Blueberry picking

There are two pick-your-own blueberry farms on the outskirts of Hamilton, just past Ohaupo. I drove the trusty Corolla and gave VJ the GPS (well, actually, the plastic folder carrying the map and directions provided by our expert blueberry picking friend Judy). Judy was keen for us to visit Monavale Blueberries and their Cafe Irresistiblue. When I checked out Monavale’s website, I could understand her recommendation. Every item in the comprehensive selection of sweet and savoury offerings featured blueberries somewhere in the ingredients.

Navigation seems to suffer when both navigator and driver are engaged in enthusiastic conversation. Somehow we arrived at the other blueberry picking destination on Judy’s sheet of perfectly explicit directions. While there was no Cafe Irresistiblue to be seen, we were delighted with the bubbly reception we received at Orchard Cafe at the Jury Road blueberry farm. The smell of blueberry muffins was enticing, too. The lunch menu was more basic, but incredibly well-priced. Traditional Kiwi toasted sandwiches with plunger coffee was just what we felt like. Orchard Cafe’s swirling blueberry icecreams appeared to be part of the blueberry picking tradition as families came in with buckets of blueberries to be weighed.

Half an hour of blueberry picking yielded an ice-cream container of fruit for VJ and a slightly larger container of fruit for our household. Much of our produce is in the freezer for later enjoyment. The total cost of our blueberry bonanza was $24 – a blueberry bargain!

VJ found that by gently tickling the bunches of blueberries, the ripe ones fell into her container.

Blueberries are coming to the end of their season in Hamilton. This variety produced slightly smaller fruit than some other varieties, but the blueberries were deliciously sweet.

Even the mountains in the distance looked blue from the blueberry farm.

Karangahake Gorge railway tunnel

Fully replenished after our lunch at Falls Retreat Bistro, we embarked on part two of our Karangahake Gorge expedition.

Out of the carpark, across the two suspension bridges (we were getting good at these by now) and along the river path we walked…

…past more intriguing rock colours and formations …

…and through the disused railway tunnel.

As we emerged from the tunnel, Spence told us he had been through this tunnel before – on a steam train in the 1950s, when he was a primary school-aged child.

Spence tells the story: “The Taneatua Express ran from Auckland via Hamilton, Paeroa and Tauranga, therefore through the Karangahake tunnel. It left Auckland in the morning. I was travelling alone with lunch provided by Mum. I recall that somewhere after Tauranga (I can remember that the rail line was close to the coast on the left), people on the train gave me chocolate, and at about dusk the guard took me to ride in the Guards Van (I’m guessing that after Te Puke there would be few passengers left on the train, and perhaps there were no lights working in the old wooden carriage). I remember that the train arrived at Taneatua well after dark – I was met of course. So although I have no specific memory of the Karangahake tunnel, I must have gone through it, there and back, because that was the only rail route in those days. Kaimai tunnel didn’t replace this rail route till 1978.”

Those were the days!

 

 

Karangahake Gorge walk

It is worth putting aside a full day to visit the old gold mine and tunnels at Karangahake Gorge, between Paeroa and Waihi. When you park your car, you step out to a view of the Ohinemuri River.

Walk across two suspension bridges to reach the ruins of old buildings.

 

The rock walls offer an ever-changing colour palette.

The walk along the disused narrow gauge railway tracks is comfortable.

Before long, we were looking back towards the road, far below.

Original wire rope hung down the hillside.

New Zealand’s national emblem, the silver fern, so named because of the colour of the underside of the fern.

We all wished that the light at the end of the tunnel was always as clear as this!

Looking towards the suspension bridge further up the river. Previously we crossed the bridge and returned down the other side of the river to the carpark. However, a rock fall meant that on this trip, the pathway was closed.

So this is where we would have walked if we could have.

From time to time we encountered abandoned machinery. I wonder what this was used for.

It was hard to imagine the thriving mining establishment that had once existed along the pathways we had just walked.

It took maybe an hour and a half to walk this part of the Karangahake Gorge tracks. That included multitudinous breaks for taking photos. We returned to this view of Ohinemuri River, beside the carpark ready for lunch and a walk through a disused railway tunnel – but those will have to be the subject of future blogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straw Berry Farm on a summer’s day

Summer came to Hamilton at last yesterday. It was time to go and shop up large for strawberries at The Straw Berry Farm, 337 Newell Road, Tamahere.

Even the bumblebee knew it was summer.

Strawberries don’t come fresher than this!

Emma of The Country Providore had emailed me to let me know that Jackie-Lee Haereiti and Monica Louis would be providing the live entertainment there. She knew I was after Monica’s CD, Speak Low. I love Monica’s smokey, quiet songs.

I have blogged about The Country Providore before. It was busy again, with a display of high quality Christmas decorations this time.  I made a piggy of myself, sampling the Rakaia Smoked Salmon that was being promoted –  the most luscious smoked salmon I have ever eaten. Apparently, Rakaia produces smoked blue cod, too. Both the salmon and blue cod can be bought through The Country Providore. We bought up large on the well-priced, freshly-picked strawberries and asparagas.

We sat outside and ate lunch ordered from Punnet, the restaurant that is part of The Straw Berry Farm’s complex. The avocado and tomato on grainy bread was the perfect lunch for me.

It’s Eggs Benedict for Iggy, whatever the time of day. He said the bacon really was crunchy, just as advertised.

Aria loved being able to run around and play on the playground equipment while we had our lunch. The highlight of her day had to be the strawberry icecream, made with real strawberries.

Cassandre’s advertising posters

At a recent Decorative and Fine Arts Society (DFAS Waikato) meeting we were privileged to hear Charles Harris lecturing on the work of Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron, known as Cassandre. Harris is a multi-award winning creative director who worked in advertising agencies in countries such as the UK, USA, Australia and Singapore. He was involved with creating posters for brands such as Nestlé, Kraft, Sony, General Motors and Shell. With his own expertise as a creative, he was an articulate and credible advocate of Cassandre’s advertising art.

During the 1930s, Cassandre created advertising posters that epitomised the Art Deco period. I was intrigued to learn that the term “Art Deco” was not coined until 1960. It is an abbreviation of “Expositions des Arts Décoratifs et Industriel”, which was an exhibition that took place in Paris in 1925 to celebrate modern living. Cassandre’s posters do, indeed, celebrate the new forms of transport of his time.

Harris showed us more recent advertising which referenced Cassandre’s famous steamship poster (shown here) – but it simply did not have the drama, flair and imposing lines of this artwork.

Cassandre was known for inventing typefaces that were integral to his poster designs. Don’t you love the economy of the shapes of the lettering in this advertising for Nord Express? As someone who writes advertorial for a living – I am blown away by the economy of words. The image, the lettering, and the limited word count are all so powerful.

There was something so familiar to me about this poster. Did I grow up seeing it in my mother’s glossy magazines? or on billboards? I had not previously understood the pun – Dubo (Du beau – handsome), Dubon (Du bon – good), Dubonnet (the drink, Dubonnet). Sheer genius!

Sometimes committee work yields some thrilling rewards. As a DFAS committee member I drove to Auckland to pick up Charles and Marilyn Harris (on the right and in the middle of the image) to bring them to Hamilton for the Charles’ lecture to DFAS members. We had lunch at the home of Fred and Angela Dobbs. Fred was formerly a principal with McCann Erickson and a major player with Lockheed. I was in awe, sitting in on their conversation.

Tiritirimatangi

On my wish list was a ferry trip across Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour to Tiritirimatangi. I was so thrilled when VJ told me she had a spare ticket and would like me to join her on a visit to the island.

The island is a native bird sanctuary. Volunteers helped eradicate all the mammals which were predators for New Zealand native birds, they planted over a quarter of a million native trees and plants, and they introduced the endangered takahe. You really are surrounded by birds there. Even when you can’t see the birds, you can hear their song, ringing out loud and clear.

As we passed Rangitoto Island on our way over to Tiritirimatangi on the ferry, the weather looked moody.

We were caught in a shower of rain soon after we stepped ashore – but before long, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

The takahe were easy to spot – and so tame and unworried by our presence that we managed to get quite close to them.

With the kowhai in flower, the tui were making the most of feeding on the yellow flower’s nectar.

VJ managed to catch this photo of a parakeet.

We also saw the  cute little “white heads”.  You had to be quick to photograph them!

Manuka is in flower at this time of year.

I was pleased that OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) doesn’t seem to have found Tiritirimatangi, or they would have managed to erect barriers and ugly signs around this spectacular drop from the top of the island straight down into the sea.

The coastline is rugged. We especially liked the turquoise pool at the base of this cliff.

The time between being dropped off by the ferry and being picked up mid-afternoon is enough to take you pretty much around the island – and I am no Speedy Gonzales. The tracks are clear and easy to manage. Here is VJ on one of the constructed walkways, which leads to a bridge across a little stream.

We were ready for lunch when we stopped on a breezy knoll. No food is available on the island, so we enjoyed the picnic we took with us.

Our final stop before returning to the ferry was at the lighthouse – and, of course, the shop. The shop stocked some of the most exquisite souvenirs I have seen anywhere. They are well priced as the shop is run by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers – the best service we have had anywhere. I can hardly wait for Christmas to wear the new earrings…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmother’s Garden patchwork shop

I am charmed before I even step in the door of Grandmother’s Garden in Gordonton, on the outskirts of Hamilton.

I love the collection of pots right at the front door.

The quilts on display inspire you to finish the one you are working on and then start about 10 more projects all at once. So hard to choose!

The batiks especially appeal to me…

…or maybe I’ll succumb to the temptation of some juicy fat quarters.

If I had a villa, I would have to try something antique looking like this.

Watch out for my next blog where I’ll feature some of the crafts and cot quilts I have created from Grandmother’s Garden fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

Ongaroto Road, State Highway 43, near Whakamaru

When Iggy starts suggesting new routes for our journey home, I draw a deep breath. We have driven on some spectacularly long and windy roads in the name of a new route. This time, Iggy got it right in a big way.

We parked at the foot of a flight of over 100 steps.

Near the top, we could look back at the dam.

This was how it looked from on top of the world. Can you spot the wee car on the roadway below? Awesome!

Huka Falls

The Huka Falls, just five minutes drive  north of Taupo, is the most visited natural tourist attraction in New Zealand.

It’s mesmerising to watch the waters of the Waikato River, usually about 1oo metres wide, being compressed into a 20 metre wide gorge and fall over a 20 metre drop.

Within a short distance of the surging foam (the word “huka” is Maori for foam) the waters level off and become calm once more.

There is a viewing platform beside the road. Travel a little further and head down towards the large, free car park and you can walk across a bridge to get up close and personal with the waterfall.

Volcanic activity – Taupo’s Craters of the Moon

I had heard about Craters of the Moon, but on all our visits to Taupo, we hadn’t made a visit. For me, who is not madly into jet boating, skydiving or trout fishing (all of which involve getting scared, cold or wet) Craters of the Moon rates as one of Taupo’s top tourist attractions.

First up was watching a group of school boys on a field trip, measuring the temperature of the soil adjacent to the board walk. Their readings of the temperature only 10-15cm under the surface were between 90 and 100 degrees centigrade.

I was intrigued by the raw beauty of the place. For the scientists – the signage tells me the brightly coloured clay comes from the action of condensed steam and gas (which is acidic) chemically altering the pumice soil.

One of the types of thermal activity at Craters of the Moon is mud pools. The signage tells me “These occur when steam condenses into water near the soil surface. The resulting acidic soup eats away at the surrounding rock, turning it into a soft mud that bubbles and splutters as more gas tries to escape.”

A second thermal feature is craters. “These may form when a steam vent is temporarily blocked. When it clears, the fall in pressure causes the underlying water to boil vigorously. Steam then erupts into the vent. The eruption throws pumice into the air and the surrounding soil collapses, forming the hole of the crater.”

I guess these must be fumaroles – a third geothermal feature. A fumarole is an opening from which steam and volcanic gases escape.

The volcanic plant life also caught my eye.

Our walk took about an hour. We worked up our own head of steam walking up to the top (though it looked effortless for the field trip boys). Look at this image to see how well-priced this activity is! Beautifully maintained board walks and look out points and informative signage make this outing an easy one. You go at your own pace, without intrusive guides – though do heed the warnings about sticking to the path. A big thumbs up to the awesome volunteers who keep this outing affordable.