Bay of Plenty

October 26th through October 28 is the 3 day Labour Day Holiday here in New Zealand.  So equipped with perfect spring weather, a small bag of clothes, our backpacks filled with tramping essentials, we set off for the Bay of Plenty, one of New Zealand's most popular  holiday spots.  Our first stop was Paeroa, a small town known for its antiques and designated the entrance to Bay of Plenty.  After a spot of tea and coffee and some retail therapy, we continued on to Waihi which is nicknamed New Zealand's Heart of Gold.  Yep ---- David found  gold!

This is quite a site!  We were able to walk all along the rim.  This is Martha's Mine and is still operating though is scheduled to close for good in 2014.  In the early 1900's it was the focus of the town and very successful.  It had been closed for a while and reopened in the late 1980's when the price of gold went up.

The pump house on site.

This gold mining truck makes David look diminutive.  Check out those tires!

A gear of some sort used in the mining process.  No I am NOT stuck!

                                   View of the rolling hills of Waihi from the top of the mine.

Now it was time to drive on to Katikati and check in at the Cotswold Lodge B&B where Alison and Des were our hosts and new friends.  After a chat and cuppa we were on our way to explore town.

Known as the mural town Katikati is chock full of art.  There are several murals painted on buildings throughout the town depicting the history of the town.  They are incredibly well done.

That's just a sample!

This town also has a Haiku Pathway - the largest collection of haiku stones outside Japan.  These are part of a unique millenium art project.  The pathway meanders along the Uretara Stream in town.  Hugh river boulders are engraved with these word paintings.  Here are just a few:

stationary bus

walking we visit places

within each other

over smooth grey stones

summer trickles away

Katikati dawn

heron call from river mouth

raindrops on mural

seated shadow

a butterfly pauses

on my hat

Clearly I just loved this.  Then along the Uretara walkway there were also incredible sculptures.  There is an open air art organization which keeps all this art looking beautiful and keeps it expanding.

Me and my Moa!

Before a wonderful dinner David sits with his new Katikati friend.  Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

At dinner we were joined by a few locals Mary and John  who own a kiwifruit and avocado farm.  They suggested some must do's while in the Bay of Plenty and gave us their contact info if we needed anything while in New Zealand ----- so nice!

Day 2 of our big labour day weekend started with a fun breakfast with the other quests and then a trip to Mount Maunganui ("The Mount") a fun resort town.  Of course we had to climb the mountain which is a dormant volcano --- this was rather steep and had a gazillion steps up one side.  Here are some views from the top.

This last pix is of Mount Maunganui from the bottom.  Mauao means "caught by the light of the dawn".  The beautiful white sand beaches go on for many km.  We were able to picnic and stroll along the beach before heading for one more tramp that day.

An overview of Mount Maunganui. 

We returned to Waihi beach and pushed on to do the Orakawa Bay Tramp.  The weather was still beautiful and this tramp went along the cliffs and through the bush to Orakawa Bay --- Just beautiful!

David in the bush --- many pohutukawa trees. And no he did not push this tree over with his brute strength! This trail eventually led down to a small enclosed bay.

I will end this blog with another haiku.  Our last day of this wonderful weekend will have its own blog.

beneath the moon

to the heron's slow step

towards frog-sound

I'm afraid we were moving toward a fish and chips dinner, gobbled on the deck at the lodge. Thus our own haiku:

Exhausted from tramping

so much to see

Peaceful deck dinner