The North Island 1

 .                                              Wineries everywhere


Had a sunny, beautiful, and at times very windy ferry crossing from Picton (on the South Island) to Wellington (on the North Island). Fortunately for Craig, the wind only came on towards the end, and the ferry was big, so we only noticed it when standing on the deck. The wind was strong enough, though, that I could not keep myself, and the camera still, despite the deck being totally level.

Link to North Island 1



We are now in Havelock North, doing our only house sit in NZ. All we have to do is water their plants, bring in the mail, and assure the house is occupied. This family will be going to Lapland in December, to see Santa! Mom is English, so I guess when you go to see family in Europe from here, a little side trip north is no big deal.
Finding sits has been much more difficult here, than was the case in Australia. They commonly get snapped up the same day the listing appears.

Wellington seems like a nice city - and it is definitely very hilly. Craig read it usually is windy there. We only spent one night, but enjoyed the walk through parts of the Botanical Gardens, down to the central part, for dinner.

We had fun chatting with our hosts at the Havelock North Airbnb we booked for a night, before the house sit started. He is 76, and picks grapes with 79 others, mostly retirees, at a local vineyard. The season lasts about 6 weeks, and it is not full time, or even daily. The wine made from handpicked grapes is more expensive, the work pays well, and he clearly seemed to enjoy doing it.
This couple will travel around the world starting in July - one son is in San Diego, and another son is in London. Then to Bangkok to visit friends who are moving there, from here. She grows gorgeous roses, walks, and they both bike. A friend of hers gave her grapes from her own garden vines - the sweetest grapes I have ever tasted.

Random comments:
⁃ have several times in NZ noticed female public works employees, at work fixing roads, and not only directing traffic. Seems much more common than at home.
⁃ the drive to Havelock North through the mountains was very beautiful, and the scenery seemed slightly different, with more variety than e.g. around Christchurch, despite there being no snow capped peaks here.
⁃ seems most school kids wear uniforms
⁃ in Wellington Craig noticed an electronic advertisement screen at chest level, by a bus stop - seems people don’t vandalize things here
⁃ our initial impression of everything here being clean and fresh, remains unchanged. Both the neighborhoods, central areas of towns, and nature in general
⁃ we are more reminded of the USA than of Europe when it comes to the looks of roads, and the neighborhoods. But the way they plan frequent & publicly supported road side rest areas, well maintained roads, green areas in neighborhoods, free public restrooms both in cities and along the roads, seems more European (or at least Northern European..)  Craig believes it is because people here accept the fact taxes are needed to help maintain things like infra structure, and the enjoyment of nature.
⁃ earthquakes seem to be a big part of history, and also of the present here, which we didn’t know. Have fortunately not felt any tremors, and only one family near Christchurch mentioned they feel small ones pretty regularly. We have seen Tsunami Evacuation Route signs, just like in e.g. Hawaii.
⁃ we have seen several homes, in different parts of NZ, which look like what we learned are Queenslanders in Australia. This style might be more common here than on the South Island.

We had no idea the area around Havelock North is this beautiful, and varied. Vineyards in every direction, flat areas closer to the ocean, but rolling, and also steep,
hills inland. Havelock North boasts it is the ‘Most Beautiful Suburb of NZ’.
But we did hear, and see many motorcyclists when we were out riding on Easter Saturday. They were loud, and travelled super fast, just like at home.
And young guys seem to be the same everywhere - in our neighborhood, on a residential street, I have twice seen cars going WAY faster than allowed.

Napier is the closest bigger town, and we really like their waterfront area. Playgrounds for kids and adults alike, picnic areas including some with grills, saw some gorgeous flowers by monuments, and lots of people out enjoying the day (Good Friday).
Napier claims it is the ‘Art Deco Capital of NZ’ - and there certainly are many nice & well preserved buildings. The town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in the then-fashionable Art Deco style. There is a long avenue with large Canary Island Palms (which we also have seen in other parks and in Australia). Along the ocean front, there were lots of Norfolk Island Pine trees, which we thought were monkey puzzle trees. Craig is fascinated by the latter, because they are known as a living fossil. They existed long before most other trees we now see.

Seems Kiwis, like Americans, like to be known as the best of something.. Maybe this is an international phenomenon now.