Napier

We have now arrived in Napier after a very interesting drive from Rotoroua, via Lake Taupo, the Ahimanawa mountains and the Waipunga falls. We enjoyed Rotorua and after a couple of days felt quite at home there inspite of the sulphurous smell which could be quite overpowering at times.
We had booked for one night at a recommended Motel but they were fully booked on our first night and so we had to find another one, but both motels have been excellent and they work very well. You have all the facilities you need including internet access, a television which shows the Test Match and - yes- an iron!!

Enjoyed a walk around Napier and then watched a few overs of the test match. Two interesting facts emerged today; Alastair Cook has batted longer in an Ashes series than any other batsman and it’s the longest elapsed time on holiday since Rosemary bought a pair of shoes!

The owner of the motel where we are staying for our first night has been very helpful and recommended a trip to the Mission Winery which is apparently the oldest vineyard in New Zealand. Beautiful old building in a terrific location and after buying a couple of bottles of wine we booked for dinner in their very elegant al fresco restaurant. Just a lovely setting with lots of people clearly enjoying themselves and probably the best meal we have enjoyed since arriving in the southern hemisphere.

This morning the lady of the motel recommended a drive up to Te Mata which was fabulous. It was about a 20 minute journey through the vineyards and orchards outside Napier and the countryside was fabulous. We talk a short walk near the top and then headed back via Havelock North which was probably prettier than most NZ towns and had the most wonderful trees and flowers. The jacaranda in NZ are by far the best we have ever seen and there is another tree which I cannot currently name which I cannot currently name which is out now and is very lovely.

We then checked out a supermarket to see what food ww could buy when we pick up the camper van and will have more of an opportunity to self-cater and then can back via Hastings which has little to recommend itself.

We tried to check in to our motel for tonight but were unfortunately a bit early so we sat by the beach and had some fruit for lunch when he who must be obeyed said he thought it would be a good idea to check out the cafes and pubs on West quay, so we ended up having two glasses of wine and a bowl of chips and ketchup and also kept an eye on the big screen. This was probably the only unhealthy meal we have had all holiday so far.

We are shortly going to walk back to the Quay for a light supper.

Tomorrow we visit my family for lunch in Palmerston North and then hopefully call in on a friend from the UK who is home with his family in Peka Peka before arriving at Wellington for our final two nights on the North Island.