Tongaporutu
We are at the foot of the Volcano " Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont ".
Reaching an altitude of 2,518 metres and with a perfect conical shape – its regular slopes make it one of the most symmetrical volcanoes in the world – it is often compared to Mount Fuji in Japan.
The structure of the volcano, composed of andesite volcanic rock, was created by the accumulation of lava flows released by successive eruptions.
Although the last eruption of the volcano took place at the end of the 18th century, it is still considered active and is closely monitored thanks to seismometers spread over the Mount.
Arrived at the parking lot of the information center, we have trouble finding a place to park. With a little patience a motorist leaves his place and we dive on the site.
Several hikes of any level and duration are proposed.
We chose the " Veronica Walk " and here we are for 2 hours of hiking through very dense vegetation
The objective is to see the top of the volcano under a clear sky ... This will not be our case. Clouds surround the peak ... Too bad.
Tonight we spend the night " Tongapuru " by the sea.
We were not able to see the "Tree Sisters", rock formations of the coast standing in the water of the Tasman Sea, the sea being in its rising tide phase
New Plymouth
We drive up the coast along the "Tasman Sea" which goes around the "Egmont National Park"
This very pretty road that crosses the cliffs leads us to " Opunake "
A small town, very famous for its black sandy beaches, like the Kina Beach Road which are the best in the area of Taranaki for windsurfing and kitesurfing .
Small lunch break at the top of the cliff, starting point for a short hike the "Clifftop Garden"
Then, the weather being gloomy, we continue our route to "Lake Rotamaru" where we spend the night.
Whanganui
This morning, we were supposed to hike in a nearby gorge, but it's no longer accessible due to a tree falling on the trail.
So we continue towards "Whanganui" or "Wanganui."
This town is known for the national park that borders it. The mild climate and abundant food encouraged Polynesians to settle in large numbers in the region upon their arrival.
Europeans did the same in 1830, during colonization, which caused numerous land disputes with the local populations. Its town center has some beautiful buildings and interesting attractions.
Unable to find a parking space in the town center for our large campervan, we take refuge at the top of town.
So, we travel throughout the town to visit the various museums.
* Whanganui Regional Museum: It houses a wonderful collection of Maori objects, including splendid wakas and several rooms retracing the epic tales of the first settlers.
* Sarjeant Gallery: It contains no less than 5,500 works of New Zealand art, dating from the 1840s to the present day. Many movements and artists are represented.
We take advantage of being in a city to go to the hairdresser (not the best!!!), do some laundry, and do some shopping.
In the late afternoon, we settle down at Springval Park for the night
Palmerston North
We leave our friends and hope to see them in France at the end of June.
The weather is still gloomy and it should improve.
Today we cross the region "Manawatu" famous for its hiking and adventure sports.
" Palmerston" first stop of the day.
This town is located on the banks of the Manawatū River, on a site purchased from the Māori in 1864. It is the sixth city in New Zealand, very student and multicultural.
After our visit to the tourist office, we tour this small town starting with the square " or city center. The iconic 1957 Hopwood Clock Tower and the "Edge Art Center" are the main landmarks.
Then we visit the " New Zealand Rugby Museum "
It is surprisingly here that the main museum of New Zealand is dedicated to the oval, to say the All Blacks, its haka and its legendary players.
Created more than 50 years ago and since managed by passionate volunteers who act as guides, the museum traces the history of New Zealand rugby from its origins (with a first match on May 14, 1870 in Nelson) to today.
Even for those who are not fans of the sport, the museum is extraordinary and very well documented ...
We finish our tour at the " Te Manawa Museum "
This museum has a strong Maori orientation and includes a lot of social history, information about native animals and wetlands, as well as an interactive scientific exhibition on the Manawatu River.
We spend the night on site in a parking reserved for the campers.
Wellington
It rained all night but the weather is getting better.
We don’t leave early to visit " Wellington " which gives us time to contact our rental company so that he finds us an electrician to repair all the "usb " sockets that do not work.
The appointment being fixed, we go directly to the garage to leave the motorhome.
We order an Uber for our first visit. The driver, despite his GPS, is a little lost and finally he leaves us not far from our arrival point.
Wellington is located on the banks of the Strait of Cook subject to strong winds from where it gets its nickname of Windy Wellington.
Political centre of the country, Wellington is also characterized by an intense cultural life, particularly with regard to film production and theatrical creation, add the two flagships that are the NewZeeland and the National Ballet.
The wooden houses with colorful facades on the surrounding hills contribute to the landscape and charm of this town with steep streets.
We visit :
* Old Saint Paul: Designed by the Reverend Fred Thatcher, this wonderful former Anglican cathedral was created in 1186. Despite its modest dimensions, it is an exemplary example of neo-Gothic architecture, with a ship-hull-like ceiling built from native wood.
* Parliament: One of the oldest active parliaments in the world. In fact, it is not one but three buildings that make up the Parliament:
- The parliamentary library: a building built between 1883 of 1899 in a Victorian Gothic style.
- The Parliament: an Edwardian style building where the debate room is located.
- The Beehive: this is the most recognizable building of all because it has a very special shape. This building dates from 1970, it is the most used by the government since it is here that are the offices of various ministers, deputies as well as many meeting spaces.
For lunch we eat an indian meal in a mall then we pick up the camper before returning to our friends.
We finish the end of the afternoon organizing the rest of our program.
New pleasant evening around a good meal and good wines.
Wellington
Wake up at 5:15 this morning ... our boat is scheduled for 7:30.
We arrive in Picton, a port city, after driving at night on a winding road. The other vehicles are well visible thanks to their headlights which facilitates driving.
The port area is complete and we have to cross between other vehicles before arriving in the transit area where the vehicles are dispatched according to their category.
The boarding is done quickly and we find refuge in one of the lounges where we can connect our computers to work.
The crossing lasts 3 h 15 and we spend all this time to update our site and especially to book our tickets for our return to France.
The Cook Strait separates the two islands of New Zealand. Considered one of the most spectacular sea crossings in the world, it allows to combine business with pleasure and discover wonderful landscapes.
Unfortunately for us the weather changes quickly and we can not enjoy the surroundings.
Once at port, we have spotted a special parking camper not far from the city center.
Our first visit to this island is dedicated to the museum "Te Papa Tongarewa" which means "the place of treasures of this land"
Built in 1998, this complex is spread over six floors where exhibitions are distributed on a wide range of themes such as the discovery of geological specificities, fauna, flora, volcanoes and marine life.
The must-see museum is the Maori universe, the creation of the nation by the Treaty of Waitangi, colonization, history of immigrants and refugees.
Then we take our motorhome to find "Catherine and David" who kindly invited us to stay with them in their beautiful house surrounded by a huge garden.
We meet the mother of Catherine, her brother, one of her sons and one of her nephews.
We spend a lovely evening getting acquainted.
ROAD BOOK 206
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