A Northland Miscellany

Pauline's and my Northland safari seems an age ago but I still have a few pics I would like to share with you before I set off for my other life in the Northern Hemisphere.

 I think this might have been a major 'oops' moment.

 The beautiful Whangaroa Harbour at Totara North

 I just love old sheds (okay this is a bit bigger than your average shed)

 Sailing out of Whangaroa Harbour

 Old boatshed at Whangaroa Harbour

Continuing the 'shed' theme: old boathouse in the mangroves of the Whangaroa Harbour

 This 'old shed' is, if I remember Pauline correctly, an old smithy and is now a conference facility down at the Kerikeri Harbour

The Kerikeri River, at the Wharepuke Falls tumbles over basalt lava fields, which flowed into the river valley following volcanic eruptions some 200 million years ago.  The pool is a popular diving and swimming place.

Waipunga Falls

I had decided that on the way to Tauranga I would stop and have a look at the Waipunga Falls on the Napier to Taupo State Highway 5 North of Tarawera.

In the past when I've stopped there has been little water in the river and the falls have been anything but spectacular.   On Saturday there was plenty of water and the 40 metre three column waterfall was giving a good show.

The Waipunga River on which the falls are is a tributary of the Mohaka River, It runs roughly 50 km from its source near the eastern edge of the North Island Volcanic Plateau to its junction with the Mohaka, of which some 15 km follow alongside the Napier-Taupo highway.

Napier Centennial Gardens

For three years I have passed the Napier Centennial Gardens many times a week but have never stopped to have a look at them. When Mo and Fiona were here they did and said that there was a lovely waterfall in the Garden. Given its location I assumed that the waterfall was a small man made one. However it appears to be anything but man made and it is certainly not small falling almost the full height of Bluff Hill at that point.