Day 16, Whirlwind of fury in Auckland

Day 16 Whirlwind to Auckland.

The weather in Hamilton was wet, windy and very cold. It was raining when I went to get breakfast and when I left the hostel it had actually stopped raining the entire time I was walking to the bus. The bus ride was very uneventful and we had no pit stop though I think that was what Hamilton actually was as we went right through Rangiriri. It wasn’t raining in Auckland, but it was blustery. I walked in the cold wind to the hostel and I had a lady with her grandkids ask me where I was going and I told her especially since we were heading for K’road. I think she was amazed I was walking fast in the wind. I wanted to tell the boy with the Ferrari blazer that I was beating him and I was a volkswagon hahaha. I didn’t and I went off on my way. I couldn’t go anywhere as I had to check in at 2pm and I went shop looking. I did also book a ticket to see Wicked the musical.

Once I was able to be placed in my room, I went back out to visit the MJ Savage memorial. I was actually upgraded the room again, which I really love to a two bed dorm. I suspect my roomie is a woman, not that it is any problem of mine. Just getting the bus ticket was interesting as there are two cards. They are phasing one out, but seems to be utter chaos. I have to use two different cards for certain bus and the train. I do find this to be a little strange and wont be happy if I cant hit Motat tomorrow with my card. I caught the bus alright, but had no problems with the card at all. I actually got off at the wrong bus stop, which was Kelly Taltons and not further along in Mission Bay, but I still made it to the hill with Savages memorial. I am not sure if he is actually buried there or not. He was the first Labour prime minister in New Zealand. My camera stopped working again and this time it was actually in need of batteries. I am happy they have lasted this long and I did have spares with me. I had a quick walk through Mission Bay and did like the look of the area even if it was a little windy there, but I again found the bus and headed off.

Once I got back to my I sorted stuff out before I had to go to see Wicked. Turns out my roomie is a woman and turns out to be a little bit of fun for the night. She isn’t happy that I am sharing the room and she went down stairs to reception to speak with them. They said no to changing rooms as everything is fully booked out and that it was in the booking system when she booked that it was a mixed dorm she was in. I spoke up and said that i hadn’t come across the part with a two bed room being a mixed room. Seeming satisfied she went back and I headed to the musical. The show I had seen before in Melbourne and did love it back then. This time I was closer to the front and seen plenty more of what was happening. Once I got back to the room my roomie wanted me to swap rooms with her ‘friend’. I said you would have to speak to reception before trying that and I vanished to the TV lounge to do some computer stuff there. I went down to reception and spoke to them and they said if she causes trouble that I can go to a new room on my own. I told them I don’t want to be moved from room to room as it would be annoying. I went back to my room after more chilling in the TV lounge and headed down. She had vacated the room, stripped her bed, but left her stuff. She went to sleep in the same room as her ‘friend’. I went down to the reception to let them know and we were laughing about the whole episode. I said I have a room to myself and thanked the guys, though I did mention religion as a reason, but they said she is in a western country so should know. Well my day has been exciting even though I never knew it would take this turn.

Day 15 Whirlwind through Hamilton Gardens

Day 15 Whirlwind through Hamilton Gardens

Today the weather was nice and sunny, but I have my brolly in my bag in case of any wetness from the sky, but I did take my raincoat out as it means extra weight. I am also in need for a clothes wash soon too. I did have a good sleep and was ready to meet the day. The night before I had worked out what I wanted to do and I knew where I was headed. I was going to Hamilton Gardens and that was where I was going to spend my day. I would catch the bus there.

I did have breakfast and coffee on the move as I was wanting to find a post office to post several things before I went to Auckland on Wednesday. Once the post office was found I did look through some books in the bookstore as I wanted to see what was there. I did go into The Warehouse to have a look along with several other shops. I think I might get the Sony ereader, though I don’t know yet. I did look at new cameras though my camera stopped working during the day, but I managed to get it to work again by taking the batteries out. It was time for me to wait at the bus station for my bus to Hamilton Gardens.

An interesting part of Hamilton is that you can get free wifi internet in certain parts of the city CBD and the bus terminal. I don’t know if you are timed, but it doesn’t seem like you are and data will work. The good news is that if you are after timetables then you can get them off the internet. The bus station is easy to navigate as the parking area is lettered like ‘G’ for the gardens and it only cost me $3.30 one way.  The bus ride was actually quicker than I thought it would be as the Hamilton Gardens was it only stop and did have a lady ask me and another person if it went past a certain area, but none of us knew. The bus did park at the carpark in the gardens and would pick you up at the same place when you wanted it to although the last time it ran was at 2.50pm, I could have ended up at the lake too if I wanted though maybe next time. Once off the bus I went into the information centre after a map to the gardens and where the cemetery was in regards to the gardens as well.

The cemetery was not very far and was apparently part of the gardens too as one of the roads from the entrance branched off. I would go there later, but I was off through the gardens looking at a visual history of the different gardens from around the world from large English gardens to Japanese garden complete with a zen area too. The Tudor fantasy garden was not what I thought it would be as I had the impression that it would have hedges carved into animals like unicorns, but ended up being fantasy animals hanging off poles. Dont get me wrong I did enjoy the different gardens although not everything was open like the surrealist garden as it was still being made up. The grounds were very open especially when you could wander just about anywhere including having a picnic near the lakes on the mowed lawns. The gardens is free for everyone and the council worksat keeping the area nice an clean. I had to have lunch before I went to the cemetery and it wasn’t a pie at all. Today was a pie free day, which I guess it really good. I had lamb noodles and a melting moment with a black coffee.

The cemetery I found with relative easy although I had a nice walk along the river bank before the track wound up to the top of the hill. The cemetery rose up and grabbed me for my attention as I began wandering through it. I found it interesting although I was surprised to see holes in the ground that I thought were from rabbits and I thought I had seen one. I did end up confronting two rabbits and we both were surprised and then it vanished. I knew I had to watch my feet as I could fall down a hole and I am not Alice at all. I did wander around most of the cemetery and there was a gardener mowing between the headstones, so I guess it must not be the best job around, but someone has to do it. I couldn’t really find one of those headstones that gives you a life story and I didn’t really know who the town knowns were as I would have know who they were. I think it is strange how I couldn’t remember who they were especially the woman who was the first white woman to land in the town. The military headstones were interesting as some had other family members attached as well.

The way back to the city was something I wanted to do by foot. I had seen on my map that I could follow the river into town and the CBD. That is exactly what I did as t was by that time mid afternoon and clouds were coming though I was not worried by them. What I did have to do was cross the Victoria bridge again, but I did pass a beach, which was well known for being a landing point for Maori in the craft. I was doing my best not to attract attention from several people who were sitting along the banks including one person who was fast asleep. I was lucky to make it back to the cover of buildings as big fat drops started falling from the sky. I was on the other side of town from where I was supposed to be, but had no problem walking to the hostel. I had to do the washing too, which is a pain, but has to be done sometime. Everything is packed for the next part of the trip to Auckland where I am spending several days before flying off home. I don’t know what I am going to do in Auckland tomorrow, but might take a trip to the family history centre for some CDs and then I will have 3 full days to spend anywhere. MOTAT is one of my plans while in Auckland.

Day 14. Whirlwind tour from Tauranga to Hamilton

Day 14. Whirlwind tour from Tauranga to Hamilton

Today I had to get up early to catch the bus at 730am to Hamilton. The morning was pretty cool and I was wearing a jumper.  The only problem that was not a problem was I would be leaving without being fed. I was a little worried as every food type shop was closed still, but I wasn’t hungry. Not yet anyway. There was one bus already sitting at the bus stop and the sign on the front did say Wellington and I was wondering if this was the bus that went to Hamilton as logically it was going in that direction. I asked and the driver did say no it was the 710 to Wellington. I decided to sit and wait for the bus with book in hand to wait for the bus. Soon enough a big white bus did turn up and it was y intercity bus with final destination of Hamilton. I looked at the time once I had boarded and it was actually 730am. I was happy to be on the bus for the next couple of hours.  Nothing spectacular occurred other than some fog before we entered Matamata. The fog was thick in places and you could hardly see the truck in front let alone what was hiding in the paddocks just beyond the fence line. It disappeared once we left the mountain range. I did think Matamata was a blink and you would miss it town until we went through and I did see a heritage trail sign and the information centre was a hobbit hole. That was exciting as I do want to visit the town and this proved to me that visit it I will and have second breakfast there too.

We did arrive into Hamilton around 10 or 15 mins late, but I was happy to be able to stop and use the loo. I needed to fix that urge before finding food. The bus stop had a food area and that was where I got my breakfast, of course a meat pie and a coffee. I am going to have someone at this rate count how many pies I have eaten during my trip and give me a stern talking to about the consumption of meat pies for breakfast. I could have cake instead or marshmallow cake things. After I was feeling energised I went and found the hostel by memory. I even remembered that one side of the traffic lights didn’t have a crossing too. The hostel was what I remember it. A converted drive through motel and I was waiting for my room to be finished once I managed to raise the lady t reception who was elsewhere. I had called three times before she found the phone and then she couldn’t find my booking until I produced my print out. Luckily I said 2 nights or else I would have ended up with one night. None of that bothered me and I was watching Ellen in the TV room that looked exactly like a cinema complete with the bus type seats. They were comfy too and I was happy.

Once I was sorted out I checked online to see what was happening and then floated off into Victoria street looking for two things. The information centre and Riff Raff from Rocky Horror show. I looked down every street and was hoping I would find what I was looking for quickly. I did end up in Garden Place where the Info centre was supposed to be, but all I could see was the Library and I turned off and hurtled down the street and found good old Riff Raff. He was doing the time warp near the Waikato museum and the best part was I could get free wifi from this part of the city. I was telling friends online they could see me online with the statue and one did get me mucking around doing Gandum Style dance, while drivers in cars going past were laughing and pointing at me. Of course I am cool and several other people online would have wondered what on earth was he doing on camera and I was captured and posted online. I did stick around for at least half an hour too.

The museum was my next entrance though by now it was after 1pm and I knew I needed a coffee and a meal, second breakfast? I spoke to the museum staff member about parts of the old Paddle Steamer Rangiriri and something to eat. I was told the boat was across the river and they did have some parts like the rudder, but they were in storage. As to the cafe I was given a voucher for spend over $10 and get a free coffee / hot drink. I got my coffee and food with free wifi there too. Then I headed back to the museum and wandered around looking at the waka that had been donated by a Maori Princess who was quite popular and was seen as lady of the soil. There was a little about her and the band that followed with her CFM? I cant quite remember the name of hand, but she was wanting to raise funds for a Marae that was to be originally used as a hospital since she had seen the hardships of the 1919 flu epidemic. The other galleries were about the early history of Hamilton and how militia was promised land if they would serve and once the service finished they found the land hard to tend especially after the army rations ceased. The first white woman to set foot onto Hamilton wasn’t the captain’s wife at all, but an Irish lady who handed her baby to a stranger and jumped overboard. Once on land she was laughing hysterically. Hamilton was named after a soldier who had died in Tauranga in the fighting there and had never visited the area. There was a story about a bridge called Union Bridge, which was replaced by Victoria Bridge that united the East and West Hamilton. I did buy a CD from the museum called The Big Muffin Serious Band, Jabberwocky goes to town. They seem to be local and will play when I get home. Monty Pythonish they have a Nice side and a Nasty side to the CD.

While at the museum I found Garden Place did indeed have the information centre, so I headed back. Of I was back past Riff Raff and a bookstore jumped out at me, it was a second hand one and I checked what time it closed before finding the info centre. It was an info centre that had been found and I was happy, but I hadn’t been looking right up the very end of the square as I had been looking in the wrong place. I was able to get the Hamilton heritage brochure that I was after and another map of town. I did see a statue I wanted to meet, but all it said was Hamilton statue in the Civic Square CBD. The wifi never told me either until I looked up and seen the statue, also I found the council buildings as well. The bookstore I found earlier I headed back to. I wanted to look at the New Zealand history books to see what I could find. After looking I selected two, Death of the Rainbow Warrior by Michael King and The Story of Northland by A.H. Reed the 1975 edition. I wanted a book on Wanganui history, but I was happy with these two as they both will help me, or I hope I will be informed.

Armed with maps I wanted to head over the river to the PS Rangiriri and have a look. I headed down to the river path and picked up speed when I seen three people arguing in an isolated spot. I didn’t want to be part of that especially when they could be threatening to me as I could be the sucker they were waiting for. I did find the Potter kids park and a bridge that was donated to the park in the early 1900s and then found the memorial park with displayed from a spitfire, anchor from HMS Waikato and an artillery gun used during the second world war. I found the paddle steamer below these on the banks of the Waikato River that flows through Hamilton. It was specially built and did have a secret weapon. If boarded it could let off steam that would scald anyone, but this defence was never use. Also the boat was abandoned in the river for 90 years and used as a diving platform for kids. I did walk under the Victoria Bridge wondering what the new memorial park was about and all by itself was another war memorial when the other cenotaph was more visible. I decided to cross the bridge and had to pass under it again when I found the footpath was only on one side. By this time it was closing in to 6pm and I felt a couple of spits from the rain. One of the last monuments I found was a dedication to the commercial people from the early times and the ferry landing place before the bridge had been built.

I will have to plan my day for tomorrow as I don’t know what to do yet other than follow the heritage trail. It was pretty good having nearly two full days in Hamilton as last time I was here I only had an afternoon that I didn’t know how to use. Several years older and I have found plenty in the city to do and find. My boots were made for walking and I try to push myself as I don’t know what I will find. I don’t want to visit the Zoo and know there is a cemetery somewhere.

Day 13. Whirling through Tauranga

Day 13. Whirling through Tauranga

Today I thought would be one of those wet days where I would need a jumper and my wet weather gear. Turns out the clouds even though they were dark didn’t once splatter anything onto the ground where my feet touched the ground. I was happy especially when it ended up being a pretty warm day overall. I couldn’t complain as it was very warm when you are out and about walking.

I woke up early so that I would be able to catch one of the busses, which travels to the area of Mt Maunganui. I did want to climb the mountain though it was a big hill and I think also one of the local Pa sites. The bus cost me $3 each way and was well worth the expense as I think I would be exhausted if I tried walking around 3kms one way. At least I was able to get close enough so that I could walk to the beach. I did need breakfast and a coffee before I went anywhere. After fulfilling the two basic needs I headed down the street towards Mount Maunganui, I did learn the town was going to have a busking festival on during the day. The first place I came to was something called Mount Drury or Hopukiore. From the top of this small hill I hoped I could have a great view of Mount Maunganui and also some of the tow. There was no such luck, but I did get a good view of a container ship cruise by on the other side of town, which I thought was pretty cool. I mean I did get views, but trees were in the way so not everything was unrestricted.

Once on the beach side of town the surf wasn’t pumping at all, which was good for me as I wanted to checkout what was considered to be an island, but its still connected to the land by sand. Moturiki Island also once known as Leisure Island was at one point was a water park where they had dolphins and sea lions, but had closed. I walked out along the sand and was about to take a step on the wet sand when some sea water rushed around the sand. I did put on boot in, but didn’t want wet feet so waited until the water was gone before crossing. I did walk to the other side of the small island with the worry on my mind that I shouldn’t take too long in case I got caught with the tide as I don’t know how much water would be around the island and I didn’t want to take my boots off either. I didn’t really want to climb over an outcrop of rocks on the end of the island either in case I slipped, but nothing happened and I was able to cross safely to the mainland. I would love to walk across St Michaels Mount in the UK the same way at low tide. My next challenge was to climb Mount Maunganui before it became too hot, although people were out and about in droves early in the morning.

I wasn’t sure about which side of the mountain that I would walk up as I knew there were several paths to go up the hill. On my way to the track I found the base track was 3kms all the way round and I wasn’t wanting to do that as I wanted to go up. I was actually struggling getting up some of the track as it was steep. The good news was that there was a sign telling you which track to take and the choice was either difficult or intermediate. I chose the intermediate track to go up, which seemed easier until I came to the 4X4 track and then it became steeper. It wasn’t too bad, but I was sweating and the day had started to become a bit warmer. I was happy when I did make it to the top though I drained the water I had left and sat in the shade and read my book that I had in my bag with wet weather gear. I needed to rest for a little bit before moving off though the wind did help as it was cool. Apparently a beacon had been light on the hill in 1919 called the beacon of peace hand had been answered by several others. I think the area was also a pa as well. After taking photos from the top, I took the difficult trail down and it did mean difficult as there was a set of very steep stairs that I walked down, but some people were jogging up them I think they were insane. Once at the bottom I was going to catch the bus, but decided to take a wander to the marina. I didn’t get that far when I found a map with information of Maunganui. Around the base were two things I wanted to see and visit them I did. The first was the original stone jetty for when settlers dropped off goods though it didn’t look like much and the statue of Tangaroa.

By the time I walked back I had decided I needed some food, so wandered through the people looking at the busker competition. I did enjoy some of it and a few of the kids were pretty good. I thought it was strange that the only buskers that were performing were all kids. After lunch I wandered to the bus and it was only 5 mins before I caught it back to town, which was easier than trying to take a wander.  Once back in the CBD I wanted he have a look at an arch I had missed the day before and on my way I found the old building that was the post office, which I later found was on the list of historic things to see in town. I did find a waka that had been donated to the city in the 1970s. I didn’t walk towards the arch as I had found a building that was interesting and happened to be an old storage shed I think it was and something very unexpected behind the police station was the Monmouth Redoubt, which was used as protection against the Maori in the 1860s. The arch I had found was named after a wealthy business person, Sir William Herris. There were signs pointing out the hidden histories to the area, but I was heading towards a park called Memorial park and the plan was to visit a historic street.

On my way to the Memorial Park, I was side tracked by a railway bridge walkway. I decided to walk across the railway bridge via the walk way though on the other side I turned around as I don’t know what was expecting and wasn’t expecting anything to be very far away. At least I worked out what was on the other side. I had to walk up some stairs once I was back across the bridge into a carpark, which ran near the street I wanted to take to the park. It did seem to be a long walk, but didn’t take too much time. I was interested by a sign that said Cedar Manor, but thought I would check this out later on my way home. I found Humpty Dumpty who was 50 years old in the park, which was pretty cool. The park also had miniature trains too and for $1 you could go for a ride. I kept on walking and went looking for the historic street. I thought the street was on 15^th Avenue and once I found it there was nothing historic about it and I walked the entire length to make sure I hadn’t overlooked it. I found nothing and by this time it was getting late and I was exhausted. I wandered through the park again as I wanted to see what the Cedar Manor was all about. I was disappointed as it turned out to be nothing historic, but a retirement village. Fancy that and here I was thinking it was a big house made out of cedar.

Once I made it back to the hostel I knew I needed to rest and take my boots off as I had been out in the sun all day. I think I have gotten a little bit of a suntan too. I had to look up why I couldn’t find the historic village on a street. I found it was on 17^th avenue and I hadn’t walked far enough at all. That didn’t bother me as I was wearing myself out and will have something to do when I come back someday. Tomorrow I am off to Hamilton, the second last stop of my trip before I end up going home.