DAY 6
Week 1
ROTORUA (Bay Of Plenty, NZL) to CLIVE (Hawke's Bay, NZL)
Thursday April 19th, 2018
TODAYS MILEAGE – 188 miles or 303 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 2,904 miles or 4,674 kilometres
Our first stop for the day is arguably the best thermal area in New Zealand - Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave. This was my second visit and with not a cloud in the sky this time, the brilliant sunshine made for some spectacular colours and scenery.
If there is one "Top 10 Must Do" places to visit in New Zealand, our second stopn for the day just outside Taupo, would have to be it - Huka Falls. Today would be my third visit in a decade or so and it is still retains the same spectacular wow factor as the first time I visited.
We spent the rest of the afternoon on an impromptu "Girls Giggle Juice" winery tour. When I say impromptu, I mean we grabbed a local guide and said to the girls to pick one each, programmed the GPS in the 'happy van' and trundled off, determined visit them all.
First up was the family owned Brookfields Winery, outside Napier, where Owner / Winemaker Peter Robertson provided more than just a wine tasting. For me it was an interesting and very educational masterclass in not only his products, but also the history of those wines delivered in a laid back non "wine snob" sit down & sample chat.
Our second stop was the swanky corporate vineyard Elephant Hill, out near Haumoana, was a bit of a bust. The third and final stop was Black Barn Vineyards out at Havelock North, who's focus seemed to be on events and catering.
Our Air B&B overnight accommodations are a great little a renovated farm house on the outskirts of Clive, where us blokes got busy on producing the evening meal.
• ORAKEI KORAKO ~ Geothermal Park & Cave (Waikato, NZL)
• HUKA FALLS (Waikato, NZL)
• HAUMOANA ~ Elephant Hill Winery (Hawke's Bay, NZL)
• CLIVE ~ Air B&B - 33 Farndon Road (Hawke's Bay, NZL)