Early rise with the hens cackling outside. Also another unfamiliar noise - then notice there is s Californian Quail sitting in the tree close by - and the noise is coming from that.
As we do not have too far to go today a relaxed breakfast is the order of the day before we set off for our next stop, Whakatane.
Part of the drive is along the same road as we used to go to Cathedral Cove so we were expecting the windy bits. The next bit was mainly through farmland so probably would be pretty boring driving. Turns out the remainder of the road on the east side of the Cormandel Peninsula is the same up, down, and multiple hairpin bends as the previous 40km. It's a good drive but a little slower than anticipated!
It required a coffee stop half way along in Tairua.
Anyone want to join Eric for a cycle ride?
Tairua was a pleasant little place, with lots of beach and estuary
- and an art gallery shop; say no more!
We also thought we'd have a look at how the other half lives - we had read that Auckland's rich and famous live on a peninsula opposite Tairua, in a place called Pauanui
Eric contemplates a swim.
At first we could not see what all the hype was about, the houses looked small and very much the holiday home. Admittedly, each house does have an individual jetty out the back, with a boat in each one (they are only small boats though!)
As we may have mentioned before, it's Labour Day weekend and we were thinking seaside town and public holiday = super busy.
I wish our hometown beaches were that empty on a bank holiday weekend
Then we take a tour of the other side of town, and this is a bit posher; they even have a mobile wood-fired pizza van on the grass next to the wharf - street food a la Pauanui.
Eric contemplates having a pizza
The wharf.
We drive along the street adjacent to the wharf...
What?!
An aeroplane on the lawn and a hanger as a garage?
They even have an grass airstrip alongside
And it's not just the one house that has a light aircraft on the lawn
Onward we go.
Reach the Tauranga area, we have been here before so can drive quickly past. What's this? A new road, and it's a toll road. Have to do emergency re-navigation to avoid.
Having regained the main road the other side of the toll we are now on a major highway. We know we are on the right road as we pass the giant Kiwi fruit again
A green one
And a gold one
We can see an island - is this White Island? No, it's Whale Island and is a bird sanctuary.
There's also a fishing competition on
Back on the road we now make good time, arriving at new B&B (situated about 20 minutes away from Whakatane) at about five o'clock. The gardens are like an English parkland landscape, birds are singing and sun is shining. We are treated to a nibbles and drinks greeting. Cheese, smoked salmon, chutney and crackers plus a Fejoa and Pear fizzy drink. Excellent.
Feeling much refreshed we head into the town to have a reccie, find a restaurant and book a trip to White Island tomorrow.
At the booking office we are told that the trip is on and they are pleased that they have so much interest they may have to use their bigger boat - it holds 80 passengers, or even use 2 boats.
We are less please with the idea of a crowded boat and decide to give the boat trip a miss.
The estuary looks good in the evening light and Eric always enjoys a good stroll along a promenade.
Eric pals up with Kiwi Boy.
But Moko the dolphin ignored him.
It might be a good sunset. We can see Mount Edgecumbe in the distance so know we are on the road back to the B&B. It an extinct volcano and looks like you imagine a child's drawing of a volcano would look.
Sunset has fizzled out again
Bed is comfy...Zzzzzzzzzz