Travel age 33

33
Waitomo to Wanganui


On Sunday we moved on again but there was one more thing to go and look at before we set off. The Rabbit shearing shed. Yes that is correct. This company have over 300 white angora rabbits which are kept and looked after almost like pets. They shear the white rabbits and sell the wool to the public. Some of the wool goes to Napier to a big spinning works where it gets blended with lambs wool and then it comes back to this place as balls of wool for the public to buy. We were introduced to one of the bunnies and she seemed used to being photographed and handled. Heather who runs the shop was very helpful and we talked about spinning wool and how to start and where to get a spinning wheel from etc…. I did buy some angora wool for spinning and I was told to practice on sheep’s wool first and then on try the angora.


		Armed with information we set off again. We came to a fantastic coastal place called Tongaorutu. It was so extraordinary that we stopped and took pictures. Then we drove down to the beach and set off for a coastal walk. I could only go so far but Fergus went all the way and I think the photos say it all.


When Fergus came back we had a simple lunch and we set off again. By early evening we arrived in Onaero. This Holiday Park is run by the Motorhome Association and we enjoyed our two nights stay. The weather was weepy but we did get the chance of a small walk along the tiny beach. It was just a smaller version of the one we visited earlier in the day.


		On Monday we drove into New Plymouth and found a place that had deep-cycle batteries. Our motorhome battery was not working properly anymore and Fergus established that we needed a new one. We found the place and made an appointment for that afternoon. So we travelled into the centre, parked Turbo Snail and explored on foot. The city has a great walkway along the coast into town and it was nice to walk without being in the traffic. New Plymouth is quite big and has everything one wants. I quite liked it but would not want to live there. I found some wool in a wool shop to do some knitting and I am enjoying that very much. At the appointed time we arrived at the battery place and the man installed a new one. Everything works with Turbo Snail works again and we were ready to continue the next day with our travels.

On Tuesday 25^th April it was Anzac Day, a day when the New Zealanders remember the dead of the 1^st and 2^nd world wars. It is a bit like red poppy day in England and here too they sell red poppies everywhere. Everything is closed on Anzac day morning so that everyone can attend dawn call services to remember the sacrifice that was made by so many, many people. It was raining and everything felt dead, gray and wet. We set off around Mount Taranaki (it used to be Mt. Egmont and is a Mt. Fuji style volcano). By lunchtime we arrived in Hawera. The rain stopped and it got a bit brighter. Slowly the shops opened again and life as we know it seemed to return. As usual we dropped into the Information centre to collect a town map and find out where the Holiday Park was. With that accomplished we wandered through the town and stopped for a bit of lunch. Fergus told me that somewhere in this town lives his cousin Bruce with wife Mary. After we settled into our new Holiday Park, Fergus got out the details of this cousin's home he had never met before. Mary answered the phone and a little while later we drove to their house and met them for the first time. They were so pleased to see us and we had a wonderful time with them. As it turns out Bruce and Mary have three children, the eldest, Richard lives not very far from Waipawa and would love to meet us too. While we were chatting Richard called his parents on the telephone and so got introduced to Fergus. It was agreed that we will contact Richard again when we are on our way back to Waipawa. Mary invited us to stay for tea and she ordered Pizza and chips, which were duly delivered. We really enjoyed their company and look forward to seeing them again.

Cloud capped Mt. Taranaki

The main street in Hawera


		Then it was Wednesday and Fergus’s birthday. I was determined to get to Wanganui (where Fergus was born) for the occasion. We did arrive in the late morning and parked Turbo Snail safely and then explored on foot. At the information centre we found out about the river tour and booked ourselves on it for the 2.5 hour trip up the Wanganui River. But first we went to celebrate with a special lunch and a glass of wonderful white New Zealand wine. Wanganui is a lovely city and we liked it much better than New Plymouth. We sat in the autumn sunshine and enjoyed the food, it was delicious. Then we strolled down to the river and visited the boat museum. Then it was time to get on board and enjoy the trip. <------ Our waitress

On the way back down the river there was a great rainbow and in places it was a double bow. A wonderful day and I know Fergus had a great birthday back in the town where he was born.

The next day we also spent in Wanganui. We cycled into town and the explored further on foot. We visited the art gallery which was a bit of a disappointment. However it did have one picture in it which I liked very much. The local museum was almost next door and we learned a bit how the first settlers lived here in the mid 1800’s.

We cycled back to Turbo Snail and planned our next trip….

Braemar Backpackers
it used to be Braemar Hospital
where Fergus was born


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