Our Hawkes Bay trip was planned last year, so we had very little choice with the weather - and it didn't play the game. We set off for Lake Taupo early on Saturday morning in grey weather which meant our potential view of the volcanoes was shrouded in mist. Taupo is a quaint town with lovely shopping streets - like so many of the shops in New Zealand towns - but we didn't see too much because the rain started - and poured and poured! Luckily, we had stopped at Huka Falls in the morning and been awed again by the force of the water as it pours through the narrow gorge - it's hard to know what to look at, listen to, feel - I am amazed at the incredible power of nature.
The next day we travelled early in the morning through gorges to Hastings where there is a famous Sunday Farmers' market. Ray drove like a hero through torrential rain, gusting wind and windy roads for us to get there mid morning. It was worth the drive - a super market with wonderful fresh produce - including seasonal fruits - plums, cherries, apricots, nectarines - delicious. We drove the 20 or so kilometers to Napier, where it was pouring with rain - and very little to do in that sort of weather apart from the Aquarium - which we declined! Once you've been to Ushaka ..... Napier was destroyed by a devastating earthquake and fire in 1931, and was rebuilt over the next few years in an Art Deco style. A dry place to be that morning was the Art Deco shop where we saw a movie on the earthquake and rebuilding, and then, after a bit of shopping in the main street, we were able to get into our Hotel. The rain lifted a bit in the afternoon and we had a long walk along the coast walkway past the port. You are reminded how yopung the soils in new Zealand are when you see the slips - and why some people build houses right on the edge of cliffs, I don't know. We saw two houses, where the whole of the garden has slipped down the cliff. Skies cleared a little that night and Pete got an amazing picture of moonrise over the Christmas lights of Napier.
The next day was brighter and we spent the morning driving - to Kidnappers Point - which we couldn't reach by road. The only way was a long walk on a pebbly beach, dodging the tides, or an expensive tractor ride - so we didn't get all the way. A drive through Havelock North took us to Te Mata peak, and as the weather cleared, we saw wonderful views, right around Hawkes Bay and inland. A stiff walk but worth doing - and at least it was all on the level.
Two more adventures - time to walk around the Art Deco buildings in the sunshine, and a sunset drive North along the coast, where we saw a cruise ship leaving the harbour, hooters booming, just as the sun went down.
A drive back through patchy weather ended a great East Coast getaway.
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