Napier

We could not have asked for a better position for the van, right overlooking the sea.  This morning we woke up to the sight of a liner coming into port for the day (not guided by an Italian...) We realised that this was the ship that had the people for the Wine Tour we wanted to do, but luckily we managed to get onto another. As this was in the afternoon we decided to take a walk along the coast.  This part of Napier is really remote but it was a very pleasant walk.  We then went on the tour...we had to go through to Napier to pick up other people and what a place it is.  It is all art deco, they even have a festival where everyone dresses up.  All the area was devastated in an earthquake around 1936 and it was rebuilt in this way, each building reflecting the 1930's way of life.  There is only one building above 2 storeys as the still have earthquakes here but only small ones (hopefully).

We then went onto the first of the Wine Tasting Sessions.  We were given a talk about the area for the grapes and how they grow the vines on gravel, very similar to the soil of Bordeaux. We tasted three whites and three reds.  They were all very nice.  We then went onto another much bigger place and again we had lots of tasting (hic..)no food...Then we went onto another one, by this time we were getting experts..We also bought a bottle of white, sorry can't bring it home.  After the third tasting we actually had some cheese and crackers, but we were a very jolly bunch going back to our campsites.  Seriously the wine they produce is very good and we shall certainly be looking out for some of the labels in UK.  It was not cheap, but then the wine they were producing was not plonk.  We arrived back to Enry ready for something to eat to make the evening last a bit longer.

We are now just relaxing and enjoying watching the waves break.  Tomorrow we leave for Wellington for two days before we venture onto South Island.  We have to go the long way round as the road we wanted to go on has collapsed in places (an occupational hazard here).   We travel to Palmerston North first before we pick up the road into Wellington.  Its a long drive but we have all day to get there.  Keep warm everyone.