Three Sisters 2014

After the White Cliffs, we drove further north to an area known as the Three Sisters. One parks on the river by some baches--Kiwi for beach-houses--and then walks down the river banks to the beach, where there are cliffs, arches, seastacks, caves, Moeraki-type globe boulders, but not very many people. It was still low-tide, sort of, and the crashing surf was definitely coming our way, but we waded out and got to see most of the incredible scenery there. One of our better outings, ever. We tented that night on the river, at one of the few free campsites we have encountered--along with a dozen others, mostly RVs. Oh yes, the ground here is mineral-laden, especially iron...the sand sticks to magnets and there are big iron globules hanging in the cliffs.

White Cliffs

One of the thrills of touring New Zealand--outdoors New Zealand--is walking low-tide paths. We drove on past New Plymouth and the refineries (!) and such and north to the White Cliffs scenic area. At high tide, the cliffs come right down to the sea. At low tide, a strip of gray beach appears and permits quite a long walk past the cliffs and to a stream. We did this hike at a falling low tide. Later in the day, we did the Three Sisters on a rising tide. Quite a bit more adventuresome...

We were pretty sure it was a falling tide

Third or fourth geology class we've run into on our outings; New Zealand has a lot
of geology

Cape Egmont And North

We wanted to see some of the black (volcanic sand) beaches of the middle west coast and so drove out to the coastal highway at Cape Egmont and from there north.

It is said to be a big-time surfing area, but we
saw little in the waves; I wanted to dress the
part, but alas the shirt was a couple sizes too
large

Great New Zealand Xmas Tree, with just a bit of red left

The whole area here, down from Mt. Taranaki, features
these interesting hillocks; they look like grown-over dunes,
but are rock underneath

Cape Egmont lighthouse

Cape Egmont

We drove on, stopping at an interesting young redwood
grove, but then proceeded on to Okahura, whose broad
black sand beach...well, gray...was alluring

The campground tent sites were right on the beach; we
camped, then took a long walk on the beach; and enjoyed
the pounding of the surf as night fell

Thus

And thus, next morning

From near New Plymouth, looking back to Okahura and
our beach

Mount Taranaki 2014

Mt. Taranaki is New Zealand's tallest, and, some would say, most beautiful volcano. It's a largely symmetrical cone, about 8,000 feet, I would guess. It looks like, and is, I suppose, a walk-up, and every year some hundreds or thousands climb it. Because of its frequent weather changes, however, it is also a bit of a killer: sixty or more have died on its slopes, far more than Mt. Cook, which no one would say is a walk-up. I'd had enough of volcanoes for a while and just wanted to see Taranaki--it is most often shrouded in clouds--so we drove toward it and got lucky and then hiked a few hours on its lower slopes.

And there it is

Up closer

From the lower slopes, looking down toward the sea

South side of mountain

A bit higher, a refuge?

On the trail, in the bush; called "Goblins' Forest," although
we didn't see any

Just the usual vegetable frolic

Streams and pools

Waterfalls

Weird trees

But no more volcano! We were near Taranaki that and the
next two days, but never saw it again...nothing but clouds

Stratford-Upon-Patea

It's a small town, at the end of the Forgotten World Highway, and gateway to New Zealand's biggest volcano, Mt. Taranaki, on the west coast. But it's more than that: it's New Zealand's homage to The Bard, with a carillon sort of thing that performs at 10AM and 3PM and with streets named after characters from the plays. We did a video of the carillon thing, on main street, with logging trucks and stock trucks whizzing by, but I won't be able to post it to YouTube for a while. Check back often. Of course all this is of super special significance, since grand-daughter Penelope was born on April 23rd and knows very well who Mr. Shakespeare was. Update: the video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qIKFqffYdg.

He would be so proud

Thus

The clock tower/carillon/glockenspiel/whatever; various doors
open and various wooden mannequins, in costume, recite
various scenes; a hoot

Most campground offices are quite bland and franchise-looking; but not Stratford's,
which sports the most extensive collection of tea pots and chamber pots we have
yet seen

Forgotten World Highway

Next up was the Forgotten World Highway, which took us from Mordor to Stratford, 150k of twists and turns and ups and down, most of it paved, into and through the Republic of Whangi and beyond. It was a highway we will not soon forget.

Thus

Nota bene

New Zealand police rate it one of the top ten most unsafe roads
in the nation; we've seen worse; note vaulting

Looking back to the unforgotten world, Mt. Ruapehu, in the distance

The big thrill on the Forgotten World Highway, however, is passing through the
Republic of Whangi, which seceded from New Zealand some years back over a
dispute about which county it would belong to in a district reorganization

The capital is the Hotel Whangamomona, where we had lunch and much entertainment

I could have spent the day there looking at all the local humor

Including, evidently, a Running of the Sheep...but we had to move on for the 3PM
Shakespearean performance at Stratford-upon-Patea