After a disturbed nights sleep resulting from a fire alarm and evacuation of the hotel at 3am, I could do with a snooze on the plane, but it’s such a short flight to Napier there’s hardly time, and there’s some great views of Volcanic mountains. Ah well.. we’ll soldier on! I visited Napier on my 2018 NZ adventure and visited my friend Karina but this time she’s in a new home by the sea so I’m excited to see it. This weekend is really all about a catch up and as it turns out wine!
We stop at Linden winery on the way from the airport. They have a really extensive list of wines to taste so we get struck in. From Chardonnay to Viognier to Syrah and a really nice port. They’re all delicious so it’s hard to pick our favorites to buy. Ultimately we do though, and we’re clearly delighted with our purchases.
Next it’s on to a small local brewery. Not much for Karina and I here but the lads love it.
Time to get home and have a little rest, followed by a swim and another little rest and did I mention the wine!!
The view of Hawkes bay and the ocean is spectacular from Karina and Wynns. Check out this view from the living room… such a beautiful location and an amazing view.
We have a lovely evening of good wine and food and feeling a bit more rested, next day it’s time for more exploring. Napier is one of the last remaining Art Deco towns so we take a ramble around and a walk along that beautiful coastline.
And then it’s time for another brewery. This time one that has a lot of different ciders… great tasting there. There’s some music playing so we decide to stay for lunch before checking out the Mission winery and having another relaxing evening at home.
It’s been a quick couple of days but we have to get on the road to Wellington. We are sent on our way with some fruit from the garden!
Nobody told me about “Windy Wellington”! Forget about Chicago being the Windy City this city is crazy windy. The drive, which took about five hours, took us through some scenic hills and fields full of sheep. In Wellington we get rid of the car and head toward the famous Cuba street for dinner and drinks with Shanes friends.
We have fantastic Malaysian food on Cuba street and check out this art!
I have a full day in Wellington so next morning I start off with a trip on the cable car. Nice mural in the cable car station:
View from the top:
I talk the Botanic garden route down from the top. The gardens were established in 1868 and sit along the hillside so ideal to check out on the walk down from the cable car.
I really do love the agapanthus which I’ve seen all over:
I’ve seen these boxes, what look like office filing boxes to me, but realise they’re bees…..
I check out the Lady Norwood rose garden and the Begonia house with gorgeous flowers and there’s warm beautiful sunshine.
A short stop for tea and a cheesy scone at the picnic cafe then it’s on to the Bolton Street Cemetery. I do love a good wander around a cemetery and there’s a memorial trail with map to follow so I’m happy out.
The cemetery was split into a public section and a Jewish section and the gravestones look out toward the town.
A motorway runs through the centre of the cemetery splitting it into an upper and a lower level. Nearly 3,700 graves were dug up and shifted to a mass grave to facilitate the motorway. At the end of my visit I visit a small chapel that has a memorial list with all the names.
I land back in town by the parliament building, known as the Beehive:
From here I head for the sea and walk along the waterfront to Te Papa Museum.
It’s a huge museum with a lot of different levels and it’s not at all busy. In fact other than the first nature section I’m nearly by myself for lots of the exhibits. I learn about the Kiwi bird.
I like looking at the old portraits which are hung against a red wall just like in the Dublin art gallery. You could easily think you’re back in Dublin until you take a close look at the paintings.
There are a lot of prints of people covered in tattoos, not something I’m a fan of but obviously it’s a huge Maori cultural phenomenon. The artistry is amazing in fairness.
I come across an interesting artist Greg Semu who depicts a mauri Jesus:
On my lonesome for dinner tonight so I take my kindle and head to Mr Go’s which got some great reviews on line. My pork knuckle fried rice is fantastic.
Well that’s Wellington ticked. I leave the north island tomorrow and head south.
odohertyelaine 