot springs, love the atmosphere of the Kaipara harbour. It would be great to spent a few weeks on the water exploring its nooks and crannies. Perhaps some other time.

We headed on up to the Kauri Museum at Matakohe which I had previously visited with my Mum a few years back and had been very impressed with. Certainly a must see for anyone heading up the Kauri Coast.

Standing in the carpark waiting for the rellies a head popped up from around a caravan and said "Ngai?". It was my other Mum Jan's friend Jean from down Nelson way. Small world and we were to cross paths with Jean again on our journey.
A night spent at Trounson Kauri Park was highlighted or lowlighted (clever double meaning there) by a lovely night walk through the park to try and spot kiwis. After a long dark wait we were rewarded by the sighting of.....friggin possums!!
Next day we headed north to Waipoua Forest and paid homage to Tane Mahuta.
No song was being sung to him which was a pity as I believe this is the only way to come into the presence of  Tane Mahuta.
I am at my most New Zealandish (new word :-)) in our native bush. It is here that I feel most in touch with   the most important things in my life - the land I stand upon and my family and never more so than at the foot of Forest Giants like Te Matua Ngahere and Tane Mahuta. A highlight of any trip in New Zealand

Onward we went to the Hokianga, another favourite stretch of salt water of mine.

The Admach as usual cops a lot of attention and Clint is quite happy to talk to anyone about it. I don't mind either but am adverse to people thinking they can just pop their heads in the back any old time!! Getting dressed here people!!

We went all the way up to the top that night. Cape Reinga finally.

Stayed two lovely nights at Tapotupotu campsite just by the cape. A marvellous spot and I recommend it for all visitors.

Heading away from the west coast toward the east means a shift in sand and finally sand that my Aussies can't say is inferior to Queensland sand. Clint was most impressed and Alan and I swam at Maitai Bay which was amazing.

Another fantastic DOC campsite. I just cannot recommend them highly enough. Great value and in wonderful places. Often with enthusiastic rangers looking after them as was the case at Tapotupotu.
Definitely heading south now. Mangonui is a lovely little spot. A young man was catching fish off the path by Clint.

Tauranga Bay was also a great stop. Nice old fashioned NZ holiday spot.

Time for some necessary NZ history for our Aussie counterparts so stops in Kerikeri and Waitangi. Alan was very impressed with the Waka.

Heading south to another of my favourite places Russell. Love its laid back party atmosphere. I think my Molly would love to stay there.

Uretiti Beach on Bream Bay was the next DOC site and Alan, Clint and I had a lovely walk on the endless sand.

And that was Northland done. A bit quick but as we we needing to get back south, necessary. A quick dash through Auckland saw us get to Miranda Hot Springs for a dash around Coromandel before the weather deteriorated and finally I got my next bush campsite and probably my favourite of the whole trip.
Wentworth Valley just south of Whangamata is an absolute gem. I even ventured into the river but bloody hell it was cold. Bird song was everywhere and at night the Ruru were really active. Could have stayed there longer but probably good we didn't as that was the end of the lovely weather and we probably would have been stuck on the wrong side (or right in my case) of the ford.

 And then Clint and I made a dash for home leaving Alan and Shirley to head around the Bay of  Plenty and East Cape in the rain.
And the stars of our trip - New Zealand and the AdMach. NZ because she is home and the AdMach cause she didn't miss a beat, was so comfy, and when Clint applied liberal dashing of CRC between where the chassis meets the box, non squeaky!

I love treading softly on our beautiful land.

Ngai's View - Herbertville

So as we are off to the Taupo bach at 5 Mile Bay this week Clint and I thought we might whip off quickly in the Admach before we head north. Clint wanted me to experience Herbertville so sadvised me we were heading there. I (of course) attempted to sway our trip away from the beach and toward the bush and river at Kiriwhakapapa north of Masterton but he was determined. Next time maybe!!

However Clint and Molly are quite right Herbertville is a little gem. From the village baches which are so locked back into the 60's the way NZ baches should be to the long endless stretch of beach this is a well kept secret for freedom campers.
Come Saturday morning we headed through Waipukurau and off toward Porangahau. Central Hawke's Bay is in the grip of a bad drought at the moment and we certainly saw the evidence all over. Some places are just dust bowls. Quite depressing.
We turned off just before Porangahau and headed down toward Wimbledon. A very scenic road even with the drought making the view brown rather than green. Still quite a few stands of native bush around and some good farmland in the open valleys.
I expected Herbertville to be similar to Blackhead or Kairakau beaches in CHB. Steep drop down into them and fairly enclosed till you get to the beach. However Herbertville is at the end of a long open sweep of valley and just tucks itself in against a little hill. We travelled on further around the beach and stopped in at Pipi Bank Station to ask permission to camp. We settled in after adjusting our camp spot a bit and headed up the beach for a stroll taking in the lovely vista back to Cape Turnagain ( So named because Captain Cook sailed south to this point and then turned and headed north again). Someone had thoughtfully left a homemade sled at the bottom of the sand dunes and we had some fun trying that out. I now have much more respect when I see sportspeople training up and down sand dunes. Jeez it is hard to climb up them.

We spent a relaxed afternoon reading and strolling, had a good sleep until the wind started up around 4am and then packed up and headed hope via Weber.
Another short trip done and dusted. Our next big trip is at the start of April when we head around the top of the North Island with Clint's parents for a couple of weeks. I've been up there a couple of times now and am really looking forward to showing the Aussies some of our NZ heritage spots.