I must say that my stopover in Waipukurau was first-class value for money. The Thornton Lodge Motel, located on SH2 at the southern outskirts of the township, provided me with all my wanted comforts for just $65 (£23); chuck-in an extra $15 (£5.33) and guests can access the motel's wireless broadband connection for a whole 24 hours. With the management's friendly and helpful service, NZ overnight accommodation just doesn't get any better than this, IMHO.
So now, rather than scoot down to Wellington entirely on SH2, which is the obvious route, I decide to head south via the much less used "Porangahau Road", which is easily accessible from Waipukurau. Then it's more of the same of my experiences over the course of the last couple of days: very light traffic and not a cop car in sight. Excellent!It doesn't take before I arrive at the village of Porangahau, where I spot a signpost for 'Whangaehu Beach', which is not even shown on my road atlas. Gotta go take a look.
So it's up into the hills and beyond, where I'm treated to some spectacular scenery ...
.. before dropping down the other side towards the coast
The deserted Whangaehu Beach ...
With all its cliff erosion .. :o(------------
There are signs of human habitation here; in the form of around thirty or so holiday homes, most of which appear to be 'Batches' (second/weekend - holiday-type dwellings). But as it's a weekday and the summer is starting to draw to a close, there not a sole around today but me.
Someone (probably a brace :o) most certainly has a good time here now and again though
Returning back over the range of hills to Porangahau I chase down and round-up some of the locals .. zingin' to meself ..
.. Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them dogies movin'
RAWHIDE!
:o)
Pretty soon I'm heading off down the Porangahau Road again. But am I?
The coastline is to my right .. and it should be to my left? And the sun is shining down from directly in front of me. In the southern hemisphere that means I'm heading north .. doesn't it? [I'm confused and feeling disorientated]
So I check the road atlas .. again - Yep, there's no doubt about it .. I've taken a wrong turning AGAIN! I soon figure out my true whereabouts and get back on track again, but this time with the sun shining over my right shoulder, just where it should be if I'm tracking in a broad southerly direction to ...
.. my next intended point of interest - the commonly referred to, and roll-off-the-tongue location of [deep breath]:'Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu' (E&OE ;o)
This is the very place that claims to have the longest name in the world. And there was me thinking that this honour went to: 'Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch' in Wales
This board explains the story behind the naming of the place.Methinks that it could be all justa load of ol' gobshite!
I ride on past the little hamlet of Wimbledon, which has no tennis courts .. just a pub and a post box. I then notice, for the first time on this trip, that there are plenty of leaves being shed from the deciduous branches above. The overhanging foliage is just starting to lose its deep green colouring in favour of lighter shades, including some yellowing. Autumn is now surely just around the corner, Down Under .. :o(
Still heading southwest towards Eketahuna, where I intend to re-join SH2, I see a signpost indicating the direction of Waihi Falls. So .. gotta go take a look. The gravel track(s) towards these Falls is much longer than I anticipated, and seem to be taking me back in a general northerly direction. Oh dear!
But by around 2:00pm I arrive at the Waihi Falls and climb down into the ravine to take a look. I guess it has all been worth the effort.But I am now so far off my original track that I decide to keep on going north via gravel and other tar-sealed minor roads to rejoin SH2 at Dannevirke; where I turn left, head southwest ...
.. up and over the mighty Rimutaka Mountain Range with the sun now sinking towards the western horizon, and eventually arrive in Wellington City, in a state of tiredness, by around 7:00 pm.It's been another interesting day of discovery. I shall, no doubt, sleep well tonight.
Route of the second journey around North Island to Wellington City
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