Day 35 – Feb 9 – Napier, NZ

Well, here I am again the intrepid traveler.  Don’t let anyone kid you this traveling stuff is hard work.  Every city is different but at least now that we are in the same country, the currency remains the same.  The evening before is spent in looking over the maps, reading Lonely Planet’s book on NZ and then settling on a plan that may be changed in the morning.  Anyway, our day in Napier was well spent.  Sharon & I went on a tour to Tukituki Farm Land, a sheep station and a fantastic ride up and down a stunningly beautiful rugged mountain.  The Tuki Tuki River runs into the Pacific Ocean and has created a valley of fertile soil and mountains.  We passed many winery’s and rows upon rows of kiwi vines.  After a 30 minute drive we arrived at the Clifton Sheep Station, which has been owned by the same family for 159 years.  I thought that this part of the tour would have a “put on” show like atmosphere but it didn’t.  I was so touched by the hominess and down to earth manner of this family and their staff that I purchased a pair of wool socks and 2 skeins of wool that were produced there.

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Tom Gordon, the present owner.

We finished off this part of the tour with a bit of tea and scones with coddled cream and jam.  I’ll have to walk around the ship’s deck 10 times tonight.

At the midway point up Te Mata we were met by our motorcyclist guide.  He was to go ahead of us to stop on-coming traffic, that’s a good thing because the road was quite narrow, steep and with no guard rails.  What a thrill.  I can’t seem to find the appropriate words for the landscape of this country.  It has everything.  In less than an hour we go from sea level through farmland and then up this unbelievably rugged mountain which is 899 meters above sea level.  I have no idea what that is in feet…..  

Panoramic views of the Heretaunga Plains and Hawkes Bay.

I so wanted to be hiking those trails and not getting back on the bus with 50 other tourists.  But I got over it as our bus driver took us to a farm stand to have some fruit ice cream or yogurt.  I opted for the yogurt so that I wouldn’t feel too much like a pig.

On our way back to the ship we were driven through the downtown section of Napier which is famous for their Art Deco buildings.  Hard to take a picture from a moving bus but this is what I got to give you a general idea. 

In 1931 Napier was hit by a massive earthquake which leveled most of the buildings.  Therefore, when they rebuilt they decided to do it with an art deco architecture which has certainly led to the charm of this delightful city.  At the port we were greeted by a club of Napier antique car owners who make it a practice of coming down to the port dressed in the fashion of the 1920’s to bid farewell to all the cruise ships.  They are accompanied by a rag time band.  It was fantastic.  I felt like I was embarking on the Queen Mary.  All I needed was to be wearing a flapper dress and to have a dashing “swell” at my side.

There’s always a feeling of a little sadness as we leave these welcoming port cities.