Day 64 Tuesday 2nd September
It had been a cold night so although I was awake at 7am I didn’t venture out until the camper heater had warmed up the van at 8 o’clock. After breakfast and a shower we set off via the site shop to speak to Richard about Bob playing golf tomorrow. Being a golfer himself he offered us some advice as to which courses were the best and we plumped for one about half an hour south at Turangi. He said he would phone them for us and offered Bob his own clubs to borrow – this was amazing as we hadn’t even paid for the site fees as he kept saying pay me later. Our first stop was the BP station the empty the waste water from the van as the site had no facilities like this then onto the Aratiatia Dam – apparently every day at 10, 12 and 2pm they opened the sluice gates to let the water from the lake cascade down the ravine into the river valley, we arrived in time for the 12 o’clock opening – wow was it spectacular. The river filled up so quickly and when the gates were closed the water level dropped as quickly. Our next stop was the Lava Glass company where we paid 5$ each to watch Chris making glass star fish – a lady explained how it all happened and the star fish was so lovely that we bought one so she took off the 5$ each from the price. We also bought a perfume bottle which we had posted back to the uk as it was very heavy. From here we drove to the Borefield Lookout where the thermal waters are captured in hundreds of pipes and used to drive turbines to make electricity – the pipes ran up and down the huge valley and from our vantage point high above the valley we could see the whole site. Back on the main road, we crossed to the other side so that Bob could go and look at a 9 hole course called the Wairakei International Golf Course, it was very cheap and in good condition but at only 9 holes he decided to stick with the one Richard was setting up for him. We were aiming next for the Huka Falls but we got side tracked to the Prawn Farm on the way. We stopped to see what there was there and found that we could fish for prawns and any we caught could be taken away or cooked in their kitchen for free, we had missed the last tour of the day so she reduced the price for us and before we knew it we were sitting on the edge of pool no. 3 with a bamboo cane in our hands and a hook in the water. After a few mins I got a tug on my line and I waited (as told) but nothing more happened so I lifted my hook out to find the bait gone! In the meantime Bob said “I’ve got one” but he got away too. Then a few minutes later Bob got another tug and this time he waited patiently and he lifted out a large prawn ! Thank god it was his, it was ugly and it fought him getting the hook out and then it splashed about trying to get out of the bucket. A young Chinese girl a few minutes later caught one too – she squealed with delight but couldn’t touch it either. Then Bob got another one, this time a big bugger with long blue legs. It was nearly time to stop as the fishing finished at 3pm so we proudly took our catch back to the restaurant to be cooked. While this was being done, we visited the facilities and found a notice telling us that male prawns spend their life fighting other male prawns and if they win enough fights they become a stud and don’t have to fight anymore. Interestingly, they have 2 “thingys” and their legs go blue – one of Bobs prawns had exceedingly long blue legs – so we put a stop to his hanky panky ! Then Bob decided to have a go at the golf challenge – to get a golf ball in a ring in the lake – he came very close a couple of times. Our lunch was now ready so we went back to the restaurant to taste our catch – yummy. Next stop was Huka Falls a fantastic free view from the lookout point then we walked right down beside them – roaring water cascading over the rocks – fantastic sight. We had passed the honey bee centre on the way to the falls but didn’t stop so we went back to it now and tasted some strange honey concoctions – honey and blackberry ? They also made wines and liqueurs from honey which we tasted but their “Baileys type” wasn’t a patch on the real thing so we didn’t buy anything. On the way back to the campsite we stopped in the town of Taupo for a wander until they closed at 5pm. When we got back to the site, Richard the owner had lit the log fire in the cabin by our van and put the tv on and said we were welcome to go in. Fabulous – a roaring log fire, so while Bob cooked tea I sat and typed up some more of my diary. TV was a bit disappointing as they only got 3 channels and 1 wasn’t a very good picture, (they did have Coronation Street on but from about 6 months ago !! ) but it was cosy.
Day 65 Wednesday 3rd September
Bob had arranged to play golf at Turangi this morning so we called at the site shop to see Richard before left to collect his set of golf clubs he had promised to lend him. The morning was a bit drizzly so we set off south round the headland and entered a wonderland of landscape so different to previous, miles of wiggly roads, hairpin bends and up and down hills following the edge of Taupo Lake which is 660 sq miles. We found the golf course thanks to Richards instructions and the man in the office, John, said there were only 6 people on the course, a 5 ball and 1 man on his own and that I could play 18 holes for 25$ !! Bob set off at 11am into the drizzly rain and mist, I returned to the campervan in the warm with a coffee, biscuit and my computer to finish writing my diary to date. Some 2.5 hrs later he reappeared very wet, not only his feet but on the 7th hole he used a water fountain for a drink and it drench him !! ha ha. Apparently he played the course to par off a 12 handicap – so well done Bob. It was still drizzly so after a sandwich we set off further south to the ski fields at Whakapapa (pronounced fakapapa in maori). Almost immediately the scenery changed as we rounded a corner – the snow on mount Raupehu (this was Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings) was just on the top but as we climbed the snow increased on the side of the road until we reached the village and the ski resort some 2,500 m up. There were hundreds of people on the slopes (I did wish I could just put on my skis and have a go) but Bob wanted to just look so we had a drink and watched them for a while before going back to the carpark. It took about 1.5 hrs to drive back to the campsite and Richard was pleased to see us, with his clubs ( he was very trusting to let us take them – we hadn’t even paid for our 2 nights site fee at this point). Once again he had lit the fire and Bob cooked dinner while I tried to get online (problem with the signal here) I managed to speak to Lucy for a few minutes then went back to the kitchen to see how dinner was doing – Bob and Richard were still talking the whole round of golf and the sausages were still sitting in the pan – uncooked. We watched tv after dinner then went outside again in the cold and the dark at 9pm and managed to log onto the webcam with Lucy again so that Bob could talk to her– it was 8am in the morning there – this seems very strange.
Day 66 Thursday 4th September
This was our last morning on this site, we were up early and in the site shop at 8.10 to say bye to Richard (and to pay him)– he had been open since 7am and said “thought you were having an early start “ ? We set off for the west side of the island to Waitomo where they had caves. The scenery was very similar all the way, windey roads, lots of cattle and sheep, a few deer and goats, undulating hills and ravines and wonderful mountains on the horizon. We arrived at the caves just before 11am and were told that we had just missed a tour so the next would be at 1pm. We could do the tour of the glow worm caves now and come back for the other tour later so that’s what we did. They were amazing, 25,000 of them stuck to the roof of the caves, it was like fairly lights. Apparently they aren’t really worms they are maggots with a light on their end to attract insects that pass through the cave which they feed off until one day they go into their cocoon, 3 weeks later they emerge as a fly but with no mouth so they mate, lay their eggs then they starve and die in about 5 days, their life span being only 11 months.- just incase you were interested ! We had been recommended a restaurant in the village for lunch so we walked up to it and Bob had Lamb Pie and Mushy Peas and I had Smoked Salmon on tiny roasty potatoes and salad with a yoghurt dressing. At 1pm we were back at the Aranui Caves which were only discovered in 1910 by a Mr. Aranui while walking his dog, who chased a pig into a concealed entrance to the cave, thus the name of the caves. These had incredible formations, huge stalagmites and stalactites, obviously well lit for effect but very impressive, we noticed a couple in the group who had been in the same restaurant as us and got chatting – they came from Brisbane, she was a teacher and they were going on to the places we had just left so after the cave visit we stood for some time in the carpark talking before we said goodbye at 2.30pm. We had a long journey to get back to near Auckland before dark (some 300 kms) so we pressed on and arrived at the first campsite we stayed at on our first night around 5pm. We spent the evening catching up with the diary, empting the cupboards and repacking our suitcases ready for the morning.
Day 67 Friday 5th September - Fiji
We got up early so that we could be in the showers before everyone else – wrong hoards of teenager girls were up early too and taking forever in them. Back at the camper breakfast was whatever was left over and off we went to drop the van off. While waiting for them to check we hadn’t taken a chunk out of it anywhere we chatted to a guy on his own who was sporting a black eye and a large stitched cut on his head – he looked a bit thuggish but too old for that – it turned out he was a NZ Sailor on a cruise liner that liked to Power Glide on his weekends off – he had had a fall ending up in a tree and having to be cut out – his jawbone had dislocated and they had to cut into his head to flick it back into place – not a thug then ! The airport was lovely and new and we sailed through passport and custom control to wait for our flight with Air Pacific which was uneventful. We eventually arrived at the Hotel after waiting around in the airport at Nadi for a coach which wouldn’t go without passengers that were booked on it – after 45 mins they decided that the passengers weren’t coming so he wouldn’t go anywhere – our other option was to pay for a taxi at twice the price (around $120) or hire a car – so we hired a car for 4 days. Possibly a bad move - we risked life driving in the dark down their highway which was potholed and littered with dogs, children, cows etc … and when we got here they put us in a twin bedded bure – too tired to argue at the time, we didn’t unpack, just had a long hot soak in the bath and ordered room service for dinner.
Day 68 Saturday 6th September
We awoke to brilliant sunshine, this side of the island is a bit windy but it’s a warm wind and after the cold of New Zealand we aren’t complaining. This morning after a buffet breakfast we asked about moving to a double bedded room – one would be available after 11am. Bob went off to play in a putting competition and I joined the Bebe Spa champagne trip, where we started at the chapel they use for weddings. Bob won the golf and his prize – 1 persons fee on a sailing boat for the day to Schooner Island, with breakfast, bbq lunch, snorkeling and fishing included, and passing close to Treasure Island, Bounty Island, SouthSea Island and Malamala Island– I have to pay $169 to go too but it is a full day, 8am til 7pm so we are going on Monday. My spa treatment trip was wonderful – high above the hotel in an oasis of calm – I have booked to go for a revitalizing wrap and water massage tomorrow while Bob plays 18 holes of golf at the Fijian Hotel Golf Course 10 mins down the road. While we waited for the new Bure to be ready we took the sun for an hour by the pool, had a swim and after watching Coconut Husking skills on the beach, went for a walk along it – the wind was quite strong and we felt like we were being sand blasted so we veered off to a local bar and had a coffee and an beer – this came to $6 (less than £2 ! so we bought some water here as its much cheaper than the Hotel – 5 star Hotel = 5 star prices ! Our new Bure was ready so we went to unpack our suitcases at last (some clothes hadn’t seen the light of day for 2 weeks !). I am so glad we moved, now we have an alarm clock and a double shower with an amazing shower head that does everything ! After catching up on the blog and having our complimentary champagne and canapés we went out for dinner in the main restaurant – Bob had the steak and I had fresh Reef Snapper ( with lots of teeth!). A baileys in the lounge afterwards then a walk and back to the room to watch Indians Jones new film that I have been trying see for weeks.
Day 69 Sunday 7th September
This morning the sun was up and the wind had dropped from yesterday, Bob was excited about his round of golf which he had a drawn map of how to get there. Only 10 mins up the road the man said. I on the other hand was booked in for a spa treatment. Bob left at 9am and I sat on the terrace and finally got my paper and pencil out to do some drawings until I had to be at the Bebe Spa at 9.45. Treatment done and revitalized I went up to the bar area above the spa to wait for Bob to come and look at the view from up here. The lady in the bar chatted to me as she said she was lonely up here (mainly only people using the spa came here as no children allowed). Bob arrived and we had a drink before returning to the room to collect our pool stuff and went for lunch. Neither of us were very hungry so we shared a pizza then a swim and settled with the book by the pool. An hour or so later, Karen Marie who I had met on Saturday at the Spa Tour, and her husband Richard from Wellington, NZ arrived on the sunbeds by us and we got chatting, a couple of cocktails and 2 hrs later we parted company having had a lovely afternoon with them dto shower and decide what we were going to do for dinner this evening.
Day 70 Monday 8th September
We had to be at reception for 8am this morning for our day out on a boat to Schooner Island. We made it with time to spare so sat in deep leather chairs and watched to world go by – slowly – until the blue bus arrived just after 8am to pick us up – we were the last pickup but within 10 mins of setting off one of the passengers was very ill so we stopped in the first village “Sigatoka” and dropped off 3 ladies to get a taxi back to their hotel and sort out their sick friend. It took over an hour to get to Denarau Port just outside Nadi where we picked up our 100ft schooner. All on board we were offered drinks – Vodka, Rum, Whiskey ??? I asked for “2 orange juices please” and the man asked if I wanted Vodka with it ?? What at 9.30 in the morning – was this the scene set for the day??? We set sail and breakfast of cakes and freshly cut fruit was served. We sailed for about 1.5 hrs passing Malamala Island, SouthSea Island, Bounty Island Treasure Island and Beachcomber Island before stopping at Schooner Island. They were all very small little humps of sand and a couple of trees peeking out of a clear blue sea – amazing. Our Island for the day was just that, OURS – the company who owned the boat owned the island and it was ours for 3 hours (that was the 31 other passengers and 8 crew of the boat). It was only maybe 80 metres long but we couldn’t believe we were stopping here. The crew unloaded lunch while we collected snorkels and entered the sea to look at the fishes and coral – I must say that had it been out first time snorkeling in the south pacific we would have been impressed but having already done so in the Whitsunday Islands where the coral and fishes are so colourful, we were disappointed at the blandness of the coral and the amount of damage to it and the fishes, although colourful were only small. However, the water temperature was warm – no need for wetsuits here. After some 30 or 40 mins we headed back to the beach for a bbq lunch of chicken, fish, beef, salad, rice and potatoes with fruit for afters. Now we had a choice of going in the glass bottom boat, fishing, kayaking or more snorkeling or just sitting, chatting and taking in the view which is what we did as the wind had picked up, as it does every afternoon here. When everyone returned there was a game of volleyball before packing up to go back to the boat for the trip back to Denarau Port. We had got chatting to a couple from Bundesburg on the Gold Coast of Australia and it turned out that he was a police sergeant with only 6 years to retirement so we spent the journey back talking to them about our retirement – we swopped emails because they want to come to Spain for an extended holiday in the future. All to soon the boat was back in dock and we were waving bye. We were pleased to see the coach to take us back to the Hotel was a full size coach – the coach on the way down was only about a 20 seater and didn’t have good suspension on the bumpy roads of Fiji. As we left Nadi the light was fading and very soon I had dropped off to sleep, when we stopped at the Fijian Hotel to drop the first passengers off we waited and waited then were told that the suspension was broken on the coach and we would have to wait for another coach to take us on to our Hotel – 3 coaches arrived taking passengers to different Hotels before it was our turn. By the time we reached our Hotel it was almost 7.30pm so a long day but very enjoyable.
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