Heading north, we passed through Hamilton. We couldn't resist a return visit to the beautiful gardens there.
It's free to visit by the way.
There's a new garden since our last visit, the Tudor Garden and we love it
Detail of 2 of the pole guardians
Onwards on SH1, two views from the dash cam ....
The first, loaded timber lorries going in opposite directions, seems crazy?
Then these buildings at Tirua are built from corrugated steel, and yes, they are fully functioning buildings.
Up in Auckland we went to the Trotting races. Obviously it's big here, just look at these buildings
and behind me ...
... the stables were amazing. I wasn't supposed to be in there so didn't get many pics but I saw a lot of horses.
Out to the west, just across the water from the airport ... Awhitu.
This jetty was allegedly built by the Brook family but I can't believe it is the original though the Council info seems to suggest that it is.
This house though, is
Brooks' Homestead
The original settlers on the land were John and Sarah Brook. Along with their 5 children, they arrived from England in 1861. In 1875 they moved onto this land at Awhitu and erected a shack. About 1880 they built the main homestead above using kauri and adding some beautiful concrete steps (not in the pic) using seashells as aggregate. The Brooks kept cattle and sheep, grew veg and caught fish. Sarah, although losing a leg through an infection, lived in the house entertaining allcomers, dying at the age of 97. In 1971 John Brook's grandson Fred sold the land to the Auckland Council who continue to operate it as a working farm. The house has never had any electricity.
There are lots of beautiful trees on the estate. I couldn't fit all of this one into a photo.
As we were leaving, we found this fusilage in an overgrown garden next to the estate.
We've no idea what it is/was.
In Whangarei we parked next to this house bus (not the car). We love it except that it has modern 'square' windows which don't suit it.
It's construction is typically Kiwi with wooden battens and a corrugated iron roof.
Note the wonderful old washing machine, the cat door and of course, the meme.
The bridge in Whangarei
On to a secret spot where we spent 2 nights, met some delightful locals and were treated to a delicious dinner of freshly caught snapper followed by bread-and-butter pudding, with cream of course. Our huge thanks to Simone, Pam, Rob and Mauri, who caught the fish.
Other folk also there were members of a sailing club out from Devonport who enjoyed a BBQ on the beach followed, the next morning, by a breakfast BBQ complete with bubbles.
5* hotels ? No thanks.
There are some tame fish at Gulf Harbour. This snapper was almost climbing out.
Please don't feed them bread, buy some bait fish from the local store.
There are often a couple of sting rays too. We reckon this one is 5ft across, that's just a bit of one fin in the pic below !
Below, the roads marked in blue that we travelled this time (November 2015 to April 2016) .. 7500 kms
