Elsthorpe

Well we have been out of cell phone range for a couple of days ... in the countryside of the Hawkes Bay in and around the little township of Elsthorpe ... painting a tennis court, "grubbing" thistles, vacuuming the houses etc. Grubbing thistles is the process of pulling or digging out those prickly plants that grow in the pasture. They can take over the land very quickly .. just like rabbits!!. The Scottish immigrants brought these delightful plants into NZ in the 1800s ... so thanks Scotland ... NOT !

A road map showing Elsthorpe's two streets conveniently located on the side of the road

This is the picturesque northern entrance to Elsthorpe

Elsthorpe is a small town located in eastern Hawkes Bay ... a farming community on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It was founded in 1896, by the pioneering locals who were motivated from the recent establishing of Mangatainoka (world famous for the Tui beer) in 1889. It has a population of roughly 200. Due to the secluded nature of Elsthorpe, the only way to reach it is by car.

DIRECTIONS: Drive south from Hastings and Havelock North. Head down Waimarama Road. Go straight ahead at the second intersection where the road to Waimarama splits to the left (after bridge). You should then be on Kahuranaki Road. Stick to the main road and you can't miss it after about 30km (20 min drive).

Elsthorpe is small enough to walk around in a few minutes, or you can drive. Alternatively you can stand in one spot and be everywhere (un)important at once. Excellent for the lazy, or relaxed person in all of us Shopping in Elsthorpe is pretty terrible, unless you want to buy petrol, then its just really really bad, actually its unlikely you can actually buy petrol, better take a full tank.

Kairakau Beach - About 5-10 km from Elsthorpe. This is a magnificent beach with stunning views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. There are a small number of baches and a camping ground if you want to stay.

Elsthorpe Scenic Reserve - There is a beautiful scenic reserve on the outskirts of the main village centre. The 35ha reserve is one of the best remnants of podocarp forest remaining in the district. The larger trees are mainly kahikatea, rimu, matai, and totara and the second tier is made up of tawa, titoki and mahoe. This awe-inspiring trek has been keeping locals, and tourists alike, mystified and entertained since 1896.

FOOD: Pack a picnic and make a day of it Catch your own. -As the slogan says: "if you can catch it you can eat it..."
ACCOMMODATION: In your car ... Under the stars ... In a tent on the side of the main road. They have lovely wide grass verges
EXIT: By car at either end of the town. Out and in aren't especially hard to find. You can stand anywhere between the two and see both. Why would you want to leave? You could settle down and raise a family.

Ocean Beach

Friday and Staurday we went to Ocean Beach (a near neighbour of Waimarama Beach) It is a relatively undeveloped beach, popular with surfers and families alike. Both Ocean and Waimarama beaches have summer holiday lifesavers on duty.

There are two walks along Ocean Beach:
1. South along the beach to Waimarama (7.5km one way). Make sure you check tide times before you go, tell someone where you are walking and allow 4 1/2 hours return.

2. North along the beach to Whakapau Bluff (8 km one way; allow 4.5hours return). Whakapau Bluff prevents easy access to the stretch of coast north to Cape Kidnappers, although locals know a reef/sandbar just off shore that can be waded at low tide if no surf is running.

Between the Bluff and the Cape, is the site of William Morris' 1838 Rangaiika whaling station, the boiler from the wreck of the Go Ahead (1887), and two rock arches.
The Ocean Beach "surfcam"








Also Hugo our van has been a bit unwell so we are getting the battery and the alternator checked out today ... automotive electrics are not our skill set ... YES REALLY. This isone of Hugo's cussie bros!

Job Hunting

Been to a contract agency ... looked in the newspaper for jobs for bar and cafe work ... nothin' yet. Keepin' lookin' cos need more than just orchard work ... want the dollars !!

Filled out application form for the Crown Hotel for room servicing work buthat is unlikely to start till next week. Orchard work today we hope ... waiting for a call from the man ... and Inka needs a new tootbrush to maintain the "pearly whites" and a delightful smile

Napier

On Tuesday 3 February 1931 Napier, in common with most of the Hawke's Bay district, suffered a disastrous earthquake 2.5 minutes in length. The earthquake rocked the town almost totally levelling all buildings in the inner city, killing 162 people (a total of 258 in the Hawke's Bay area), and raising some areas of land by as much as 8 feet. Some 4,000 hectares of sea-bed became dry land and today this sites not only the airport, but also residential and industrial property developments.

The extensive rebuilding that took place in the 1930's is the reason for the Art Deco flavour in the City.
Napier can't help but be touristy. With its Mediterranean climate, Napier sits just in front of the sea with a 2km marine boulevard lined with Norfolk pine trees. The streets are broad, the perfect setting for cafe life-stylers to sample a bottle of some of the fine wines grown in the region. However, Napier's main distinguishing characteristic is its architecture - it has one of the largest Art Deco collections of buildings in the world.

Things to see and do
By far and away the best thing to do in Napier is to take a walk and soak up all the Art Deco architecture. You'll easily notice distinguishing Art Deco motifs such as ziggurats, rising suns, lightning flashes, stylised fluting and fountains. Styles range from Spanish Mission to Art Nouveau, Stripped Classical and the jazzy Art Deco with various motifs inspired by Maori, Egyptian and Mayan imagery. On Hastings Street check out the ASB Bank which has kiwi motifs in the form of ferns and masks. If you look inside you'll see more Maori inspired motifs. On Hastings also keep an eye out for the Criterion Hotel. Emerson street also has fine examples of Art Deco though many shop fronts are modern so you'll have to look to the first floor to really appreciate it. Check out the Bowman's Building, McGruers, and Hannah's. The Daily Telegraph building, on Tennyson Street is another exuberantly unashamed example of the style. Also on Tennyson is the Market Reserve Building and the Municipal Theatre which celebrates a geometric style. On Dalton check out the Hotel Central. You'll find examples of the Californian Spanish Mission style on Dickens St at the GAiety de Luxe Cinema.

The 2km Marine Parade with its lining of Norfolk Pines has a British feel to it (if you're wondering why no one's in the water it's because its full of rips and way too dangerous). You can stroll through the Centennial Gardens and look at some of the few wooden buildings which survived the quake. For Art Deco check out the Masonic Establishment and the Soundshell. At the northern end of the marine parade check out the bronze Pania of the Reef, a voluptuous Maori siren who was forcefully retained by her folk when she left her lover to visit them.

Hawke's Bay Museum, 65 Marine Parade, has some precious artefacts of the Ngati Kahungunu Iwi. The taonga or treasures include fish hooks and intricately carved clubs. All in all its well presented with a few European and Art Deco antiques and the successful endeavours of amateur paleontologist Jan Wiffen. You can also find out more about the horrors of the quake through an audio-visual display in which survivors give an eyewitness accounts of the event to the accompaniment of some excellent sound-effects.

Also on Marine Parade kids will love the Hawke's Bay Aquarium. If you've got a diver's license and book in advance you can jump in the tank and feed the stingrays, eels, sharks, piranha, hawk-billed turtles and the curious kiwi tuatara (and heaps of other tropical fish...). Alternatively you can take the little ones to Marineland to watch performing dolphins and seals.

Wineries

There are some 30 vineyards around Napier and Hastings which mostly offer free tastings. Some have quality restaurants while at others you can eat your picnic lunch beneath the trees or play a game of petanque.The Hawke's Bay Region and Marlborough produce quality wines which to the surprise of many have earned New Zealand a growing reputation on the international market. This viticultural society was born in the 1850s with the French Marist Missionaries who planted the vines in order to grow wine the celebrate daily communion.

Taupo - Napier/Hastings ... heading east

Beste Gruesse aus Taupo!!

Hallihallo!!

Inka und ich sind momentan in Taupo!! Haben uns gerade eine Dusche erschlichen und sitzen jetzt in einem Internetcafe mit sehr benutzten Tasten (heisst, einige gehen nicht soooooooo zuverlaessig....)

Haben in den letzten Tagen in Rotorua mal ein wenig Kultur gemacht, waren also im Museum (mit Fuehrung, sehr genial!). Den Zorb haben wir nicht gemacht, das Wetter hat an dem Tag nicht mitgemacht. UND wir waren in Rainbow Springs!! UND dort haben wir Kiwis gesehn!! Die sind so unbeschreblich suess!! Aber total unwirklich, wie aus einer anderen Zeit. Man kann sich gar nicht vorstellen, dass sowas existenzfaehig ist!! Aber suuuuuuuuuper!!















Heute waren wir bei "Craters of the Moon". Richtig genial, ueberall Dampf und Schwefelgeruch. Dort haben wir zwei Deutsche aus Stuttgart getroffen. Der eine studiert in Wellington. :o)














Huka Falls - Taupo

Aber was noch richtig genial zu erzaehlen ist, ist die Geschichte von heute morgen. Haben uns gestern Abend mit unserem Hugo (unser Van) auf einen oeffentlichen Parkplatz gestellt (wie wir feststellen mussten DIREKT neben der Polizeiwache). Von dort gab es zwei Ausgaenge. Nun wie sind dann friedlich eingeschlafen (auch sehr ungestoert, da der Parkplatz etwas abseits der Strasse war), am naechsten morgen aufgewacht und was mussten wir feststellen!? Tja, beide Ausgaenge mit orangenen Huetchen abgesperrt, ueberall Arbeiter und ein paar waren gerade dabei eine kleine Buehne oder so aufzubauen. (War auch direkt neben dem Eventcenter). Tja, da haben wir uns dann auch nicht mehr die Muehe gemacht erstmal auf Toilette zu gehen, sondern uns lieber gleich aus dem Staub gemacht. :o)
Was man nicht so alles erlebt....
So, hier geht jetzt auch langsam die Sonne unter, werden uns wohl nen Pie und vll ein kleines Bierchen goennen. :o)
Hab euch lieb!! Und viiiiielen Dank fuer all die Mails... *raeusper*

Rotorua

YES .. we have made it to Rotorua .. the land of the "rotten egg" smell .. that's why they sometimes call this place Rottenrua .. haha .. lots of thermal activity .. hot pools ... and hot G**S ... oops!! . Slept in a "real quiet" place ... YEAH RIGHT ...and listened to the loud music of the "Road Noise Band" ... Doing the Zorb today .. basically rolling down the hill in a large ball full of water ... well we don't have a shower !!!

Alles Luegen!

Also bitte, Jeremy, das ist ja wohl die Hoehe, hier zu verbreiten, wir wuerden SOLCHE Leute treffen!! (genial waere es natuerlich!). Aber wenn es nach mir ginge, wuerde ich am liebesten dem guten Hughie ueber den Weg laufen. Oder Prince Harry. Aber DIE lassen sich natuerlich nicht blicken.

Jetzt dann mal zur Wahrheit.
Schlafen ja zur Zeit am Mt. Maunganui. Praktisch DIREKT am Strand. Nur wenige Meter bis zur Kuestenlinie! Zaehne putzen machen wir auf oeffentlichen Toiletten (koennen fast schon einen Toilettenfuehrer schreiben...), duschen laesst sich ganz prima auf dem nahen Campingplatz. Das erschreckende ist, dass hier soooooooooo viele Backpacker genau dasselbe machen. Ist fast schon ne kleine Community. Von denen hatten wir auch den Tip mit den free showers auf dem Campingplatz. Man schnorrt sich halt so durch. (Schlimm, wie man so schnell abbrueht...)
Wir haben ja auch schon versucht einen job heir zu ergattern, aber die Saison hat noch nicht angefangen, deshalb nur Kiwi flower Picking. Bezahlung per Kilo, also so umgerechnet 2 Euro pro Stunde. Haben dann gedacht, das wir dafuer dann doch nicht dreizehn Jahre zur Schule gegangen sind. Das deckt ja kaum die laufenden Kosten. Uns das also auch nur zwei Tage angetan.
Morgen reisen wir weiter, vermutlich nach Rotorua. Wir werden sehen. Aber heute geniessen wir nochmal das gute Wetter, den Strand und natuerlich die heissen Duschen! ;o)
Ueberall in den Fenstern sieht man schon Weihnachtsschmuck, das ist echt strange, die Sonne scheint, alles laeuft in Shorts rum, und dann gibt es Weihnachtsschokolade (schmelzanfaellig...), Tannenbaeume, Weihnachtsmuetzen, ... Geht ma gar nicht. ;o)
Ach ja, heute Abend gibt es auch ein feierliches Fish&Chips! (Auch ein klein wenig Nationalgericht ;o))
Eigentlich wollte ich noch Fotos hochladen, aber der scheiss Computer kooperiert nicht mit meiner Kamera. Will keep tryin! ;o)
Das war es erstmal wieder von uns, c ya! :o)

RUFF TRANSLATION IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Waffle Walkers

We ate these for breakfast














so we had to walk around here afterwards








and then we met two of these who were camping next to us .. we think we like Brazil now !!

McLaren Falls

About 20 minutes out of the Bay of Plenty city of Tauranga is a wonderfully tranquil spot that is sure to give you enough quiet time to recharge your batteries.The place is the McLaren Falls and is an interesting series of small waterfalls and rocky pools that lead downstream to a perfect-looking swimming hole under an iron bridge.
Kids jum off rocks into the pools and have a great time. The McLaren Falls can be found, suprisingly, on McLaren Falls Rd - which is in the eastern foothills of the Kaimai Ranges.

Papamoa Hills

We went walking today into the Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park (Te Rae o Papamoa) which covers a large complex of archaeological features with a culturally rich history. From the park visitors can see Mauao (Mount Maunganui) and the Tauranga harbour in the west through to Putauaki (Mount Edgecumbe) and Moutohora (Whale Island) in the east. Papamoa hill is the highest point on the ridge (224m above sea level). The Park can be seen from the coastline and from a wide area of the surrounding plains.

The Papamoa hill sites are important to local iwi. (Maori tribes and families). The hill is a boundary between the Mataatua and Te Arawa waka and the sites have significance to three iwi - Ngaiterangi, Ngati Pukenga (of Mataatua) and Waitaha A Hei (of Te Arawa). Maori have long understood the importance of the hills with their commanding position over the surrounding coastline. From Te Rae o Papamoa they could control the south-eastern access to Tauranga Moana and the coastal strip down to Maketu. Archaeologists suggest the history of Papamoa hills may begin around 1650 AD or even earlier. Papamoa is a large archaeological complex. There are at least seven pa sites in the Papamoa Hill Regional Park, and others can be seen in the surrounding landscape.

The bulk of the park was bought from the McNaughton Family who owned and farmed the land for more than 100 years. Further additions to the park include nine hectares provided by Fulton Hogan Ltd and 28 hectares adjacent to SH2. The total size of the park is 135 hectares.

Walking
There is one walking track from the car park to the summit. It takes 45 mins to reach the summit and the track rises steeply through pine forest up to the open ridge. Visitors may use any of the Park land. Sunscreen (especially today !!) and a sun hat for sunny days and good walking shoes are recommended.

Sun 11 Nov 07

Hallo!!

Wollt mich nur gaaaanz kurz melden!!!
Waren heute bei einem Wasserfall!! Soooo schoen. Hoffe bald gibt es Fotos! Hab euch alle net vergessen!! Immer fleissig mailen!

Hab euch lieb!
Jojo

Mt Maunganui

This is where they are ... Mt Maunganui is only 10 minutes away over the harbour bridge from the city of Tauranga.

Tauranga New Zealand is situated in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. Tauranga is about 3 hours drive from Auckland, 4 hours from the North Shore, about 7 hours from the bay of Islands, an hour from Rotorua, and home to the busy Port of Tauranga. The city of Tauranga has first class hotel, motels, hotels, and lodging for those who travel to Tauranga. and Mount Maunganui.

Mount Maunganui is your El Dorado if the beach is your passion, the pristine sands have long been a Mecca for holidaymakers. As a main centre for summertime activities, 'The Mount' hosts everything from surf lifesaving events to beach volleyball, parasailing, sandcastle building and surfing contests. Surf lifesaving guards assist safe swimming in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The mountain of Mt Maunganui, also known to the local Maori people as Mauao, is shrouded in legend and history. It's the dominant geological feature of the Tauranga District, with its conical rocky outline rising 232 metres above sea level. It has been of great importance to local Maori for more than six centuries as a place of occupation and later as a refuge for defence. Evidence of this is still visible today.
The gently undulating track around the base winds from the ocean to the harbour. Tracks also lead to the summit for some of the best ocean and city views anywhere. Mt Maunganui Main Street shopping area.

20min Internet access in Mt Maunganui

Hi everybody!!

First: THANK U JEREMY 4 CREATING THIS BLOG!!! IT'S A W E S O M E !!!
Now continuing in German as it is easier.... ;o) (ask Sabine to translate. ;o))

Also, fuer alle, die es noch nicht wissen, Inka und ich sind gerade in Mt. Maunganui, in einem Internetcafe, und ich weiss nicht, wie lange ich hier noch rumsitzen darf...

Nun ja, anyway, Wir hatten schon sooooooooo viel Spass, haben suuuuperwitzige Leute getroffen und sind jetzt hier auf der Suche nach nem Job. (Bis jetzt einen als dishwasher in Aussicht.... Suuuuuuuuuuuper....)

Nun ja, werd mal lieber posten, bevor hier alles zusammenbricht. Handynummer haben die meisten von euch ja erhalten, wer noch nicht, kurz ne Mail schreiben: jojo.helm@hotmail.de (Aber viele haben ja auch schon eine (wenn auch unpersoenliche) bekommen. ;o)
Freuen uns auf viiiiiiiiiiiiele Kommentare, E-mails oder auch SMS!!

Die besten Gruesse aus dem (momentan) sonnigen Sueden!!! :o)
Die Jojo

Whangamata ... 7 Nov 07

YES we are in Whangamata now .. the battery on the van is flat but that doesn't affect the sleeping .. so we will get it sorted in the morning. No work yet as the holiday season hasn't kicked in yet ... just the sleepy locals about.


Surfing in Whangamata
Whangamata is well known for its surfing, with the beach offering a variety of breaks.The Whangamata Bar at the northern end is the top spot, producing long peeling breaks in north-easterly swells on an incoming tide. If the bar is crowded or the tidal flow is too severe, you can simply move down the beach and choose a sandbank peeler to ride.

Hot Water Beach

Dig Your Own Spa at Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach is as good as its name. Hot pools can be dug out of the sand at low tide near the rocks and in places where steam can be seen rising from the open sea at high tide.
Volcanic activity is no longer prevalent on the Coromandel Peninsula—the hot mineral pools are a legacy of an exciting geothermal past. Hot Water Beach is also known as a good surfing spot.


When we say it pays to take a spade when you head to this beach, we mean it – a big garden-variety spade that'll help dig to a decent depth. Because, for two hours either side of low tide at this Coromandel beach, a solid sand dig will unearth hot spring water to feed your very own beachside pool. And this, surprisingly, is just a stone’s throw away from the warm summer waters of the Pacific Ocean. Lined by a feisty surf beach (with Castle Rock in the foreground) and a long shard of cliffs, Hot Water Beach is book-ended by tufts of pohutukawa trees. In between, white sands hide an underground river of hot water that flows from the Earth’s interior to surface in this picturesque location.

It's common to see flocks of people putting their full force behind a sandy excavation at this prime coastal spot. And, as the endeavours reach fever pitch, Hot Water Beach becomes pockmarked with large super-heated soaking holes brimming with relaxed bathers.
With the ebb and flow of the tide, each individually created hot pool is completely washed away, creating a fresh sandy palette ready for the next influx of visitors.

Whitianga

well we made it to Whitianga .. the van is filthy dirty so we are trying to find a petrol station with a car wash and a vacuum cleaning station so we can have a tidy house to sleep in !! ... for some history on the area go to this link

Port Jackson

well we made it up the coast of the peninsula .. western or lefthand side to Port Jackson ... met a cool dude .. sheep farm there .. we can camp on his land and tomorrow they will take us out onto the farm to get the sheep in ... wow

On the Road up the Coromandal Peninsula

Left the township of Coromandel and headed north on gravel dusty roads to Colville (general store and horse) ... "in the middle of f***in nowhere, we see houses but no one seems to be on the da road ... need to clean the van but ...."

In the settlement of Colville, once NZ's capital of the 70's 'Hippy' culture, the General Store, Caff and diminutive Post Office are places to stop and browse.
In early days, Colville was the centre of the Kauri milling industry but today, it is a quiet country town serving the arts and farming communities.
The Colville General Store is the last place to get provisions, petrol and bait before continuing on your journey further north. Check out their locally grown fruit, vege's and craftwork. The Post Office sells stamps and postcards and can offer Post Restante for travellers; and the Colville Caff specialises in wonderful European gateaux, pastries, pies and delicious coffees. This is also a good place to relax on your journey back down the peninsula, after a day's adventuring.