Stop 1 - Hawera

Well after packing up the car like the Beverly Hillbillies we set off with Dad behind the wheel. It was a fairly uneventful drive to Wanganui where we stopped for lunch and ate our ham and tomato sandwiches and boiled eggs. 

Then it was my turn to drive and I took us through to our first stop - Hawera.

Kiwi Court Motel, Hawera has FREE WI-FI YAY

We settled in and then headed off to the local Park. Very nice it was too, with free wi-fi! I'm not sure what the internet situation will be like after this so don't hold your breath...

We discovered a lovely bronze sculpture dedicated to a local Mayor. It was rather like Peter Pan, with children on the top, fairies around the middle and animals at the bottom. I really liked it, especially the hares!

This was rather nice

Fairies all around

My favourites the hares

I managed to get a lamb korma for tea and we settled in for the night and planned the next section of the trip. Over a cup of tea for course.

 Tomorrow we plan on visiting the local Museum, which is said to be the best private museum in the country. So sounds like will be worth a look.

The Great Kiwi Road Trip - New Year 2016

Just for a bit of a twist I thought I would post updates of my Great Kiwi Road Trip, undertaken with the folks. Mum is 88 and Dad a sprightly 86. I offered to share the driving with Dad as we spend a fun summer holiday like we did back in the day when I was a just a girl and the long hot summers seemed to go on forever...

We had an old black Austin A40 that took us around the North Island, with roof-rack loaded up with a big canvas tent, lilos, camp stretchers, sleeping bags, and gems such as the kerosene lamp that I still remember the smell of fondly. 

She looked something like this - although perhaps not quite as shiny!

Back then the indicators weren't flashing lights, but these crazy little semaphore indicators that popped out (if you were lucky) like orange ears!

Semaphore indicator

Example of a Kerosene Hurricane Lamp - I loved watching Dad getting it going

I recall staying at Kennedy Motor Camp in Napier a few times - there was a park with a playground rocking horse which I loved. They don't seem to make these any more. Pity. Hours were spent getting lost in my imagination with my two partners in crime - my older sisters!

My favourite kind of playground ride. I had to be in the front of course!

Fast-forward to Summer 2015-16 and I'm looking forward to recreating some of the fun and frolics of the past. Jump in the car and lets get this road trip underway!