Spring - How the seasons change

Spring - Currently around our property we have Manuka, Mingimingi, Toropapa, Kowhai, Kowhai Ngutukaka, Puawānanga, Koromiko, Mairahau, Kumerahou, Hangehange, Coprosma, Batchelors Buttons, Rosemary and other garden plants in flower. All year round there is always something in flower
Great for our bees emerging into spring and beginning to expand the hives.
We also have Cailfornian Quail, Brown Quail, Matata, Tui, Piwakawaka, Kukupa and all our other bird friends about looking for mates.

Winter Holiday in New Zealand - North Island by Camper Van

On July 26th we picked up our Opollo Camper in Auckland and headed South. On our three week holiday at last. Our route took us to Wellington via New Plymouth and West of Mt Egmont then back to Auckland via Wanganui Stratford, Taumarunui, Tokaanu, Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga, and Katikati.

We had lots of interesting stops and side trips throughout.
Highlights were:

• Mt Messenger Bush views at the tunnel on the way to Mokau and New Plymouth.

• Mt Egmont

• New Plymouth Coastal Walkway and bridge

• Paritutu Rock - New Plymouth

• Cape Egmont Historic Lighthouse

• Kaupokonui Beach

• Turuturumokai Historic Pa Reserve - Hawera

• Hawera Water Tower - No photo

 

• Waiinu Beach

• Wanganui - Durie Hill Elevator and Tower War Memorial and Historic buildings.

• Foxton Windmill and Flax Stripping Museum.

• Paraparaumu - Southwards Car Museum.

 

• Wellington - Cable Car, Zeelandia, Pencarrow Head Lighthouses. South coast to Owhiro Bay.

• Stratford - Glockenspiel

• Dawsons Falls & Wilkies Pools on Mt Egmont

• The Forgotten Highway - State Highway 43 to Whangamomona and on to Taumarunui. Beautiful old growth bush reserves. Whangamomona Pub.

• Tokaanu - Hot pools. Free camp at the boat club.

• Orakie Korako Geothermal Park.

• Waiotapu - Free geothermal mud pool on Waiotapu Loop Road.

• Rotorua - Top 10 Campground with thermal pools. A walk through Kurau Park.

• Whakatane - Kiwi Boy sculpture. Kapu Te Rangi Historic Reserve and lookouts.

• Waihi - Historic Ti Tree Cafe Eatery

• Of course we liked our Van

Our Kakabeak is flowering

After struggling to stay alive and not be eaten by every passing insect and caterpillar our potted Kakabeak has started to flower.

A New Plant Discovery - Dracophyllum lessonianum

While walking around the Waiotoi Track on Saturday Melva found a plant we had not seen before near the track. After looking it up in our books we found it to be a Dracophyllum lessonianum. While there are Neinei (Dracophyllum latifolium) in the area it seems that this is a new find for the area. Interesting.