Heading back to the Chateau the next morning we couldn't see the mountains for low cloud.Despite E arranging and negotiating for a room with a view of the golf course and Mount Ngauruhoe we weren't to see the mountain again.But we did have a few rounds of golf (found a good many balls while looking for one M lost and never found), a really nice meal in the rather posh restaurant, used their spa pool and sauna and generally had a very comfortable and relaxing stay...

It was really nice and refreshing to be on a road that we hadn't planned to take - we really need to be more spontaneous and adventurous as this is all our own time and we can do what we want (at least until the end of August when we chucked out the country).The scenery became more impressive and interesting as we moved into the centre of North Island, and as we flashed by one of these helpful road signs about road conditions we noticed that the Desert Road was c...

A short drive back to Wellington and we were in familiar territory - same motel, same room, same car park space - but we did head to a different coffee shop in Cuba Street before returning to Te Papa to visit another few floors and exhibitions.It was then back to Cuba Street to another familiar location - Rasa, a little Malaysian bistro - for another excellent meal.Now it was time to do something different, so we set off for the Embassy Theatre, an old style comf...

It was only another short drive to our next destination, Paraparumu, from where we would visit Kapiti Island one of NZ's most important wild life sanctuaries.This being a public holiday weekend for the Queen's birthday - which the Kiwis are very happy to celebrate as they get a day off! - we'd booked into a youth hostel (Barnacles Seaside Inn).We'd also made sure to book our trip over to the island for which we were required to purchase a permit from the Departme...

Up early the next morning and with the morning being bright and sunny we took the coastal drive round Oriental Bay to Lyall Bay and Island Bay.What a revelation and what a wonderful setting Wellington is in!So we're glad to have opportunity to come back. Porirua is only about 20 km north of Wellington but on the Tasman Sea.It was slightly disappointing on first impression being a sprawling commuter town for the capital.Our motel however, was in a nice setting a...