It's a Bucket List Day!

I wanted to go to Ngawi and Cape Palliser as they are on the most southern tip of the North Island. Its only about an hours drive from Martinborough. Ngawi is a small fishing village in very bleak rugged terrain. Many of the houses are in the style of the old fibro bach. It seems generations away from Wellington, just such a short distance away.. Many of the fishing boats are old, and hauled daily out of the water by even older tractors.

I made it to Ngawi.

In fact it seemed that the tractors nearest the road were non functional, but could be scavenged for parts if required.

The sea mist rolls around the bay - reminding me of the little boy and the Pirate ship in the Lotto ad which was filmed at Nagwi. Every now and then it lifts and we can see the mountains of of the South Island.

But not all of it is in aged decay, there obviously is a thriving fishing port here, and some more modern houses. We wind on to Cape Palliser and the Palliser Lighthouse. The road is a bit scary. We pass a sign warning us that "This is an active slip. Do not stop" Fascinating.

The lighthouse keepers had to scramble up a track to the lighthouse, so it is with relief that we find that now there are 252 steps up to the top (and of course 252 back down - which can be just as stressful)

We park the car in the carpark, glancing back at the rocks the waves and the seamist - very atmospheric!

Chris halfway up.

A very handsome lighthouse it is too.

We made it!!

Looking down over the road, the bay and the seamist - which seems below us now.

The rocks are jagged igneous rocks, the colour of basalt.

Looking down to the carpark.

The swell rushes in on the cape

And now we begin the walk down - the scariest bit was having to pass someone coming up, so we waited till this couple made it to the top.

Ethereal Mists roll down the hills to the bay.

Me and the Lighthouse

This series of photos was in a small blowhole area lined with bull kelp which thrashed around in the turbulent water.

There are three sunbathing seals in this photo.

Jagged rocks - not worn away by the seas and smoothed, but hard fractured rocks - thus indicating they are igneous not sedimentary.

Now heading back

The hotel at Lake Ferry is famous for its fish meals. They were very busy, but the meals were very nice (Although I had chicken!)

Lake Ferry is on a widened estuary - you can just see the gap out to the open. Robin studies the information board.

We decided to visit just one vineyard today - Brodies. The wines were OK, grounds lovely. Some folk on a biking tour arrived - note the wine barrel staves  made into a bike rack.

Our view at the camping ground - with misty rainbow.

Final meal with Robin and Chris.

W e headed off on Sunday morning while Robin and Chris headed off to Wellington. In the end we did the whole drive to Gisborne rather than stopping and setting up halfway.Great catchup - we vow to do it on a more regular basis.