@travellingwiththeateam

Back on the move today, with our ferry crossing from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South.

As ever we were down at the terminal nice and early, so were able to park up and go for one last look around Wellington for an hour or so before the boat departed. Being close to the parliament buildings, we decided to take a short walk around and sneak a peak before the seat of power.

On our way we walked past the train station and a statue of Gandhi, not what we expected to see but a recognition of the strong links between NZ and India.

Onwards from there we saw one of the few Xmas decorations up on the roadside. Being late Spring here it doesn’t feel at all like the festive season, which may explain why….

Opposite the parliament building was the large Victorian styled Town Hall, which was a real juxtaposition to the modern avant garde ‘beehive’ structure adjacent.

You can do tours of the parliament and we had planned to go when we first arrived on Thursday, however we could only get one space so had to pass it up. We did hope to sneak in today, but it was clear being a government building this wouldn’t be possible, so we had to satisfy ourselves with a brief walk around the entrance and parliament shop and foyer.

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We decided instead to do a self guided tour of the exterior of the building and the adjoining Edwardian parliament building and Victorian library that run in a line.

Up close you can see why the parliament building has been compared to a beehive in its circular design, perhaps not one of the prettiest structures but certainly one that you will remember for being different.

Next door, is the original parliament building constructed in 1922, after a 6 yr build extended due to the lack of manpower post the end of the WWI.

We walked along the line of the three buildings, all constructed in different periods, with individual themes, but somehow they sit well together and complement each other. Perhaps it’s a metaphor for NZ progression through the last 150yrs as it’s moved from being a British colony to an independent country with its own culture and traditions.

Before we knew it, our ‘cruise’ to Picton was coming to an end and we were arriving at the harbour. Fortunately we’d avoided any rough seas, something this crossing is famous for. We did hear from one of the other passengers that not long back, one of the higher sided vans on the car ferry had been blown into the ocean after some very choppy waters. Thankfully for us our car was still there and within 30mins we had found our way to Blenheim, and a very pleasant B&B close to the town centre.

With a couple of complimentary drinks waiting for us in the fridge of our room, we tucked into a sparking white wine, before walking into town for a dinner at a local curry house.

Tomorrow we have booked a couple of wine tasting sessions at Cloudy Bay winery and Wither Hills, both recommendations from the owners of the B&B. After that we have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic coastal drive down to Kaikōura. This is supposed to be one of the standout coastal drives where you get the chance to take in the turquoise clear waters on the left and the rolling hills to the right.

We were back on the train today, with a short 25min journey into Wellington from our B&B in Silverstream for an organised walking tour of the downtown.

This is something we try to do whenever we arrive at a new city, as it helps to introduce the place and gives us a bearing of what to see and do from a local’s perspective.

Thankfully it was a sunnier day than yesterday, although still a little fresh in the windy parts of downtown Wellington.

Our local guide was keen to highlight that the easiest way to discover the ‘heart and soul’ of Wellington was on a walking tour.

We got to know Wellington’s waterfront, downtown area, and parliamentary precinct. Over the next couple of hours we were introduced to a slice of the city’s history, key sights, the landscape, along with the culture of Wellington’s vibrant inner city.

As we’ve experienced from other parts of New Zealand, they have increasingly embraced the Maori history and culture, in this case a Maori gate, close by to the parliament building.

The Beehive (Māori: Te Whare Mīere) is the common name for the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. It is so-called because its shape is reminiscent of that of a traditional woven form of beehive known as a skep. We thought it reminded us of a tiered birthday cake!

From there we passed a number of memorial statues recognising NZ contribution in the two world wars.

The architecture in the city, is a real mix, with a number of original Victorian buildings still standing, alongside more modern office and retail spaces.

Wellington has a bohemian feel to it, being a relatively modest sized city and we came across a number of murals, street art and creative hoardings.

Our last stop on our walking tour took us past more heritage buildings on to Cuba Street. Here there are eclectic shops and a wide selection of bars and restaurants which we first visited when we arrived the day before.

Again we stopped at Cuba Street’s iconic Bucket Fountain. An unofficial symbol of the capital, the quirky, interactive sculpture has splashed many a visitor snapping a picture in front of it.

With the walking tour finished, which sadly wasn’t one of the best as it was the guide’s first tour (!), we carried on our own improvised adventure, taking in the city’s cathedral, more murals and a small Victorian Arcade where the Xmas decorations were out in force.

We then made our way to one of the city’s most iconic experiences, Wellington Cable Car that leads to some of the best views of the capital.

For over 120 years, the Cable Car has trundled up and down the Kelburn hillside. Ferrying commuters, students, and tourists between Lambton Quay, Victoria University, and the Botanic Gardens. The five-minute trip is a definite must-do!

To add a little extra to the journey you pass through small tunnels lit with red lights that create a little theatre to the whole experience.

Once at the top it became clear that we just take a moment to enjoy the views over a glass of NZ rose!

After a short break, we headed to the Wellington Cable Car Museum. Housed in the original winding house, the museum extends over three floors. It tells the story of how Wellington’s most iconic transport system developed.

From there we entered Wellington’s Botanic Garden (ki Paekākā) which encompasses 25 hectares of specialised plant collections, colourful botanical displays, a protected native forest, and views over Wellington City.

The clever planting and walkways helped to make the gardens feel even more special as we slowly descended back down into the city.

Continuing with our cultural enlightenment, we popped into the Portrait Gallery to view one of the first local NZ artist Toss Woollaston Figures of Life exhibition.

With the days sunshine returning, we decided to go for a walk along the waterfront and on to the marina and city beach.

Whilst the sunshine was welcomed, it still felt a little cool, although this didn’t appear to stop a number of locals taking a dip in the harbour waters.

After an enjoyable day in Wellington, we returned for a relaxing evening in our comfortable B&B where we popped open our Rose from the previous day in Martinborough wineries.

Tomorrow we are heading to the ferry terminal for our 4hr crossing to the South Island and then on to Blenheim, where we will be continuing with our wine tasting as well as getting to explore the Marlborough region.

After a wonderful night’s sleep in our Palmerston North B&B, we left in the rain and headed south in the direction of Martinborough, a wine growing area in the South Wairarapa District.

Our drive took us through the tip of the Tararua Range, where the landscape was awash with wind turbines running close to the main highway and towered over us as we drove by.

After a 90 min journey we arrived in the quaint town of Martinborough. Though small in size, it was huge in style, with a range of fabulous wineries all within a few miles radius of each other.

Our first winery stop was Luna Estate. There we sipped 5 wines from their winery, starting with a Sav Blanc, a crisp glass of Rose, an Eclipse Chardonnay, finishing with the local favourite, Pinot Noir, one Eclipse and a Blue Rock Pinot Noir, as we looked out towards seemingly endless rows of vines.

After our first stop at Luna Winery, we moved next door, a vineyard just 300m away called Poppies, which by a happy ‘coincidence’ was run by a lady called Poppy!

Poppy kindly met us in the tasting room and ‘an environment created to explore the imagination of the past’, her words not ours!

Simply put, they make wines they love and have created the environment we loved to to drink Poppies wines in.

Poppy kindly shared her veracious love of wine and we (Andy only, as Michelle was now driving) made his way through six small glasses of Sauvignon Semillon, Riesling, Rose, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and a Gewürztraminer.

After enjoying all six varieties, we plumped for our tried and tested love of Rose and purchased a bottle for further wine tasting over the next few nights!!

After our 3hr interlude in Martinborough for lunch and wine tasting, we made the final hours drive to our latest B&B in Silverstream, half an hour north of Wellington.

We got lucky, it’s a great place (with a washing machine) and within 30mins we had washed and dried all our formerly dirty clothes and we were back to full cleanliness!

We then made our way into the centre of Wellington to check out the waterfront and then on to Cuba Street for dinner, as well as a visit to the famous bucket fountain. Our drive into the city, ran alongside the railway and we spent part of the journey ‘racing’ a local train.

Once at the waterfront, there were a number of old Victorian Harbour buildings, alongside former storage sheds now being used by local designers for Maori street art.

The views out across the bay were glorious, sadly though the weather wasn’t and the bracing wind made for a cool early evening.

With our hunger pains rising, we wandered up Cuba Street and found a great local restaurant bar, catching the happy hour by a couple of minutes.

Post dinner, we returned down to the waterfront and checked out the ferry port where we will be heading on Saturday morning when we sail to Picton in the South Island.

With the wind up, the rain returned and we ended up running to the car to avoid a soaking. Once in the dry, a rainbow fittingly came into view on our drive back up to the B&B.

Tomorrow we have booked our customary walking tour gig in Wellington, then plan to check out the Cable Car & Cable Car Museum for stunning views of the city, as well as a visit to the Wellington Art Gallery, before finishing with Friday’s Night Market.

An early morning run for Andy, who is back to his daily 10k addiction.

With today having originally been our planned 25k hike along the Tongariro Crossing, we decided to drive down to Palmerston North earlier and see what was on offer over the 3hr/150 mile journey.

It soon became clear why our hike had to be cancelled, as the clouds and rain set in at the lakeside, we can only imagine how limited the visibility and heaviness of rainfall in the mountains above us where we had been due to be walking.

We drove for almost 2hrs before the rain showed any signs of stopping. In fact it was only when we were 25 miles north of Palmerston North, at a place called Stormy Point Lookout, that we were able to stop and take in the rolling countryside.

We decided to stop in a place called Feilding, a picturesque rural town with a well established farmers market and a randomly a Coach House Museum.

We had a wander around the town, which was eerily quiet and headed to the edge of the downtown to have a look around the Coach House Museum.

Outside the main entrance to the museum, were various murals of days gone by, however when Andy got to the museum entrance he was surprised to learn that it was closed for lunch!

Just before arriving in Palmerston North, we drove past the wonderful outside Manawatu Gorge, with forested hills and native bushland. Sadly the rain had returned so we decided to carry on with our drive and make our way to the city centre.

We first made our way to tonight’s B&B, dropped off our bags, before going to explore the city centre.

The city sits adjacent to Manawatu River and Victoria Esplanade, a sprawling park with a duck pond and rose gardens.

Our walk back along the river offered up views out from the city towards Keeble’s Bush, a forest on the hillside looking down on the city.

After looking around the city, which in fairness doesn’t have too many ‘standouts’, we picked up food from the local Woolworths and returned to the B&B for a quiet night.

Tomorrow we have a 60 mile drive south to the capital city, Wellington where we have booked two nights before we get the ferry to the South Island.

In the South Island we plan to see Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown along with visits to Milford Sound and Franz Josef Glacier to name but a few.

We woke today to another sunny day and as part of our latest B&B stay at Geyser Lookout, a glorious breakfast of fruit & muesli, followed by bread, cheeses and cold meats helped down by hot coffee and tea. It just doesn’t get better than this. If you’re ever staying in the Rotorua area this is the place to stop at.

The owner recommended we pay a visit to the Maori village close by, where the locals live within the geothermal area and make use of the heat for cooking and bathing.

Whakarewarewa is the legacy and home of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people, who have been sharing their unique way of life with visitors from all around the world for over two hundred years.

Our guide was great and a real showman and helped to explain the maori history in the area and how they adapted to the environment and make use of it even in today’s world. Still steaming their food in holes in the ground and bathing in the waters once cooled.

Entering Te Whakarewarewa Valley felt a privilege and gave us a real experience of the unique Māori culture and heritage of the village. The Living Māori Village is owned and operated by local residents, providing an intimate look into day-to-day life.

The locals have been able to trace their ancestry back to the Te Arawa people who first occupied the valley in 1325, with generations of guides becoming pioneering leaders of tourism in New Zealand.

We got to get up close to the boiling hot pools and bubbling mud, and learnt how the residents utilise and respect the ever-changing forces beneath their land.

The Jurassic park-like landscape provides regenerative powers as we found ourselves face to face with nature, hot spring lakes, mud pools and native manuka bushland’s.

We followed the guide along the trails combining views of native ferns, edible plants and glimpses of unique geothermal landscape, including colourful steaming lakes and thermal pools that can only be viewed at Whakarewarewa.

After our informative 90min tour with the local maori guide, we read a little more about the history of the guides themselves, a number of whom had met former Kings and Queens of England as well as other dignitaries from across the world.

Our plan today was to head down to Lake Taupo in readiness for staying in Turangi Bridge and tomorrow’s hike along Tongariro Crossing.

We had been recommended this 25km walk as it enabled you to get up close to extinct volcanoes and to see amazing views of the Taupo region.

Heading down to Lake Taupo we stopped at Huka Falls. Here we got to witness the power of the Waikato River as it crashes through a narrow gorge to create the impressive Huka Falls.

There was an option to enjoy a jet boat ride to the falls, but we took the more sedate option of a scenic walk along the river trails.

Onwards to Lake Taupo, we stopped just outside the town to look out over the lake from a viewing point and take in the mountains that looked out in the distance. It was here that we planned to do our 25km trek starting early in the morning.

Sadly within 30mins of arriving at Taupo we got an email to say the Tongariro Alpine Crossing would be closed tomorrow and Thursday due to worsening conditions and a lack of visibility, which was such a shame and meant we were a little uncertain as to our next move.

After rearranging our nights stay, we opted to be on the waterfront at Lake Taupo and went for a long walk to enjoy the last of the days sunshine and to grab some dinner.

The lake is truly stunning and we can see why people are drawn to the area due to its natural beauty and the array of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking and swimming.

We plan to stay tomorrow morning in and around Lake Taupo and go for a walk at lower levels where the weather shouldn’t be as bad. From there we have a 2hr drive on to Palmerston North where we have booked a nights stay at a charming B&B aptly called Charm on Chippendale!

We woke to a cloudless morning in Hamilton, and enjoyed a fantastic cooked breakfast at our Italian styled villa B&B.

We had a last wander around the property and took in the views before we jumped in the car and started our drive south to Rotorua.

On our way, we stopped at a quaint town called Kowhai, where we found a restaurant that reminded us of home.

Walking along the main high street we came across some sheep related structures with shops inside. All a bit random but super to look at and a great reason to stop to take a photo.

When we arrived in Rotorua we headed straight to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. The main attraction was the Lady Knox Geyser. It’s named after Lady Constance Knox, the second daughter of Uchter Knox, 15th Governor of New Zealand. The geyser is induced to erupt daily at 10:15 am by dropping a surfactant into the opening of the vent. Eruptions produce a jet of water reaching up to 20m and can last for over an hour, depending on the weather. Unfortunately we arrived at 11am so missed the star of the show and instead marvelled at the park area with several paths taking you around the various geothermal sites across a 5k route.

A geyser is essentially a spring with an intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam. The formation of geysers is fairly rare, and is caused by particular hydrogeological conditions that exist only in a few places, notably in Rotorua.

As today was a little warmer and the sunshine appeared, we were able to take full advantage and spend a good few hours enjoying the sights and smells (!) that emit from this geothermal environment.

Some of the colours that have been created due to the combination of the minerals and gasses produce the most amazing deep yellows, greens and oranges.

The scenery on the walk included eruption craters, marginal forestry lands and a whole range of views.

The amazing colours from the champagne pool behind us was a result of the deposit of certain minerals suspended in the water and the retraction of the sunlight. The pool varies in colour being brighter on sunny days and darker on duller cloudier days.

The walk eventually took us to Lake Ngakoro and Mount Tauhara. The latter is a dormant volcano over 1,100m above sea level. The name relates to a Māori legend and means isolated and alone.

The Taupo Volcanic Zone is one of the most active volcanic areas in the world. The zone is about 250k in length and between 30-80k in width. There are 17 major hydrothermal fields located within the zone.

The Sinter Terraces and the Champagne Pool began to draw visitors in the late 19th century and it soon became known as the ‘New Wonderland’.

After an enormously enjoyable morning, we returned to the centre of Rotorua for lunch and took in the centre of the city and the various street art designs that exist.

After a late lunch we went for a walk around the Blue Lake (Tikitapu) where we did a 6k hike through stunning bushland.

The hike was a wonderful way to experience the stunning scenery and the quiet serene surroundings.

From there we dropped into our latest B&B stay and left our bags before returning to a nearby woodland where we got up close to the incredible redwoods.

The Redwood trees we saw and walked past were huge and exceeded over 100ft in height. Many are over 100yrs old and the resulting forests felt like we were walking in our own jurassic park, such was the scale of the trees and the overgrown ferns.

We had a wonderful 90min walk around the redwood forest before the evening sun disappeared and we then returned to our B&B, via a stop at the local Woolworths to take on supplies (beer & wine!) and some food for dinner.

Tomorrow we plan to head to the nearby Māori village that sits within the geothermal area where they use the heat to cook and bathe. From there we will be driving on to Lake Taupo and catching some more waterfalls and breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding scenery.

After leaving Paihia around 8.30am we stopped a couple miles south for a breakfast coffee stop to enjoy the last views out over the Bay of Islands.

As breakfast stops go, this was one of the best views we’ve seen helped by the early morning sunshine and clear skies.

With over 200miles to travel today, we drove the first quarter of the journey, before stopping at the Whangārei Waterfall.

The falls are a picturesque 80ft high waterfall that cascades over basalt cliffs. 

There was a gravel walkway through the native bush, that led down to the falls and alongside the river. Despite the rain we made our way down the path and got some great photos of the waterfalls from various spots.

It truly was a beautiful scene and so surprising to find so close to the centre of Whangarei.

After taking in the waterfall scenery, we walked down the edge of Hatea River amongst the bush land brimming with ferns and kamahi (southern palm tree).

As the rain got harder we cut short our walk and returned to the dry of the car, in the knowledge we still had a further 3hr drive down to Hamilton, our stop tonight.

We then drove on to Waipu, where we stopped for an early Sunday lunch. As it turns out this part of New Zealand has a strong Scottish community, as a result of migration of over 500 highlanders who sailed over in the 1850’s via Nova Scotia in Canada.

When we headed to Waipu Cove Beach, we found even more Scottish references with a large murial celebrating both the Scottish migration as well as the earlier arrival of Māoris to the area in the 13th century.

An interesting story about two very different, but now integrated groups that make up the population of Waipu.

Like many a visit to Scotland’s beaches in November (we were in fact in St Andrews this time last year), the wind was blowing hard and we struggled to walk along the beach for more than a few hundred feet before the sand storm forced us to turn back.

Our final 90min drive took us down to Hamilton and our B&B stay in a stunning hillside location.

With a few hours of daylight still left, we decided to visit Hamilton and take a walk around the picturesque lake in the centre of the city.

Following our walk we made our way to The Bank Brasserie on Victoria Street for some homespun food. Michelle went for lamb, whilst Andy Mexican enchiladas. We then returned to our fabulous B&B for a glass of vino on our balcony.

Tomorrow we have a cooked breakfast to look forward to, before we drive the 90mins on to Rotorua where we will be indulging in some hot mud pools and getting to know all about the Māori culture and geothermal activity.

An early morning start with our cruise around the Bay of Islands starting at 8.30am from Paihia harbour.

Our boat took us on a scenic cruise through the islands, including the famous Hole in the Rock and also some amazing sea life.

The Bay of Islands are an enclave encompassing more than 140 subtropical islands, It’s known for its unspoilt beaches, big-game fishing as well as Maori cultural artefacts.

It’s also home to the 19th-century whaling port of Russell, our first stop on the cruise whose waterfront promenade is lined with remnants from its days as the country’s first colonial capital.

We then sailed on for 30mins along the jagged coast to the infamous Hole in the Rock, formed over hundreds of years of erosion creating a channel of 12m wide and 15m deep.

On our way to the Hole in the Rock we ‘struck gold’ when we sighted three Orcas, two males and one female in a family pod. We then spotted a shark, but within a minute the pod had worked together and the shark had become Orcas lunch. The picture below shows the shark’s fin in the Orcas mouth. Such an amazing sight to see, especially as they are rarely spotted and never before with a shark kill.

Our captain explained that navigating through the channel was extremely challenging and dangerous due to changing currents and the narrowness of the passage. As he finished his sentence the boats engines roared and within a matter of a few seconds we were safely making our way through the gap and out the other side.

Looking back through the gap we were amazed that the boat, with a passenger count of well over a hundred had managed to get through. A big thanks go to our captain who performed the act with aplomb.

Further down the coast we passed a lighthouse, now unmanned and automated which helps to keep ships safe to this day.

On returning to Russell we came across a pod of bottle nosed dolphins who were, we were told hiding from the Orcas in the main bay.

So incredible to see these beautiful intelligent creatures up close in their natural habitat.

After the excitement of seeing the Orcas and dolphins we docked on the island of Urupukapuka for an hour lunch break providing time for a bite to eat and a short hike to one of the nearby bays. The island scenery was spectacular and unspoilt and we got to see some great views once high up.

We then returned to Urupukapuka harbour and our final destination a return to Paihia.

As our boat returned to pick us up, we came across the return of the bottle nose dolphin pod.

As we said goodbye to the small island the dolphins followed and the next thing we knew they were jumping through the waves – what a sight!

This behavior is believed to be both playful and practical. The bow wave created by the ship provides a sort of “free ride” for the dolphins, allowing them to move through the water with less effort. This can be a form of play for the dolphins, but it also might help them conserve energy.

After a fun few hours on our cruise they kindly dropped us back at Russell, the oldest township in NZ to allow us to explore some more.

Before going for a walk we stopped at the Marlborough Arms for a pub lunch of fish and chips and a local ale.

After a hearty lunch, we went for a hike up to Flagstaff Hill where the views out over the bay were magnificent. Made even more special as the sun had come out and the clouds had subsided.

Russell, formerly known as Kororāreka, was the first permanent European settlement and sea port in New Zealand.

As at the 2006 Census it had a resident population of 816, an increase of 12 from 2001.

Now much of the town is set up for tourists with a great array of restaurants, bars and shops along with the first church in New Zealand.

Our walk took us past the oldest church in the whole of NZ dating from 1836.

After a wonderful day, we caught a ferry back to Paihia around 6pm and headed for a bite to eat before walking it off on a coast walk.

We are back in the car tomorrow as we head south, first to Whangarei to see the waterfalls and caves, before we drive on south of Auckland to the city of Hamilton.

This morning we said goodbye to Auckland and got a bus transfer back to the airport to pick up our car hire for the next 31 days.

After navigating our way out of a wet and windy Auckland morning we headed north. Late morning we had a food stop at Dairy Flat Bakery, a true Kiwi institution where they make the most amazing selection of pies.

After much deliberation Michelle went for a steak and kidney pie, whilst Andy had a chicken in white wine sauce. Both were huge in size and a meal in themselves.

We then drove on for a further 2.5hrs before eventually arriving in Paihia, known as the gateway to the Bay of Islands.

Our new motor is a hybrid and the first we’ve experienced and it’s such a quiet and efficient drive. Whilst the weather for most of the day was cooler and wet, we did manage to find some openings in the clouds when the sun made a brief appearance and we walked along the long sandy beach.

What we have already picked up is how ecological the New Zealanders are and how keen they are to look after the environment for the coming generations.

As a result the roads and sidewalks are clean of rubbish and a great deal of respect is had to the local wildlife.

After checking into our hotel, we went for a wander around the town and inevitably the rain reappeared.

We booked ourselves on a cruise around the Bay of Islands tomorrow, as the weather is predicted to be sunnier with a lighter wind making for a more pleasant experience.

With another break in the clouds we headed out of town up into the hills to see Haruru Falls, a lovely spot about 3 miles out of Paihia.

We enjoyed a wander around the falls before returning to the centre of town and made our way to the wharf for drinks at Zane Grey’s restaurant & bar. We settled in with a couple of drinks and were entertained with some live music on a relaxing Friday night.

Post our Friday evening drinks we retired to our hotel room and readied ourselves for tomorrow’s trip out on the water.

The cruise will take us past numerous islands up to the Hole in the Rock and provide the opportunity of sighting whales and dolphins along the way.

We had a fun day out today on Waiheke Island and got back to doing what we do best, touring vineyards and trying the best NZ wine on offer!

The island is famed for its beautiful landscapes and beaches along with a plethora of vineyards.

Our first stop was Onetangi beach, which despite the wind and light rain still looked stunning.

Our first vineyard stop was actually a Spanish restaurant & winery called Casita Miro, where they served great tapas and Spanish inspired wines with a kiwi twist.

We settled into a late morning brunch alfresco and indulged in some fantastic wine tasting coupled with croquettes with a spicy dip.

A great way to start our tasting session and what a place to do it, with views from the hillside looking down on the vineyard and beaches below.

The views from the vineyard really took our breath away and from what we heard its attracts a number of famous Kiwis who have second homes on the island. As a result a modest detached house on the beach front has just sold for $12m dollars!

After a promising start to our wine tour, we picked up the local hop on hop off bus and headed to Stonyridge Vineyard where we settled into another ‘paddle’ of white, rose and red wines. The full compliment you might say!

After an hour stay, we wandered down the track and went to the next door winery, Wild on Waiheke, where we went for round 3, this time going for a single large glass of rich red Malbec, one of the island’s specialties.

Our fourth and final stop was to the first winery set up on the island, aptly named Goldie Estate where we shared a light golden wine that due to a limited time between buses, we were forced to neck down in 15mins.

After all that wine enjoyment, we retired to the ferry to make our way back to Auckland and a dinner date we had with friends of friends in the downtown area.

The ferry back was a slightly more sombre affair as we were both a little ‘tired’ from the excesses of the day. We duly snoozed our way back until we arrived close to the ferry terminal, where we got some great views of the city skyline from the boat.

Our evening was then spent at a lovely Italian restaurant called Portofino, where met up with Jono and Tracie, the parents of Lana, a kiwi girl we met on our tour of SE Asia back in May.

We had a lovely evening, with great company and great food before we said our goodbyes and headed back to our Airbnb to pack.

Tomorrow we pick up a hire car and start our tour of NZ with the first stop being a visit to the Bay of Islands and the entry point, the town of Paihia.

We plan to spend a couple of days in the area, with a sea cruise one day, and the next a day exploring the beautiful beaches, trails and waterfalls.