Girls on Tour 5

 Statue in Dargaville is a tribute to the gumdiggers of the past. 
The river is slow moving and calm. A typical winter’s morning. 

Bev making friends at the Kauri Museum. Great visit here. The museum is large and really well set out. So much to see. Would certainly recommend a visit. 👍🏻



Another pic for my bicycle colkection. 

Tractor pull at the Field Days. No pics of Raglan as it was either dark or foggy. Drove in fog all the way to the field days which certainly was an experience!! Great to get there and thoroughly enjoyed our stooge. Stayed in Eureka with Bev’s friends and am now filling in time at the airport. 

Self drive has been fab and given us lots of flexibility. Staying in Raglan meant our drive was across country rather than in the southbound traffic. The motorway was really congested as I drove North this morning. A great trip all round. Thanks for following us. Smiles, Bev & Jane

Girls On Tour 4

Lovely morning in Russell. Took the ferry over and back. Beautiful morning for a walk and to learn the history of Pompallier House and the book printing and binding that occurred there. It’s a rammed earth building with home made cement in the soil mix created by crushing shells. Very thick walls.

Back into Paihia...

On to Kerikeri and the historic Stone Store. The area is well landscaped and buildings surrounding the area, lovely. 

I had been looking out for the Rusty Tractor cafe and bar and was pleased to find it! Yummy lunch then off to the West Coast....

We stopped in the Kauri forests on the way and were lucky enough to stand really close to Tane Mahuta. Can see where James Cameron got his inspiration for the Tree of Life in the Avatar movie from. Awesome. On to the wild entrance to the Hokianga. Lots more yellow sand exposed by the winds on the west.

And then we arrived in Dargaville and it was pre- dinner refreshment time. The cheeses  from Pohoi have lasted well.

Girls on tour 3

After an early morning pick up and, later on at the kauri factory, a change of vehicles to the more super dooper 4WD model we were off up 90 Mile Beach... a break for photos - almost at the end. It’s actually about 90 kilometres but the drovers in the old days measured it in 30 mile lots!!
And the sand went on for ever!! Bumpy in places due to the high swells disturbing the smooth sand in the recent storms so... seatbelts on! The dirty sea areas we could see weren’t ironstone but plankton - so how about that!

Our briefing for sand boarding. Such fun.... video available on application. 😂 
Cape Reinga lighthouse, here we come. Beautiful morning and mild so our walk down and back with  fabulous vistas was superb! Couldn’t see the 3 Kings but the cloud layer gave us the idea of where to look. Amazing to be out there.



After lunch we called in to this beautiful east coast beach with very white silica sand. Gorgeous panorama. Of course my favourite mountain goat is great at finding the highest spot!!





 And home by 🍷 time. A superb trip which we would recommend!!

Girls on tour 2

Up and away early on Friday, we headed out to Sandspit where the ferry for Kawau Island departs. The houses were all very well appointed and positioned. Many new holiday houses and lots of permanent residences. We loved the beaches and views. Peaceful walks along the beaches etc.


Brick Bay winery was a lovely coffee stop. It was pouring at this stage so a walk around the sculpture park was not an option. The shop had some lovely sculptures for sale and the one below was very tempting; however I’ve bought this years art work... or have I?

On to One Tree Point near the Marsden Point refinery where we caught up with Christine and Noel Donelley. Lovely lunch, catch up and photo op - in between showers.


And on to stay at Distinction Hotel in Whangarei over the weekend to attend the Rural Women Far North Conference. Good venue and as the numbers were small this has been our base over the weekend. Sunday morning after breakfast was a superb sunny chance to walk around the waterfront - just across the road . Lovely!!

We’re off to Paihia next. Will keep you posted. 😃

Girls on Tour Northern trip - Jane & Bev

Left Blenheim at 11:25 and we were in Auckland in just over an hour. Smooth flight with the odd glimpse of land through the cloud layer well below. Picked up our wee rental easily and we were on our way. Easily navigated our way north and enjoyed the tunnels and the bridge. Should have taken lane 3 and would have been in the middle of the “coat hanger” however the clip on was fine!!
We popped into Puhoi. Lovely village and the Puhoi cheese factory and cafe was gorgeous. 

Yes, I can see why that intersection at Warkworth is a pain!! So much traffic, 6 roads, railway line etc. took us about 10 minutes, but our accomodation was just around the corner. 

Enjoyed a walk through town and back along the river before a good seafood dinner in front of a lovely log fire .