As you all know we are home! It has been such a whirlwind since we got back, Japan, New Zealand and Hong Kong seem like a long distance memory. For the sake of completeness, and because I will probably print this blog, I thought it only right that I tidy up the loose ends of our last few days in New Zealand and our short visit to Hong Kong.
Our final four nights in NZ we stayed at the Takapuna Beach Park, for several reasons. Paul’s mum has a brother who lives close by here so it would be convenient for visiting him, it was within easy commuting distance to Auckland and other tourist attractions and it was beside a beach! The park itself was a bit run down but it did have a laundry, was clean and within walking distance of a variety of restaurants and local transport – no hairdryer though! I haven’t really mentioned that before! I rated campsites on whether or not they had a hairdryer! I am eternally grateful to our stylist Vickie for the very short haircut that lasted me the eight weeks away!
The weather was quite varied over the four days as you can see! Our visit to Auckland city started off in pouring rain. The hop-on, hop-off bus let us get a feel for the city but we didn’t get many photos!
The highlight of our day was lunch at Orbit 360′. The restaurant is 623 feet up Auckland’s Sky Tower. The Tower was designed in 1994 with the foundations being started in September 1994. It was officially opened on 3rd August 1997.
Wednesday we took ourselves on a trip to Waiheke Island, another one of those most memorable days of our holiday. Just 40 minutes by boat from Auckland it is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and beaches. The island boasts more than a dozen high quality vineyards and we thought we did well, with the aid of the Fullers 360 hop-on, hop-off bus, to visit half of them during our visit.
The grounds were stunning, the weather wonderful. We were able to wander through the vineyard to the next Cellar Door.
Te Motu – rural wine shed dining! The name comes from the original Maori name foe Waiheke, Te Motu Arai Roa “Island of Long Shelter”. The Dunleavy family, the first Irish winemakers we had come across, bought 30 acres in 1988 and planeted the first vines in 1989. They have developed a “Bordeaux” style of wines comprised prodominantly from a blend of Cabernet, Sauvignon and Merlot.
Back across the fields and our next stop was Stoneyridge Vineyard which sells itself, in the explorer brochure as “one of the most romantic and exotic venues in the greater Auckland area”. Have to say – we were very disappointed in it. Our wines were presented on a tray, set out in front of us, quickly described and then we were left to it! No long conversations about the vines, wines, history, etc.
Established in 1982 by Stephen White when he returned to New Zealand after sailing a Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, this winery also specialises in Bordeaux style red wine.
After wandering across the vineyards and fields between these wineries we took a short bus ride to Batch Winery – Thomas’s Bach. The “Batch” name reflects the care of each batch of grapes to wine with unique “batch” numbers referencing vintage years and styles of wine. “Bach” is a New Zealand word that references a holiday home, often simple and by the sea where family memories are made.
After a very enjoyable lunch and tasting it was back on the bus to stop number 12 (or 2 depending on which way you are travelling) and the Goldie Estate Vineyard.
Goldie is the oldest vineyard on Waiheke Island founded by Kim and Jeanette Goldwater in 1978. In 2011 the Goldwater family transferred the business to the University of Auckland so that a world leading wine science centre could be established alongside the ongoing boutique Goldie Wines operations. The vineyard and cellar door is operated completely by students. The enthusiasm, passion and energy of the students we met was contagious, including Simon from the Kent who was on his first day at the vineyard!
We had just enough time to fit in one more before we needed to head back to the ferry and next on the bus route was Cable Bay Vineyard. This has to have been the quickest tasting in history! I think we were there for maybe all of 15 minutes as the Cellar Door was closing!
I think I can safely say we sampled a great variety of wines – the day certainly flew by! If ever we were this direction again we would add a stopover on Waiheke Island. Stunningly beautiful, lovely people and plenty to do and drink!
Then it was time to start tidying up and packing for the start of our journey home but not before a visit to those relatives I mentioned earlier. We had a lovely afternoon with Paul’s Uncle David and Aunt Eileen. David moved to New Zealand in 1962 (a very good year if I say so myself). During a visit home in 1968 he met Eileen at a dance. Planning on returning to New Zealand he told her the score and asked her to marry him. Needless to say she said yes and emigrated with him.
Our last day in New Zealand and we headed towards Auckland Airport. We had decided to stay in a hotel overnight to allow us to sort out our luggage and the van which we had to drop off early the next morning – water and gas filled and toilet empty! The New Zealanders have a great system were you can just top up your gas tank – you don’t have to exchange it for a full one! £3.50NZD (that’s about £1.50 to our UK readers), that’s all the gas we used in four weeks – all those campsite kitchens paid off!
With less than 24hrs left in this fabulous country and within a mile of the airport how surprised were we to come across one more cellar door! Villa Maria! It would have been rude not to have stopped – we drink this at home, needed lunch and had an afternoon to pass – it’s ok I’m not trying to convince anyone! What a fabulous place…..
Our journey through Auckland Airport was textbook, the flight to Hong Kong long. We arrived at our hotel around 10pm exhausted. There had been no hint of trouble in Hong Kong when we booked but we had been watching news reports about the student riots during our last few days in NZ. Our hotel room was on the 39th floor and had a wonderful view out over the city – no sign of any trouble. It also a view the other way!
Sunday we took the underground to the waterfront promenade and the Avenue of Stars. We then took a ferry to Hong Kong Island. We arrived just before 1pm and were able to avail of free seats on the big wheel before taking a local bus up to The Peak.
Victoria Peak (The Peak) is a hill on the western half of Hong Kong island. It has an elevation of 1,811ft and has amazing views from the top of two sides of the island, the harbour and the ocean sides. There are a number of restaurants and retail outlets at the top as well as a park. A must see on any visit to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Park covers an area of 80,000sq m and was opened in May 1991 at a cost of HK$398. An oasis of calm in a busy city.
Tired from our flight and trekking about we headed back to the hotel to avail of the “afternoon tea” which came as part of our free lounge access and the Wine Tasting in the evening.
Overnight there was a lot of trouble in Hong Kong with the protesters taking over the university and a seige ongoing with the police. The advice from the hotel was to stay local – and we were glad we did as Mary had difficulty getting back from the harbour area. So the next two days we stayed in and around our hotel visiting local markets and parks. Protests started at 1pm the first day and 5pm the second. We certainly got value for money from our club access!
There were also some amazing food markets in Kowloon….
A note on our hotel – it is home to more than 1,500 pieces of contemporary art estimated to be valued at HK$35 million!
Some pictures of the street damage from the protests.
H&P Adventures 