Week 2 - Day 11 - Mt Maunganui

Spent the afternoon walking the boardwalk up to Mt Maunganui. The beach was a wide expanse of sand. Lots of shells wash up on the beach. Infact further along the whole beach was shells.

Alan and I will have to go back next week to walk the beach and climb Mt Maunganui. The waves at the beach were huge.

Lots of surfers were out playing in the waves. No one was in swimming...the water is too cold. The wind off the Pacific was strong. We all have rosy cheeks from the afternoon.

Something interesting I have noticed in the grocery store is the pet food. At first I was amazed at the variety of ground meats New Zealanders eat. Then with closer inspection I realized that it was the fresh cat and dog food section. The section was a full cooler about one and half meters wide with at least twenty choices for both cats and dogs. The meat is packaged in plastic tubes, like I sometimes see as bulk hamburger.

Alan picking oranges in the back yard of the holiday home.

With food as a continued theme, I cannot believe the variety of gluten/milk free foods that are available. I even had a hamburger in a bun, in a restaurant, that was regularly on the menu. I have found excellent breads, cookies and cake as well.... no dieting here.

Week 2 - Day 9 - Aukland Museum

Spent the day at the Auckland Museum. The Maori history is well done. In fact I spent so much time on that floor, I didn't make it through the whole museum. Couldn't resist this fine example of rug hooking. It is a hanging of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Another area I explored was the exhibit "Wonderland - The Mystery of the Orchid." That was well done with hundreds of examples of orchids from around the world, maps from around the world and art work. Kew Gardens in England believes there are over 500 orchids yet to be discovered.
The Maori carving is very intricate. Here are some examples. The house is a ceremonial house that the chief would store special and meaningful, personal items.

I identified two birds we have been seeing, but had nothing to write their names down - will have to rectify this problem.

Had a long day finishing it with a swim in the hot pool and then a turn in the spa pool. That was very relaxing.

Week 2 - Day 8 - The Kiwi Cart!

Had an interesting day today. Visited a Kiwi farm. Learned how much healthier kiwis are for you than orange juice. I tasted golden kiwi juice and had to buy some, it was super. We had a tour around the farm on a Kiwi Cart. That was quite informative. One kiwi plant produces 1500 kiwis each year.

We went to Rotorua to the Museum. That is quite a beautiful old building. We learned about the eruption Tarawera Mountain in 1886. It is such a shame that the pink and white terraces no longer exist. Then we saw a movie about it where the seats moved with the volcanic explosions which really gave you the feel of volcanic activity. (source for post card - Early New Zealand Postcards, 30 Sept 09, www.jeffpylenz.com)

Another interesting feature of the museum was that it used to be a health spa or bath. The bathtubs in the ladies section were made by Royal Doulton. In the basement they also had mud baths available. People came from all over the world to "take the cure".

Outside of the museum you can walk foot paths around the natural sulphur vents and mud holes as well as hot springs. It was unbelievably smelly. This path is along the edge of lake Rotorua. There were small islands covered in nesting birds. I couldn't believe the number of black swans. I counted over forty.

Week 2 - Day 7 - Arrived at Bay Of Plenty

On our way to Tauranga we stopped off for coffee in Cambridge. Outside the information building was this life size bronze of a mare and foal. It is so life like.

The drive was quite interesting today. It was like a miniature trip across Canada. Throught the Raglan hills down to the plains through Camberidge and back into the mountinous area of Tauranga.

Tauranga has a great expanse of sea shore with lovely white sand beaches. Quite a change from the jet black iron sands around Raglan.

This holiday home is fantastic. It truly is like staying in a spa home. It is so new, clean and warm! There are camelia bushes in pink, white and red, along with lemon trees and palms growing around the back garden. There are cyclamines flowering unders the palms. Out front they have geranium bushes. Oh, and we ate Tangelos straight from the tree!

We have a lovely patio with a barbecue, heated pool and spa jacuzzi. They had a well drilled that is 400 meters deep to tap into the hot water below. It heats the house, pool, jacuzzi and the bathtub in both the holiday home and the main home.