Waikite Valley to Wellington
As l think l have mentioned previously, we did not pre-book anything, the only pre-booking done was the Interislander Ferry , connecting North to South Island & the date booked was Saturday 26th January 2013. So, we had to be in Wellington for the Friday night.
This was to be our longest drive so far, with perhaps the most diverse of scenery. Driving past the vast inland Lake Taupo with the volcanos clearly visible on the southern shore was pretty awesome, as they say.
But driving along the almost straight Highway 1, with the peaks of Mount Doom or in real life, Mount Ruapehu towering above the plains of the Tonganiro National park was truly breathtaking.
As the road slowly wound its way down, the dessert was replaced by farming country dotted with small rural townships, complete with their own cafe culture, remember that New Zealand is the home to the 'flat white', ice cream parlours & sushi bars.
We stopped for lunch just outside Mangaweka, then having done some earlier reading, drove through the town with cameras poised in readiness to snap the DC3 at it's International Airport: - well actually, the old Dak is about to land but it never does suspended for ever in an airborne state. It is now home to the Mangaweka Adventure Company & its cafe.
River gorges & hills gave way to the plains on the approach to Wellington. Fields of Maize, large herds of dairy cattle, unforgetabull named townships like Bulls brought hysterics to the cab, with shops & businesses all enjoying the pun, How many bulls can you find?
Eventually after a fairly long drive, through some amazing countryside we pulled into the waterfront motorhome park**, [ think French Aire] in Wellington. We had heard rumours that there was parking on the waterfront from several NZ motorhomers, they had been unable to give us a GPS fix, but there were signposts [small] & we managed to find the park pretty easily, almost the first parking spot in as you enter the city. The park is run by the council, there are electrics, showers etc & providing you remember your ear plugs this place is the business. Ear plugs you ask? Yes, this is a park is in the heart of the 'place to go' waterfront area, the hobbits, dwarves & wizards marching around the top of the Post Office will not help you sleep!
It was a hot evening here in Wellington. The world & his wife were all making for the waterfront, it was just so very, very hot. Families, office workers, tourists, everyone was out & about, the atmosphere was truly fab! We wandered along the harbour watching boats, buskers & youngsters diving. The pubs & restaurants were all bursting at the seams with happy punters. We joined them, tucking into chicken liver pate with a cognac & fig chutney followed by fish & chips - posh fish & chips l should say.
As the sun slowly sank behind Wellington, we sat sipping our glasses of Pinot Noir hoping that tomorrow's crossing to Picton would be kind.
**Wellington Waterfront Motorhome Park
12 Waterloo Quay
Wellington
Total mileage = 266 miles
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