05/03/09
Today we set off for Paihia!
Relatively early we wake up, though not from any necessity: Andrew’s internal clocks are still totally wrong and I have smelt fresh toast! I ponder downstairs, bleary-eyed and sniffing hungrily and find Mike pottering busily in the tidy kitchen, putting things away. He is polishing a final plate and greets me, showing me where breakfast components are to be found. He has to head out to go to the Auckland Boat Show shortly, so we are lucky to have caught him. Andrew and I enjoy a leisurely breakfast (toasted rice bread and muesli anyone…? Mmmm. :)) before packing bags for a couple of nights in Paihia.
And we’re off!
It isn’t a great welcome to New Zealand – the sky is overcast and rainy for much of the trip. There are however, a couple of interesting points as well as some gorgeous ferns.
As we drive along we both have a hallucination. At least, I thought I was hallucinating until Andrew looks surprised and turns the car around to go back and have another look.
We weren’t hallucinating.
It’s a field of neon pink sheep.
Yup.
Pink sheep.
A dozen or so of them, grazing happily and sitting around.
And they don’t seem to have run in the rain either…
Must be colourfast wool!
;)
Anyway, we get out at this little sheep centre and take photographs of the pink sheep and mooch around the shop – no woolly vests or affordable jumpers, but interesting nonetheless, and a pleasant and entertaining break from the drive.
Off again, satisfied that we’re not having simultaneous mental issues!
Today we set off for Paihia!
Relatively early we wake up, though not from any necessity: Andrew’s internal clocks are still totally wrong and I have smelt fresh toast! I ponder downstairs, bleary-eyed and sniffing hungrily and find Mike pottering busily in the tidy kitchen, putting things away. He is polishing a final plate and greets me, showing me where breakfast components are to be found. He has to head out to go to the Auckland Boat Show shortly, so we are lucky to have caught him. Andrew and I enjoy a leisurely breakfast (toasted rice bread and muesli anyone…? Mmmm. :)) before packing bags for a couple of nights in Paihia.
And we’re off!
It isn’t a great welcome to New Zealand – the sky is overcast and rainy for much of the trip. There are however, a couple of interesting points as well as some gorgeous ferns.
As we drive along we both have a hallucination. At least, I thought I was hallucinating until Andrew looks surprised and turns the car around to go back and have another look.
We weren’t hallucinating.
It’s a field of neon pink sheep.
Yup.
Pink sheep.
A dozen or so of them, grazing happily and sitting around.
And they don’t seem to have run in the rain either…
Must be colourfast wool!
;)
Anyway, we get out at this little sheep centre and take photographs of the pink sheep and mooch around the shop – no woolly vests or affordable jumpers, but interesting nonetheless, and a pleasant and entertaining break from the drive.
Off again, satisfied that we’re not having simultaneous mental issues!
We are going to stop in Whangarei (pronounced phON-gar-eye), but we have yet to get there – it seems like a long way (Whangarei turns out to be further than halfway to Paihia, which is good) and the road there is twisty and bumpy in places but has quite a few little towns.
It rains, quite heavily for the moment, and shows no sign of letting up. But somehow the steely grey sky matches well with the lush green trees and ferns and provides an aesthetic whole; it’s not too cold after all, even coming from Australia it doesn’t seem too much of a leap – it’s just wetter and needs one more jumper!
We reach Whangarei and find somewhere to stop the car – there is a brief moment of ‘discussion’ about where we ought to go to find a nice little restaurant which is mentioned by the guidebook… Let’s just say that I’m sure that if we’d gone the way I suggested to begin with we wouldn’t have got quite so wet…
;)
Dripping, we stop at the first little café which looks nice… and have some lunch – late lunch anyway. We leave our waterproofs on spare chairs, where they make small guilty puddles on the wooden floor and we thankfully order food. We’re brought our lunch (tasty Panini thing for Andrew and lovely greasy eggs and bacon for me – yum!) and have nice drinks too; the local ginger beer is superb, and organic too I believe.
Thus satisfied, we wander independently around the little craft shop connected to the restaurant. There are various interesting local things: paua shell, fern leaf designs, but nothing particularly of note. Until I spot a rocking horse – it’s a very nice rocking horse… but what catches my eye is the beastie behind it…
A rocking dragon!
He’s perfect, cheeky and simple, and bright green sporting a toning saddle.
When I have a small and suitably appreciative person upon which to bestow such a fantastic gift, I shall be making, ordering or commissioning something very similar!
;)
We also pause in what is quite possibly the best fudge shop in the world… they produce the most incredible fudge, crumbly or creamy, and in flavours to tickle anyone’s fancy to breaking point. The one I like the most is Russian Cream. I’m not sure what’s in it, but it’s light as air, perfectly crumbly, yet still impossibly creamy-tasting. I am an instant fan, and we take away as much as is practical… Yum… Dessert tonight sorted then!
We head on from Whangarei, the fudge and the rocking dragon and press on through the rain. We only have about a third of the way to go, if that, which is heartening.
Though Andrew’s exclamation of astonishment makes me look up only to see a massive pine tree blocking the road. I hop out of the car to see what can be done. There is a lovely smell here, clearly the tree has only recently fallen and the pine essence spreads delicately over the road. We were lucky to have missed it!
Still, it looks passable; it is only the whippy end, about 6 inches wide at the tip, which is blocking this bit, so if Andrew edges over a little and goes slowly, we should avoid any damage to the ageing car… We are yelled at vaguely by a hopeful and impatient lad behind ‘Oi! Just drive over it!’ but, not being our car, I think more haste and less speed may be the way to go. We get across it, and eye a small queue of road trains on the wide side of the trunk… I don’t envy them the bumpy trip, though I suspect with their bigger wheel they’ll be better able to cope. Anyway, tree navigated, we are on our way again.
Andrew takes me on a mystery detour a little later. I am puzzled by this detour as there seems to be no reason to it other than, ‘We’re going to the loo’ and I’m fairly sure we already passed a service station or two on the main road.
Hmmm.
I find out why as we arrive at the loo.
There is a small, squat building nestling amongst the other unremarkable members of the species.
It has grass on the roof and coloured glass and tiles all over the floor and walls. It also boasts exotic bulging pillars. The whole edifice looks like something Gaudi might have drawn whilst chilled on pot.
It is in fact, a piece of artwork by an Austrian gentleman called F. Hundertwasser. He adopted this little Kiwi town as home after he retired, and left a lasting legacy in the architecture. Larger works of his can be found in Austria and elsewhere – it seems that, instead of collecting souvenirs, he left small buildings! It’s very nice though, even though it is only a loo, and the shop next door which sells memorabilia about him gives a little insight into what he was like too. His philosophy is very green and earthy, very thoughtful and some of his quoted aphorisms are a little like a gentler, wiser version of Edward Monkton’s. Interesting chap…
We arrive in Paihia, which is very wet. Pouring in fact. I leave my flip-flops on as they’re a bit damp already and my feet’ll dry faster than my trainers!
We arrive at Centa Bay Lodge, a backpacker accommodation. I approach it with some trepidation after my experience in Melbourne with BASE, though Andrew has been here before, so presumably it’s ok… We drip hurriedly to reception.
It seems, however, when we arrive, that a couple named Darby have already checked in. This concerns us a little, partly because we may end up sleeping in the car, partly because, if they’ve already checked in, then who’s Andrew’s credit card paying for??
Hmph.
It seems that there are genuinely at least two people here called Darby, and that the rooms have been muddled up. Still, we’re not going to complain since they upgrade us for free. Instead of a double with possible en suite, we have a double with definite en suite and a little kitchenette!
This is good – this means we can go foraging for dinner and maybe even cook it, which seems like a good idea. (After Andrew has a jetlagged snooze and I read a bit anyway!) There isn’t a lot in Paihia, but we find a supermarket and some dinner to microwave. It is possible to have tuna, served with creamy, cheesy mash, carrots and broccoli, all done in the microwave. It does help of course if one of the carrots doesn’t turn out to be an evil, bitter monster, but the mash and fish are nice and we have fudge to follow…
Yum.
It’s a lovely little room, with interesting creatures (a pale, transparent-winged moth and a big brown cricket thing are two of the visitors we have), nice décor, a balcony exit and everything one could need. I heartily recommend it…
Anyway, goodnight!
*drawing curtain on slumbers*
;)
It rains, quite heavily for the moment, and shows no sign of letting up. But somehow the steely grey sky matches well with the lush green trees and ferns and provides an aesthetic whole; it’s not too cold after all, even coming from Australia it doesn’t seem too much of a leap – it’s just wetter and needs one more jumper!
We reach Whangarei and find somewhere to stop the car – there is a brief moment of ‘discussion’ about where we ought to go to find a nice little restaurant which is mentioned by the guidebook… Let’s just say that I’m sure that if we’d gone the way I suggested to begin with we wouldn’t have got quite so wet…
;)
Dripping, we stop at the first little café which looks nice… and have some lunch – late lunch anyway. We leave our waterproofs on spare chairs, where they make small guilty puddles on the wooden floor and we thankfully order food. We’re brought our lunch (tasty Panini thing for Andrew and lovely greasy eggs and bacon for me – yum!) and have nice drinks too; the local ginger beer is superb, and organic too I believe.
Thus satisfied, we wander independently around the little craft shop connected to the restaurant. There are various interesting local things: paua shell, fern leaf designs, but nothing particularly of note. Until I spot a rocking horse – it’s a very nice rocking horse… but what catches my eye is the beastie behind it…
A rocking dragon!
He’s perfect, cheeky and simple, and bright green sporting a toning saddle.
When I have a small and suitably appreciative person upon which to bestow such a fantastic gift, I shall be making, ordering or commissioning something very similar!
;)
We also pause in what is quite possibly the best fudge shop in the world… they produce the most incredible fudge, crumbly or creamy, and in flavours to tickle anyone’s fancy to breaking point. The one I like the most is Russian Cream. I’m not sure what’s in it, but it’s light as air, perfectly crumbly, yet still impossibly creamy-tasting. I am an instant fan, and we take away as much as is practical… Yum… Dessert tonight sorted then!
We head on from Whangarei, the fudge and the rocking dragon and press on through the rain. We only have about a third of the way to go, if that, which is heartening.
Though Andrew’s exclamation of astonishment makes me look up only to see a massive pine tree blocking the road. I hop out of the car to see what can be done. There is a lovely smell here, clearly the tree has only recently fallen and the pine essence spreads delicately over the road. We were lucky to have missed it!
Still, it looks passable; it is only the whippy end, about 6 inches wide at the tip, which is blocking this bit, so if Andrew edges over a little and goes slowly, we should avoid any damage to the ageing car… We are yelled at vaguely by a hopeful and impatient lad behind ‘Oi! Just drive over it!’ but, not being our car, I think more haste and less speed may be the way to go. We get across it, and eye a small queue of road trains on the wide side of the trunk… I don’t envy them the bumpy trip, though I suspect with their bigger wheel they’ll be better able to cope. Anyway, tree navigated, we are on our way again.
Andrew takes me on a mystery detour a little later. I am puzzled by this detour as there seems to be no reason to it other than, ‘We’re going to the loo’ and I’m fairly sure we already passed a service station or two on the main road.
Hmmm.
I find out why as we arrive at the loo.
There is a small, squat building nestling amongst the other unremarkable members of the species.
It has grass on the roof and coloured glass and tiles all over the floor and walls. It also boasts exotic bulging pillars. The whole edifice looks like something Gaudi might have drawn whilst chilled on pot.
It is in fact, a piece of artwork by an Austrian gentleman called F. Hundertwasser. He adopted this little Kiwi town as home after he retired, and left a lasting legacy in the architecture. Larger works of his can be found in Austria and elsewhere – it seems that, instead of collecting souvenirs, he left small buildings! It’s very nice though, even though it is only a loo, and the shop next door which sells memorabilia about him gives a little insight into what he was like too. His philosophy is very green and earthy, very thoughtful and some of his quoted aphorisms are a little like a gentler, wiser version of Edward Monkton’s. Interesting chap…
We arrive in Paihia, which is very wet. Pouring in fact. I leave my flip-flops on as they’re a bit damp already and my feet’ll dry faster than my trainers!
We arrive at Centa Bay Lodge, a backpacker accommodation. I approach it with some trepidation after my experience in Melbourne with BASE, though Andrew has been here before, so presumably it’s ok… We drip hurriedly to reception.
It seems, however, when we arrive, that a couple named Darby have already checked in. This concerns us a little, partly because we may end up sleeping in the car, partly because, if they’ve already checked in, then who’s Andrew’s credit card paying for??
Hmph.
It seems that there are genuinely at least two people here called Darby, and that the rooms have been muddled up. Still, we’re not going to complain since they upgrade us for free. Instead of a double with possible en suite, we have a double with definite en suite and a little kitchenette!
This is good – this means we can go foraging for dinner and maybe even cook it, which seems like a good idea. (After Andrew has a jetlagged snooze and I read a bit anyway!) There isn’t a lot in Paihia, but we find a supermarket and some dinner to microwave. It is possible to have tuna, served with creamy, cheesy mash, carrots and broccoli, all done in the microwave. It does help of course if one of the carrots doesn’t turn out to be an evil, bitter monster, but the mash and fish are nice and we have fudge to follow…
Yum.
It’s a lovely little room, with interesting creatures (a pale, transparent-winged moth and a big brown cricket thing are two of the visitors we have), nice décor, a balcony exit and everything one could need. I heartily recommend it…
Anyway, goodnight!
*drawing curtain on slumbers*
;)
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