On Wednesday we had the most glorious weather, but with little free time we decided to repeat a walk we made last year. Five minutes drive away is a play park which has got to be known as 'Ladybird Park', because one of the rides is shaped like a beetle. Across the park, over a bridge up and down a rise is a sea/river side path which leads to spit that reaches across the river. It is a beautifully quiet walk. The sea was very warm and gentle. Even I got my feet wet, as did mum.
Well not in this pictureThe spit was populated by birds and small car ferries went back and forward from 'John 3:16' to Waiheke island.
On the land side of the spit mangrove were taking over and forming swamps and pools of clear water.
On Wednesday the day was not quite as pleasant, but we did have a good drive up the North West side of North Island beyond Helensville to MacNuts Farm on South Head Road. Here they grow and harvest nuts -Macadamia nuts to be precise. We had a slice of very tasty MacNut mud cake and a cup of chai latte, before exploring the garden attached to the farm and buying a pack of tasty nuts.
From here we made our way, with some help from the SAT NAV, across from the West coast and State Highway 16 to the East coast and State Highway 1.
We eventually made it to Warkworth where we joined SH1 and started down to Puhoi which was our destination. Very soon I spotted the Honey Centre. Here we had (Mum - Ginger Ale and fruit yogurt / me lime milkshake and a wrap).
On we went. SH1 goes from the furthest north of North Island where it is a gravel track to Wellington, where it is a four lane motorway. From Warkworth to the new toll road section it is a single lane road, but like most open roads the speed limit is 100kph (70 mph - if you dare).
Just before the toll road tunnel was our turn to Puhoi. You simply go to the centre of the road and take the right turn.
Puhoi is almost another world. It calls itself a town. (Population is too small for 'Lonely Planet' to record.) It claims to be NZs first Bohemian (Czechoslovakian) settlement. It has a Catholic church, a hotel, a Catholic school, a stables and a library.
The library is a good example of the village spirit. It is a small white hut in the centre of the village.
I had set up my tripod to take a picture of the front of the building when there was a movement and an apology from inside. I then had a very pleasant meeting with Mary. I went in and spoke with an elderly lady. She told me that she was not the librarian, but was standing in while the librarian was playing golf. I then asked how often new books were put into the library. Here is where the strength of community came in. Apparently the library has no public funds. Once a year the whole stock is put out in a marquee to be sold and the people of the village supply a new stock by donating books.
Mary did not sound very much like a Kiwi. She told me that she was from Yorkshire. I asked how long ago. She said 40 years. She had bought out her three children. The eldest was now 52 and all had settled either here or in Australia. Her husband was a carding machine engineer. We talked about not everywhere being as rosy as people make out. She made it clear that if it was only her and her husband they would return to the UK. It is still home to them.
Puhoi was our destination because it had a cheese factory.This was 3km further up the road. We were free to walk around the grounds which had fountains and great views of the hills. After our walk we had afternoon tea and set off back to Auckland.
Once more we crossed SH1 and a few meter later arrived at the mouth of the very recently opened toll road. Regular drivers clocked up a bill, courtesy of cameras and computers. We chose to pull off to the cash pay point. Two officials had a tent and seats to help motorists deal with the computer terminal. Mum succeeded in typing in our registration number and putting the princely sum of $2 into the machine and we were on our way. From here it is motorway through Auckland.
On the land side of the spit mangrove were taking over and forming swamps and pools of clear water.
On Wednesday the day was not quite as pleasant, but we did have a good drive up the North West side of North Island beyond Helensville to MacNuts Farm on South Head Road. Here they grow and harvest nuts -Macadamia nuts to be precise. We had a slice of very tasty MacNut mud cake and a cup of chai latte, before exploring the garden attached to the farm and buying a pack of tasty nuts.
From here we made our way, with some help from the SAT NAV, across from the West coast and State Highway 16 to the East coast and State Highway 1.We eventually made it to Warkworth where we joined SH1 and started down to Puhoi which was our destination. Very soon I spotted the Honey Centre. Here we had (Mum - Ginger Ale and fruit yogurt / me lime milkshake and a wrap).
On we went. SH1 goes from the furthest north of North Island where it is a gravel track to Wellington, where it is a four lane motorway. From Warkworth to the new toll road section it is a single lane road, but like most open roads the speed limit is 100kph (70 mph - if you dare).
Just before the toll road tunnel was our turn to Puhoi. You simply go to the centre of the road and take the right turn.
Puhoi is almost another world. It calls itself a town. (Population is too small for 'Lonely Planet' to record.) It claims to be NZs first Bohemian (Czechoslovakian) settlement. It has a Catholic church, a hotel, a Catholic school, a stables and a library.
The library is a good example of the village spirit. It is a small white hut in the centre of the village.
I had set up my tripod to take a picture of the front of the building when there was a movement and an apology from inside. I then had a very pleasant meeting with Mary. I went in and spoke with an elderly lady. She told me that she was not the librarian, but was standing in while the librarian was playing golf. I then asked how often new books were put into the library. Here is where the strength of community came in. Apparently the library has no public funds. Once a year the whole stock is put out in a marquee to be sold and the people of the village supply a new stock by donating books.
Mary did not sound very much like a Kiwi. She told me that she was from Yorkshire. I asked how long ago. She said 40 years. She had bought out her three children. The eldest was now 52 and all had settled either here or in Australia. Her husband was a carding machine engineer. We talked about not everywhere being as rosy as people make out. She made it clear that if it was only her and her husband they would return to the UK. It is still home to them.
Puhoi was our destination because it had a cheese factory.This was 3km further up the road. We were free to walk around the grounds which had fountains and great views of the hills. After our walk we had afternoon tea and set off back to Auckland.
Once more we crossed SH1 and a few meter later arrived at the mouth of the very recently opened toll road. Regular drivers clocked up a bill, courtesy of cameras and computers. We chose to pull off to the cash pay point. Two officials had a tent and seats to help motorists deal with the computer terminal. Mum succeeded in typing in our registration number and putting the princely sum of $2 into the machine and we were on our way. From here it is motorway through Auckland.
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