Onto Rainforest Route Highway into the wilderness that is Te Urewera (Maori for 'Children in the Mists'). We found our way up through winding stony roads to Tuai a tiny village on the edge of Lake Whakamarino
(Wh pronounced f ). We had booked the 'Tuai suite', which is a self contained house next door to it's owners; a Canadian couple, Martha and Patrick who moved to NZ 8 years ago, lived on a boat for 5, then moved to this idyllic spot. Lovely little unit with everything we could wish for overlooking a pretty well stocked garden and lake and hills beyond! Martha is an artist and has a studio in the garden! She can't be stuck for inspiration.
We are self catering for these few days as there are no restaurants around us, in fact there is very little here but other houses. All weatherboarded with 30s features.
Walked the 'old Maori Trail' through thick forests and beside the lake. A spring fed pond, the 'fairy springs' led off one lake and was a clear blue/green colour, very strange. Lake Waikaremoana is enormous and on Saturday was rough with waves as it was windy. We decided against taking out a Canadian canoe - Pete knowing we would probably get nowhere.
The sun is shining but it's whacking windy!
After cosy night watching DVD on the huge flat screen in this tiny cottage, on Sunday we went for a trek to lake Kaitawa, an uphill all the way through thick damp mossy forest walk. Good though, felt very healthy for it. There is a 46km walk over 3 days around Waikaremoana and we saw one or two doing it, loaded down with camping gear. There are shelters with bunks enroute that you book in advance, which must be very welcome when you get to them. Must be an amazing achievement, not for the faint hearted. (Needless to say, Scott has done it). Our 2 and half hour walk will do for me, with a hot bath at the end of it!
Left on Monday to travel back to Auckland. The first 100kms is gravel road, so slow progress. Made slower by horses, cows and boars on road, not to mention a tree across it. When Pete enquired of the workmen how long it might take to clear, thinking we could be waiting an hour or so, they told him 10 minutes and proceeded to merely push the thing over the cliff edge!
Eventually back with Sian, Scott and Tilly and packing to leave for Kuala Lumpur and home.
Martha's work
(Wh pronounced f ). We had booked the 'Tuai suite', which is a self contained house next door to it's owners; a Canadian couple, Martha and Patrick who moved to NZ 8 years ago, lived on a boat for 5, then moved to this idyllic spot. Lovely little unit with everything we could wish for overlooking a pretty well stocked garden and lake and hills beyond! Martha is an artist and has a studio in the garden! She can't be stuck for inspiration.
We are self catering for these few days as there are no restaurants around us, in fact there is very little here but other houses. All weatherboarded with 30s features.
Walked the 'old Maori Trail' through thick forests and beside the lake. A spring fed pond, the 'fairy springs' led off one lake and was a clear blue/green colour, very strange. Lake Waikaremoana is enormous and on Saturday was rough with waves as it was windy. We decided against taking out a Canadian canoe - Pete knowing we would probably get nowhere.
The sun is shining but it's whacking windy!
After cosy night watching DVD on the huge flat screen in this tiny cottage, on Sunday we went for a trek to lake Kaitawa, an uphill all the way through thick damp mossy forest walk. Good though, felt very healthy for it. There is a 46km walk over 3 days around Waikaremoana and we saw one or two doing it, loaded down with camping gear. There are shelters with bunks enroute that you book in advance, which must be very welcome when you get to them. Must be an amazing achievement, not for the faint hearted. (Needless to say, Scott has done it). Our 2 and half hour walk will do for me, with a hot bath at the end of it!
Left on Monday to travel back to Auckland. The first 100kms is gravel road, so slow progress. Made slower by horses, cows and boars on road, not to mention a tree across it. When Pete enquired of the workmen how long it might take to clear, thinking we could be waiting an hour or so, they told him 10 minutes and proceeded to merely push the thing over the cliff edge!
Eventually back with Sian, Scott and Tilly and packing to leave for Kuala Lumpur and home.
No comments:
Post a Comment