ruth and ed in nz

New years Eve

This was a lovely way to call in the new year in the absence of friends. With not a rendition of Auld lang syne in ear shot.
Having gone round the east cape we ended back up at Gizzy (Gisbourne to non residents). Our intention was to go to the Rhythm and vines festival as it was well advertised on the internet and some good kiwi bands were playing as well as a european DJ headlining (Mylo). When we arrived in Gizzy we went to the i-site to pick up some last minute tickets. Worse than there being a shortage, there was ANOTHER concert to choose from. So the seeds of indecision were sown and we spent the rest of the day deciding what to do and sunbathing/picnicing/swimming. By the time we had tossed a flip flop to choose between the two Rythm and vines had sold out. So we headed back up the cape a bit to Tolaga bay and the Ru Uawa festival.
Just to put the area in context Gizzy is the first City in the world to see the sun every day, so new years is a big event. So big in fact that the town population had doubled. This meant it was nice to get out of the relative crowds (it was like Brighton on Saturday morning or Guilford late night Christmas Shopping crowds, except most people were wearing shorts and sun glasses)
Once in Tolaga bay we found a nice campsite spot amongst the hundreds of freedom campers pitching in for the new year. So we had a few “Steinies” and some local wine whilst watching the waves come in. So once in the mood and as the sun was heading towards the sea for the last time in 2006 we made our way to the festival site.
In the queue at the gate we were the only ‘Pakeha’ (spotted by a camera man and interviewed a bimbling Ed in full public school boy speak!) We were also the only ones without wellies and an umbrella. The lady on the gate giving out the hand stamsp had the traditional Maori Lady lower lip and chin tattoo. Once inside and having negotiated various piles of haystacks we got a good spot in the crowds and watched some good bands. As the evening progressed we found out more about the “east coasty party” and how Renee Gaia is a popular country singer. It didn’t matter when the new year was called in 6 minutes late as the Maori new year is in june sometime…..

28th December 2007
A walk around Lake Tutira to kick off the morning (a very sunny morning typically – as we had chosen not to do Tongariro due to bad weather yesterday) before a long drive to Gisbourne (Gizzy to the locals) where we asked in a garage about the ‘jingling’ noises coming from the wheels when we go over bumps. Yep – the shocks are wearing out and it’s $500 to fix. Can it wait a few weeks? Yes – safe to drive – ok we’ll sort it in Christchurch once we have jobs.
Quick food shop and continued round the cape and up to Tolaga Bay. Stopped at Cooks Cove and walked over farmland, down in to some lush forest (about 350 steps down) to more farmland and the sea. The tide was out so we walked over the rocks (past a very smelly dead cow) round the corner of the cove where we could see the wharf at Tolaga Bay – NZ’s longest pier! We walked to the Hole in the Rock – a natural archway formed out of the limestone rock.
Took a walk as the sun was setting along the beach at Tolaga Bay and merrily found a pub at the end for a quiet drink before walking back in the moonlight. Spent the night free camping kiwi-style on the beach.

29th December 2007
Drove up to the top of the cape (Te Araroa) and found NZ’s largest Pohutukawa tree in the grounds of a local school. Pohutukawa trees are also know as the NZ Christmas tree as it flowers red around Christmas time – they are huge and get really old and knotted. They don’t grow so tall, but they wind around and their branches hang down to the floor. They’re really beautiful and this one was massive.
Drove round to Hick’s Bay in the hope of getting a fishing charter but he’d already gone out for the day. Found a beautiful hidden bay and swam for as long as the cold water would let us. Continued round the top of the cape to Hawai – a long stretch of grey sand covered with driftwood and chilled out at the campsite in the sunshine for the afternoon.

30th December 2007
Drove round to Opotiki – a relatively large town – for some internet and, on the off chance, called my mum’s work friend, Joan, who lives in Ohope for the best 6 months of the year. Ohope is a small town just west of Opotiki looking over the Bay of Plenty. Joan was very welcoming – especially as we had called an hour before we turned up on her doorstep – and took us for a walk along the beach which was totally deserted, then fed us a yummy lunch.
We got on our way again after lunch as we wanted to walk the Tauranga Track in the Waioeka Forest. It followed a river along one side through forest, offered us a ‘boots off’, refreshing river crossing, then a meadow walk back along the other side. We spent the night in the Manganuku Gorge courtesy of another DOC campsite.

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