Freelance Driving in the North Island

Feb 1st


Time to leave Welly and progress in the hire car that we've procured for 8 days ! Thursday we decide to head for Napier but end up sopping at Hastings and staying. Took us just over 4 hours to get here (average about 60 KM/hour - really !!) - in places speed limit is down to 25 km/hr - general speed limit when not on crazy twisting roads/ravines is 100 km/hr. Stayed in our first motel - we have fallen in love with them - basically good quality 4-star accomodation with facilities such as partial kitchen, laundry facilities etc. This first one had a spa bath in each room. Went to dinner at Vidals (a winery). Wine was introduced to us by our Spanish Sommelier friend in Fareham

Feb 2nd

Went to Napier for breakfast and spent a good few hours here - really is the Art Deco capital of the world - they rebuilt the entire place in this style after it got demolished. Then got on the road to Gisborne. Gisborne is the first city in the world to see sunrise (it was mobed 1st Jan 2000). Cook landed here at one stage and names it the Bay of Poverty - 'cos they couldn't replenish his supplies. Stayed at another motel - fantastic views over the water and hughly helpful reception telling us where we could eat atc. By now we are pretty 'fooded out' and are desperately looking for unfussey simple fare. We end up in the Fishing Club of all places - where I got a jacket potato (I'm in heaven) and Alex a burger. Large glass of wine and a pint of beer NZ $7 - divide by 3 for Sterling conversion - and Alex is in heaven !! Popped into Winstons on the way home - apparantly we were too early and the DJ doesn't even arrive until about 11.30 pm - so we mustered onwards to the wine bar/bistro next door to motel where a pianist was playing and everybody was up and dancing. Good fun ! Gisborne is probably my favourite place during the driving experience - Alex liked Napier

Sat 3rd

We now head for the Bay of Islands which we reckon is about a 9 hour drive - so we do about 4 hours and end up in a place called Waihi. Looked a bit like a dump however went to tourist office who directed us to the only hotel in town where we get the last room at the exhorbitant price of $50 (this did not have ensuite facilities). So here I'm talking a blast from the past - it was like being in the Central Hotel in Manorhamilton 25 years ago. The nylon bedcovers, ancient wallpaper - all were in situ. We did have a sink in our room and a kettle (so sort of a kitchette ?!) and on the side board, as the very nice girl who showed us round, proudly pointed out, we had a telly. Wiring to the plugs were interesting and the TV aerial didn't seem to fix the continuous diagonal lines crossing the screen - but then what were we expecting for sub 20 quid a night. Also air-conditioning was optional (you could open the window if you wanted). Also it promised to be quiet - entire place closed at 8pm ! It was built in 1896 by a Scotsman (you could tell !!)


Anyway we then discover much more interesting stuff - this is the town that hosts what used to be the worlds largest producing Gold Mine and still has the gold mine. On this particular evening Helen Clark (NZ Prime minister) is coming to open the 'new' pump house (well actually the old pump house which has been moved from the edge of the mine where it was about to collapse) This move cost $4M and was paid for the the mining company. So results were a party atmosphere and free fireworks display. Also a newly opened bistro with fine dining at incredibly reasonale prices. So all in all entire eveing cost us sub 50 quid including accomodation, drinks dinner etc. Frugal-R-us !!

Think how much I've saved to spend on something else ! (Irish budgeting system still at work !)

This was also the evening when I got my first insect bite (as those of your who know me well there just has to be one in the vacinety and it will find me) Didn't realise it will about 24 hours later when my ankle was all swollen up - jokes about the bed bugs may not be far from the truth ! (Anyway it's better now)

Will update more soon

Love Ursula & Alex