Goodbye Napier Hello Opotiki

Arriving in Napier on a Monday is not a good idea. Most shops close early and some don't open at all plus when I arrived it was also a national holiday. Add to that staying in just about the worst backpackers made the experience quite unpleasant.

However the stay was redeemed by a great tour of boutique wineries and then a formal tour of the city to see the Art Decor architecture.

A planned four day stay was cut short to make the six hour drive to Opotiki on the Western Cape of North Island for an idilic few days right on the beach.

See photos below of the winery cellars and the backpackers at Opotiki Beach House.

Blue Skies and Art Deco Architecture

After a brief overnight stopover in Taupo and temperatures of 28 degrees plus arrival in Napier - Art Deco city.

Rather disappointing at first but a wine tour of Hawkes Bay wineries soon sorted that out. Will be doing the historic town trail tomorrow.

The Grand Tour Continues

With the flying part of the holiday over it has been time to catch up with more Ex Pats now fully fledged Kiwis and carry on with our travels to The Coromandel Peninsula and the East Coast down to Napier.

The weather is great if a bit windy at times and with some quite cool days but today, back at Lake Taupo, the high is expected to be 28 degrees BUT the burn factor starts whenever the sun is shining!

I haven't done any major adrenaline rush excursions but taken in the breathtaking scenery (and we haven't even got to South Island yet).

The photos below are again just a selection of what I haven taken on my main camera although if you have access to my FB page there are more.

They include the Marina and beach at Whitianga with a stay in a backpackers painted blue and yellow, Hot Water Beach where you can dig in the sand to make your own spa pool, a delightful cafe in an out of the way place and the storming Huka Falls.

The Flying Tour

I have taken plenty of photos using my main camera but here is a flavour of the trip by plane from North Shore to Taurangi, onto Rotorua, Taupo and back to North Shore.

The weather has been poor and the trip became limited but flying along the coast and over the strange volcanic landscape has been worth every minute (and dollar). I even managed a time at the controls.

The flying part of the trip has now ended and I am spending a few days with friends in Whangaparaorora before heading off to the Coromandel.

Cloudy, cold and rainy even in New Zealand

Big weather change so the planned four or five days of flying around the coast if North Island in a four seater is on hold until the weather is back to normal.

Pics show the plane and the alternative occupation - eating in a garden centre, Kiwi style.

A Trip to Waiheke Island - Sunday 13th January