Napier/Wellington

We drove south again yesterday from the National Park heading for Napier. This town is the centre of the Hawke's' Bay region and from the natural disaster which happened in 1931 was born a celebration of early twentieth century architecture, mainly Art Deco. Nowhere else can you see such a variety of buildings in the styles of the 1930s. We had a guided stroll through the compact Art Deco Quarter in the vibrant city centre.

This morning we headed south again through Hawke's Bay pastoral landscape of orchards, farms and vineyards to Wellington, which is the country's centre for culture and politics. It is nestled between a dramatic harbour and buch clad hills.

This city is of sentimental value to me as Mick and I discussed emigrating here in the 1970s before we got married, as his aunts lived here and he was very keen to come to make a new life.

We move on again tomorrow......this time to the South Island across the Cook Strait which connects North and South NZ. Hope the weather stays good, we have been really lucky up to yet and had sunshine all the way.

Our driver/tour manager Paul is an eccentric Kiwi who keep us all entertained and well-informed all day long and will do anything extra to please, or give us more opportunities for photos whenever possible.