"Reloaded"



Some spectacular vistas of New Zealand

Some spectacular vistas of New Zealand
These are just a tiny sample of the views I experienced during my last visit to New Zealand in late December '05 and January '06. So it is easy to see why I am drawn back to this beautiful country ...

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Back to Middle Earth .. and ..Golden Bay Wonder

Tuesday, February 27th



Up at six o'clock this morning to board the Interisland Ferry, which leaves Welli docks at 08:25am. Must be there for check-in an hour earlier (07:25am)

I go outside my excellent, and now very familiar, B&B for an early morning breath of [eh-hem] fresh air!

Warren, my host, is ever true and faithful to his and Bev's [his wife's] time-honoured tradition of seeing each and every one of his guests off the premises to wish them farewell, no matter what time of day it is.

Without doubt, the Oriental Bay B&B is THE best place to stay anywhere in the country, with THE most charming hosts. It's just like 'home-from-home' .. except the majority of us, I suspect, simply couldn't afford to live in such luxurious accommodation.

Back to South Island .. for my third visit within the past 14 months, under an overcast but brightening sky

Arriving there three hours later at 11:30am, I again turn right just outside the Picton Ferry Terminal and ride around the twisty Queen Charlotte Drive towards the City of Nelson and thereafter to Richmond town, where I turn right onto SH60 and head northwest towards the Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay beyond; ultimately heading for the township of Takaka.

The ride up and over the Takaka Hill (aka the 'marble mountain' - because of the marble stone outcrops) was spectacular to say the least. The tight and sweeping twisting curves up and 'over the hill' provided me with some of the best and most challenging motorcycle riding since arriving in New Zealand back in early December last year.

I arrive in Takaka Township by around 4:30pm, but alas there is no obviously suitable accommodation displaying a 'Vacancy'’ sign. So I turn around and head out towards the nearby coastal Pohara area, where I check into an interesting central-European-style B&B, which at first view at least appears to cater mainly for Swiss, Austrian and German guests; all offered to naïve patronage like me with communal 'Naturally Composting Toilet' facilities - complete with buckets of sawdust (WTF?). Well, I did say that it was an 'interesting' establishment!

Despite my rather odd overnight lodgings, I must say that I am convinced that motorcyclists have just gotta love Golden Bay and especially its wonderful Takaka Hill gateway.







Strange but True Place Names

Monday, February 26th

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