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Saturday 16 April, Back on the Road to Waokulu Lodge
No rush today, we grab a coffee down the road then head out past the Te Rewa Rewa bridge but don't actually manage to see it other than a few white metal beams through the trees. The brown tourist sign points the way but thanks to the road works, the way is blocked. So we will have to settle for a photo from the Internet.
Although Tony's Google maps search suggested it was less than 2 hours drive, somehow when we program Gromit it turns into over 3 hours to get to Hamilton. Sorry folks. We cross the Herangi Range (good man Colin, thanks for driving this bit) and stop for a break at Piopio, a small town with a great cafe, the Fat Pigeon Cafe. The small town is also known as the location of several scenes from the Hobbit movies, notably the episode with the 3 cave trolls (who we met at Weta Studios in Wellington).
After lunch we check the i-Site in Hamilton, and then drive west to the coast and the small town of Raglan, which has a surf culture and reminds us of Nimbin in NSW. A further 10 minutes brings us to Whale Bay and our "luxury escape" at Waoku Lodge. Our travels in NZ are nearly over so we booked a half price deal that includes breakfasts, massages, a bottle of wine and dinner in the apartment on one night. All good! The apartment features a high-end kitchen and furnishings, plus a private deck with jacuzzi and a great view of the ocean.
But tonight's fare is modest as the boys head into Raglan to buy tea, and return with frozen oven cook fish & chips, plus veggies and a magnum ice cream each. No complaints.
Sunday 17 April, Relaxed in Raglan
The weather predicted for today is not so good, showers increasing through the day, not exactly sightseeing weather, so today is relaxing and pampering. We order dinner for tonight from the Lodge, it will be delivered to our Apartment from 7.30pm.
Tony & Kathy head into Raglan to buy essential supplies and have a coffee. The rain is just starting with a fine drizzle, but later gets more serious. From 3.00pm our masseuse Cesca (short for Francesca we learn) does a marathon with a 1 hour massage for each of us. It is virtually dark by the time Kathy starts her massage.
Dinner for most of us is scallops on cauliflower puree, lamb shanks & veggies, followed by apple and kaffir lime crumble. Together with our "free" bottle of white wine we have a relaxed and pleasant evening. Tony & Kathy finish the day in the spa.
Monday 18 April, Ah Raglan, Rainy One Day, Perfect the Next!
The rain has gone, and in its place is a beautiful day with sun sparkling on the waters of Whale Bay. The weekend surfing carnival has finished and this seaside village settles into a slower pace. It reminds Colin of Yallingup with the holiday houses perched on the hills and coastal heath plants. Not sure about the water temperature though, and the sand is a rather dark colour due to the volcanic rocks.
Kathy is busy trying to finish her murder mystery book, but the rest of the team drive into Raglan for coffee and to buy something for lunch. Tony decides to buy a bargain at a leather shop, something that Kathy has been on at him to buy for years (it seems like). In this world of mobile devices, tablets, wallets etc. she has identified that Tony needs a Man Bag. He has been resisting but the pressure has worn him down. Returning to the apartment Kathy is stunned by the purchase and claims that this means she can spend more on jewelry to balance the expenditure. Not sure about that one!
The afternoon is glorious, so we pull back the folding full height windows to bring the outside in to the apartment. Pretty good for an April day in NZ.
We see the sunset from the deck at Orca Bar & Restaurant in Raglan. Happy hour drinks are followed by a surprisingly good meal and we drive carefully back to Whale Bay along the winding road to Waoku Lodge.
No rush today, we grab a coffee down the road then head out past the Te Rewa Rewa bridge but don't actually manage to see it other than a few white metal beams through the trees. The brown tourist sign points the way but thanks to the road works, the way is blocked. So we will have to settle for a photo from the Internet.
Although Tony's Google maps search suggested it was less than 2 hours drive, somehow when we program Gromit it turns into over 3 hours to get to Hamilton. Sorry folks. We cross the Herangi Range (good man Colin, thanks for driving this bit) and stop for a break at Piopio, a small town with a great cafe, the Fat Pigeon Cafe. The small town is also known as the location of several scenes from the Hobbit movies, notably the episode with the 3 cave trolls (who we met at Weta Studios in Wellington).
After lunch we check the i-Site in Hamilton, and then drive west to the coast and the small town of Raglan, which has a surf culture and reminds us of Nimbin in NSW. A further 10 minutes brings us to Whale Bay and our "luxury escape" at Waoku Lodge. Our travels in NZ are nearly over so we booked a half price deal that includes breakfasts, massages, a bottle of wine and dinner in the apartment on one night. All good! The apartment features a high-end kitchen and furnishings, plus a private deck with jacuzzi and a great view of the ocean.
But tonight's fare is modest as the boys head into Raglan to buy tea, and return with frozen oven cook fish & chips, plus veggies and a magnum ice cream each. No complaints.
Sunday 17 April, Relaxed in Raglan
The weather predicted for today is not so good, showers increasing through the day, not exactly sightseeing weather, so today is relaxing and pampering. We order dinner for tonight from the Lodge, it will be delivered to our Apartment from 7.30pm.
Tony & Kathy head into Raglan to buy essential supplies and have a coffee. The rain is just starting with a fine drizzle, but later gets more serious. From 3.00pm our masseuse Cesca (short for Francesca we learn) does a marathon with a 1 hour massage for each of us. It is virtually dark by the time Kathy starts her massage.
Dinner for most of us is scallops on cauliflower puree, lamb shanks & veggies, followed by apple and kaffir lime crumble. Together with our "free" bottle of white wine we have a relaxed and pleasant evening. Tony & Kathy finish the day in the spa.
Monday 18 April, Ah Raglan, Rainy One Day, Perfect the Next!
The rain has gone, and in its place is a beautiful day with sun sparkling on the waters of Whale Bay. The weekend surfing carnival has finished and this seaside village settles into a slower pace. It reminds Colin of Yallingup with the holiday houses perched on the hills and coastal heath plants. Not sure about the water temperature though, and the sand is a rather dark colour due to the volcanic rocks.
Kathy is busy trying to finish her murder mystery book, but the rest of the team drive into Raglan for coffee and to buy something for lunch. Tony decides to buy a bargain at a leather shop, something that Kathy has been on at him to buy for years (it seems like). In this world of mobile devices, tablets, wallets etc. she has identified that Tony needs a Man Bag. He has been resisting but the pressure has worn him down. Returning to the apartment Kathy is stunned by the purchase and claims that this means she can spend more on jewelry to balance the expenditure. Not sure about that one!
The afternoon is glorious, so we pull back the folding full height windows to bring the outside in to the apartment. Pretty good for an April day in NZ.
We see the sunset from the deck at Orca Bar & Restaurant in Raglan. Happy hour drinks are followed by a surprisingly good meal and we drive carefully back to Whale Bay along the winding road to Waoku Lodge.
- comments
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