Whitianga to Gisborne

Thursday, Dec. 9.

Because we were tired, we passed on the famous mineral hot springs resort last night, but go to the local museum before leaving town. This is where Cook first landed in N.Z. It is the most amazing place. Nicely set out and informative. We spend two hours enjoying this little gem.
As we left we met another Canadian couple from Montreal. They came to Canada from France, but have lived in Canada for thirty years. The wife is having trouble understanding the New Zealand English.
It is a rainy day and we are too early for the low tide at the hot water beach, so we carry on over the windy roads until we once again get to the ocean at Waihi where I get the chance to walk on the beach. It is now low tide and it is talcum-powder sand but packed as solid as a roadway. There are too many shells to choose from. I select three and then stop looking.
We stop at Katikati and walk the main street to see the murals. We complete the less than 150 kilometres and it is almost five o’clock when we roll into the motel in Tauranga. We decide to eat in, so we have soup with toast.

Friday, Dec. 10.

We have a straight run to Gisborne today, across the peninsula. I get to drive for the first time. It is fine except that I don’t use the inside mirror to check the distance when I have passed a vehicle and am going back to my side. We have lunch on the way in a lovely valley at one of the many picnic tables provided everywhere.
We get to Gisborne in time to visit the museum there. As we only have an hour, we see only one area. There is an art gallery and another two sections which we don’t get to. The museum closes at 4 p.m. This is quite normal in N.Z. outside of the big cities. Even businesses close between four and five each day.
From the museum we drive to the lookout from which you can see the confluence of the Taruheru and the Waimata rivers into the Turanganui river - the shortest river in N.Z. which just travels a few hundred yards into Poverty Bay.
Finally, we find a restaurant with lamb shank on the menu. It is absolutely delicious and I have enough for dinner again tomorrow night.

Far side: A visitor as we eat lunch in the car.

Middle: Open pit mining in town centre

of Waihi.

Waihi Beach at low tide.

Sculpture in Katikati.

Murals in Kaikati.

Kiwi World in Te Puke, Kiwi fruit capital.

Lunch on the road.

Typical winding road.

Lots of grapes as we approach Gisborne.

View of the beachfront at Gisborne from the lookout.

Where the rivers meet.

Canoeing practice on the river at Gisborne.













This yellow bush is in bloom all around this area.