Photos from our few days in Whangamata

Interesting instructions for use of toilets!
Opening to one of the tunnels.

View from Eyefull Tower.
Narrow gauge railway.
Dotterel on the beach in Whangamata.
Jim at Wentworth Falls.
Wentworth Falls


3 views from Whangamata.

Photos from Launceston, Mole Creek and Cradle Mountain

Following the 2 hour walk around Dove Lake, none the worse of the changeable weather!
Dove Lake, under Cradle Mountain.
Cradle Mountain looking ominous just before the rain, sleet and snow.
Snow on Cradle Mountain!
Mole Creek Hotel - a bit like Lawless's in Aughrim.
Gorge at Mole Creek - area sacred to the local sub-tribe.
Cascade Gorge, Launceston.

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight!

As I type, the sky is red, suggesting more good weather - the past 4 days have been from the early to the high 20s. Seemingly the temperatures are slightly less at home!

We have been trying to make the most of our time here outside Hamilton so the past 2 days have been very busy. We began yesterday with a visit to Matamata, where we were on the Hobbiton site for The Hobbit. We have been sworn to secrecy so cannot delight you with photos or reveal the details of those who will be in the film - sorry! We were auditioned for bit parts and found that our rotundity was perfect - unfortunately our height rendered us ineligible. I was thinking of having a Hobbit party for my birthday but there would be far too many presents to buy! The site of Hobbiton is on a sheep farm - beautiful countryside with rolling green hills - and the tour of the film site included a sheep shearing and sheep show. Jim couldn't face it as he has found the close proximity to escaping sheep a bit of a trial!

We then went to a place called Tirau. This is a small town which was in serious decline untill someone had the bright idea of making creative designs out of corrugated iron - buildings and signs. Photos will follow at some stage. Finally we went to Hamilton Gardens which are very beautiful and interesting. After a hectic day we were delighted to accept an invitation to a barbeque from Chris and Murray, friends of Tina and Chris who stayed with us in July 2009 and in whose house we are at the moment. Their house is only 1km away so we were able to walk - first barbie of the holiday.

Today we went to the Kiwi House in Otorohanga to see birds of all sorts, particularly those indigenous to New Zealand. The Kiwi Bird is really special. It is a nocturnal creature, tailless, its body covered with hair-like loosely attached feathers which give it a shaggy appearance. Its body is cone-shaped, its head small and it has a really long bill. It is just as cute and lovable as a koala. We weren'y allowed photos! We saw lots of other birds and have some photos of them.

We followed this with a visit to Te Awamutu which has a reputation as a rose town - the roses were beautiful and smelt gorgeous! We went to a small museum and learned a little about the Maouris of the region. Then we went to the best waterfall we have seen since we came on holiday. It's called Bridal Veil Falls. Our first view was from the top, then midway, then from the bottom. Getting to the bottom for the waterfall is 55 metres, for us it meant 260 steps, which meant 260 steps up again!!

When we returned home we discovered 4 people trying to ensure that Jim's sheep would stay enclosed - quite successful as only 1 is now roaming and demolishing Chris's vegetables.

Tomorrow we go to Rotorua for spa and cultural experiences - I wonder will the mud be better than in Nha Trang?

Animals in the wild

Wallaby and Joey - seen in Tasmania.
Echidna seen in Tasmania.
Echidna seen on trip on Great Ocean Road, Australia.


Koalas seen during same trip.

Checking out the health care in Hamilton, New Zealand

As most of you realise, Fionnuala cannot go on holiday without checking out the health care. In Vietnam I discovered that it was possible to get antibiotics over the counter - not so here. Let me tell you the tale, of the ingrowing toe-nail! For a week or more I realised that I had a toenail that was not appreciative of confinement in walking shoes. Finally it made its disapproval known in much pus and pain. This morning I realised that attention was needed so we went to the health centre attached to the local shopping centre to be told that I needed to go to the Anglesea Clinic in Hamilton. I dutifully informed Garmin and we were brought to a roundabout where we had to take the 4th exit. Garmin froze just before the exit and left us adrift, whereupon we got lost, no working Garmin, no map and no mobile phone, which was resting comfortably beside my bed, keeping an eye on the sheep which I will tell you about shortly. Jim's sense of direction, of which he is so proud, finally woke up and we made our way back to our home excange. There we tried to access Google maps for directions - security on the computer would not allow us to do so. Jim phoned the Garmin helpline who told us that the equipment we had was antediluvian and suited only for suitable binning. The rental company had much more experience of this machine - wishing to make many more dollars on its rental to unsuspectings like us - and succeeded in teaching Jim resuscitation skills, which, no doubt, he will have to use again. We arrived at the clinic and got an appointment with the Podiatrist for 2 hours hence. We passed the time with a walk around Hamilton Lake (1 hour) despite much protest from painful toe. Podiatrist (very handsome Scottish young man) was manning the reception and required me to fill in an extremely detailed form - it took 15 minutes! Then he took me to the cubicle to examine my toe which, he said,was beyond repair - today! Infection prevented any immediate treatment so I was required to go around the corner to arrange a consultation with a doctor in order to get a course of antibiotics before the podiatrist was willing to amputate toe - sorry, nail, or half of nail! Again an extremely detailed form, consultation with nurse, blood pressure taken - "not sky high but getting there" - temperature normal, consultation with extremely handsome Greek (I think) doctor, prescription for oral and ointment antibiotics and advice about walking etc. Pharmacy was around the corner and just along the corridor. And all this on the most beautiful day of the whole holiday!

We returned to our exchange house to discover that the sheep had broken out of the paddock again and were eating the vegetables again! Yesterday when we arrived here I thought it was great to be in such proximity to the sheep and I still do. Jim is not so keen as he has to chase them back into their abode whenever they escape which seems to be about every time he sits down. The cat, for some reason, has not tried to get in - could it be that it objects to the earthiness of Jim's language as he chases the sheep? Sorry, I have no photos of that because he moves so fast!

New Zealand - with Pittams in Whangamata

- A Dotterel
Jim at the waterfall

Whangamata - pronounced fang - a mawtaw, emphasis on the last syllable, I think. Brian Pittams worked hard on my pronunciation but Jim wouldn't try! Having overnighted close to the airport in Auckland we travelled a very windy road to fang. The road signs told us that it would be twisty for 5 km just after it had been twisty for 10km without notice. Needless to say I found it very scenic - I hope Jim didn't as he was supposed to be concentrating on his driving! On the road we saw trees with lovely red flowers which are called Pohutukawas (Christmas trees, because they are in full blossom at Christmas). Brian and Barbara have been exceptional hosts - food, drink, advice, tour guides, laughs, comfort, everything!

On Monday B. and B. brought us to the start of the Wentworth Valley where we walked for 2 hours to the waterfall - picture of Jim above. We did several other walks through pine plantations to a deserted beach etc. Saw dotterels, tea trees (2 varieties) and a tui bird.

On Tuesday it was pouring rain and we had planned a tour of Corimandel Peninsula so we went! Gradually the weather improved and we were able to take a trip on a narrow gauge railway

Pictures from day at Freycinet Peninsula

On the way down from Wine Glass Bay.
Jim and Fionnuala at Wine Glass Bay.
Wine Glass Bay.
On the way to Wine Glass Bay!
Coles Bay.
Coles Bay.
Jim and Fionnuala at blow hole.
Val and Tony at blow hole
Blow Hole with boy - oops - buoy!
Nesting little penguins - it is not pc to call them fairies - are not keen on flash cameras!