Things you won't see growing in Canada

One more thing I did want to include, some pictures of the wonderful things you see growing in New Zealand that won't grow in Canada.

Rimu

Silver fern-Ponga

Pohutukawa (called New Zealand's Christmas Tree)

Pohutukawa (no longer in bloom)

Amaryllis Belladonna (Naked Ladies)

Cabbage tree - Ti Kouka

Flax 

 Norfolk Pine 

Agapanthus 

Nikau Palm 

Mamaku  (Black tree fern)

Apr. 14/16: Last day! (Raglan, fall temperatures, RNZ)

Well, I am just about to go to bed for the last time, this trip. What a wonderful four months it has been.

I spent my last day in Raglan, a seaside community of about 3,000 close to 50 kilometres from Hamilton. The ride out there (by bus, for me) was very scenic. Lots of rolling hills. The town is very popular with surfers. The day was perfect. High of 20 or so and crystal clear skies. I did the usual thing, wandered through the town, and did a few short walks by the water. Here's what the area looks like.

Raglan's Main Street

Walking out of town

Walkway by the harbour

I saw something in Raglan I had not previously seen, but had heard about. Wicked Campers is a company that has come under considerable criticism because of the slogans they put on their vehicles. In fact they have been banned in some places, which of course has only increased their business. The slogan on the back of the van (below) was mild compared to the one on the side. 

 Fall: Well, it's here. Trees are beginning to turn. Still the daytime highs are about 20 and nighttime lows about 10, so nothing to complain about. In February, the highs were 25-28 and lows 15-18, so it does feel noticeably cooler.

Radio NZ National: This is NZ's equivalent to CBC Radio 1. Earlier I'd said it was not bad. I need to correct that. I think it's very good. All interviews, generally very good and usually quite long, and on a wide range of subjects. CBC, given it is now trying to appeal to such a wide range of people, is working against itself, in my opinion.

Well, that is it for this year. Tomorrow, home!!

Apr. 9-13/16: Hamilton (Gardens, Cambridge, Waitomo Caves)

I have now spent 4 1/2 days in Hamilton, and environs. I had been given the impression that it was a rather uninspiring place. From the point of view of location that may be so, as it is inland and therefore not surrounded by the sea, as Nelson and New Plymouth were.  And this area is also relatively flat. But it has certainly not been difficult to fill my time here, even though many of the things I have done have taken me outside Hamilton.

Hamilton is the fourth largest city in New Zealand, with a population of about 150,000. It was settled by the Europeans a bit later than Nelson and New Plymouth, about 1863. You can be in Auckland by car in about 1.5 hours, so an easy day trip if the big city beckons.

Once again I am staying at an Airbnb, located very close to the Waikato River, and the 20 kilometres or so of walking/cycling path beside it. And it is also just a 10 minute walk from the downtown area, or CDB (Central Business District) as it's called here. Perfect location. I love Airbnb!!

So here's what I've seen in the past few days:

Hamilton Gardens: These gardens are absolutely outstanding and were named the International Gardens of the year in 2014. The gardens are divided into a number of different areas, each representing gardens from different parts of the world: China, Japan, Italy, England, India. There is also a Maori Garden. And in each area there are not only plants/trees but also structures to help transport you to that part of the world. Here are a few examples:

Tudor Garden

Italian gardens

 Japanese Gardens

Maori Gardens

Cambridge: Cambridge is a delightful little town of just under 20,000 about 25 kilometres from Hamilton, 40 minutes by bus. I couldn't find a street sign but I did find this. Most towns here have one, and I have heard some wonderful concerts from people who have obviously been playing the piano for some time.

The streets in most towns have a similar look to them. There are wide awnings over the sidewalk so it matters not if it rains. Why don't we do this back is Canada? And parking is most often angle parking. Here is a shot  taken in Cambridge:

Cambridge downtown

There are a number of walks to be done around the town. Here is a natural arbour I found beside the river walk. Can't beat nature!

 And of course the museum is a must visit spot in each place I've been. This one was very small but very well done. Again lots of information on the Maori history, settlement by Europeans, and the land wars, which seem to have taken place throughout New Zealand.

Cambridge Museum

Waitomo Caves: These caves are one of the big tourist attractions in New Zealand. There are three main caves, but the most popular is likely the glowworm cave. Glowworms are found in only a few locations in the world;  the  ones in New Zealand draw people from far and wide. This sign gives you a good idea where many of these people  come from.

Glowworms,  I was disappointed to find out,  are the larvae (maggots) of a fly called the fungus gnat. In the larvae stage they live 6 to 9 months and look much like worms, with a tip that can glow in the dark. The larvae secret long sticky threads, each producing many. The light from the larvae attracts insects, which are caught in the thread. In a dark caves the sight of the glowworms is most impressive. You can't take pictures so I pinched this one from the web.

And here are a few shots I took in the other caves.

Movies: I also been to four movies in Hamilton, in four days. A record for me. Two New Zealand movies I wasn't sure I'd get to see back home (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Mahana), Valley of Love from the French Film Festival, and Sherpa, a very powerful movie filmed on Everest. The LIDO Theater, where they all were playing, is described as a boutique theatre and certainly is that. It has a lobby about 200 feet long filled with big comfy sitting areas, and seats in the theatre that are like sofas. Not only that, you can buy wine, excellent goodies and ice cream, and take them in to the movie. Go figure. That's just not allowed back in Canada. We must be too messy!

 Seats in the Lido Theatre

This morning I went for my jog around Lake Rotorua, just a shot distance from my Airbnb. What a beautiful spot.  The path around it is almost 4 kilometres. Lots of bird and fish life, including my favourite NZ bird, the pukeko. They are obviously used to people as a number came bravely tramping up to me, clearly hoping for food.

So now I have just one day left. I can hardly believe it. I will spend it in Raglan, so stay tuned!

April 3-8/16: New Pymouth

I wasn't sure what I would find in New Plymouth but, once again, I've not been disappointed. The population is not that different from Nelson's (just under 50,000) but the two places have a very different feel. Both were settled about the same time, in the early 1840s. Nelson is quaint and charming. New Plymouth feels like a much bigger city, and is much more contemporary, as it seems much of the city is relatively new.  It's economy is based on oil, discovered about 50 years ago, which might explain that.

New Plymouth is located on the west coast of the north island, by the Tasman Sea. Running along the Sea is a coastal walkway, 13 kilometres long.  One of the area's most appealing features. The sea is quite wild, so more suited to surfers than swimmers. I've been staying at another Airbnb,  about a 25 minute walk to the city centre along the walkway. In the other direction it doesn't take long until you are in the country. Here's a few pictures:

Signposts along the walkway

The walkway in front of my Airbnb

Beach by my Airbnb

Sand is fine, and dark

Sign along the walkway warning of high waves

This sort of wave does not rate a warning

Heading away from town along the walkway, 

it's not long until you see this sort of thing

I spent the first day walking through Pukekura Park, 52 hectares of native bush located right in the city. Here's a few shots taken in the Park. You could spend the better part of the day there.

One the way to the park I passed St. Mary's Church, opened in 1846 and the oldest stone church in New Zealand. The graveyard around the church contained tombstones of  early settlers who died in the Taranaki Wars of the 1860s, which resulted from disputes between Pakeha (Europeans) and Maori over land. The deaths from that war included not only those killed, but also others who died because of the appalling conditions at the time.

St. Mary's Church

Pakeha who died in the Taranaki Wars;

no Maori graves here!

Grave of a mother and four young children;

casualties of the war, I assume

My second day in New Plymouth I arranged to go to Mt. Taranaki, about 30 minutes from New Plymouth. It's about 2500 metres high, which makes it the 65th tallest peak in New Zealand. The tallest is Mount Cook, about 3700 metres. (Just as a point of comparison, Canada's highest peak is about 5900 m. and there are 124 over 2500 m.. I had no idea!) A Maori guide drove me to and from the mountain, and talked about what the mountain means to the Maori. That in itself was a highlight of the day.

I did a 3-hour walk that took me from about 1000 m. to about 1700 m. Probably the toughest walk I have ever done. Getting to the summit and back takes about 8 to 10 hours. I can't imagine doing that, although many young folk did. I had a crystal clear day, which is unusual. How lucky! A very steep climb and then a path that was often hard to find. I was expecting something like the groomed trails on the great walks! 

Mount Taranaki from the Visitors' Centre

The track, above and below

At least there was a ladder!

View along the way

Looking back, on the way down

On a short walk through the "goblin" forest,

after the big walk

Yesterday I borrowed a bike from my Airbnb hosts and rode up and down the Coastal Pathway, and another pathway, the Te Hanui Walkway. Here are a few shots I took along the way.

The Te Rewa Rewa Bridge is so striking!

On a clear day one can see Mt. Taranaki on the other side.

One can never go far without seeing a few sheep

And not far from the path, the endless coastline

Today, my last day in New Plymouth, I went to the museum and art gallery. Both are very contemporary, as you can see from the shots below.

Puke Ariki Museum

Excellent exhibits of the area's past

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre

What an amazing structure! Unfortunately almost all of the gallery was closed, preparing for new exhibits. Very strange!! But it was possible to see some of Len Lye's work. I had never heard of him. He was born in Christchurch in 1901 but lived most of his life outside New Zealand. He's known for his kinetic sculptures, which are massive, and engineering marvels. The photo below is of the Windwand, a design of his along the Coastal Walkway, very close to the city centre.

Tomorrow I leave New Plymouth for Hamilton, my last stop before heading home!