New Zealand 2018 - Part 3

 

 

 

 October 1, 2018 - Monday

Matt, our driver and tour guide and owner of “Bay of Islands Tours” (www.bayofislands.tours) picked us up at 9:30 am, as scheduled. Our tour included us and a group of three ladies, so it was like a private tour. This tour included sites that were not included in our tour to CapeReinga. 

 We went to the Kawiti, Glowworm Cave. This is the only privately owned glowworm cave and has been in the same Maori family for twelve generations. No photos allowed in the cave but I got a great picture of a gorilla face in a rock formation as we exited the cave. We definitely recommend this experience.

Next, on to Te Poe Tawhiti, Kawakawa, and a stop to see the beautiful tile work in the public restrooms (the toilets). These were designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and opened 1999. As we continued down the main street we saw many storefronts were also decorated with beautiful tile.  The town is in the process of creating a cultural park named in Hundertwasser’s honor. www.hundertwasserpark.com

Lunch was at a “Bakery Café” with a large selection of sandwiches and main course “pies” as well as sweets.

The only overlap with Saturday’s excursion was a stop at the PuketiKauriForest. This was a special treat as we found ourselves more aware of the details of the forest and not just the Kauri trees.

 We went to the “Makana Confections” chocolate factory and a Kauri woodworking studio in KeriKeri. Watching the candy being made was fascinating and the end products delicious. The carvings at the woodworking studio were very intricate and the end products were beautiful. We learned today that Kiwi Fruit is grown on vines that are supported by posts and wires at 3-4 feet above the ground. The fields at this time of year (Spring) look like new grape plants. I always thought they grew on trees.

Haruru Falls is jokingly compared to the US Niagara Falls. It is horseshoe shaped but much smaller.  There is a lovely park surrounding the falls with a boardwalk between the falls and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.  We ended the day with a fantastic view of the Bay from a hilltop just outside the Waitangi Golf Club.

***Michael and I joined Goldrush Getaways Travel Agency, as independent travel consultants, in May of 2017. We have been low key until now (January 2019), testing the waters with domestic travel and taking many classes. This is the third big trip for us and each has been a total success!!! We are now ready to actively help others with their travel needs. Contact us at 410-929-1732 or mytravelinglady@gmail.com