Wanganui

Wanganui  http://www.wanganui.com/ 200 kms north of Wellington is famous for its steam boats on the river together with its focus on art. It is also a town with some interesting buildings....well worth a visit.

Wanganui est 200K nord de Wellington et est renomme pour ces bateaux sur la riviere et un focus sur l'art.

The town is built on the side of the river with the centre of the town containing buildings dating back over a hundred years as illustrated by the old Post Office built in 1903 and now amongst other things a cafe:

La ville a ete construite au bord de la riviere et le centre de la ville a les batiments ages de plus de 100 ans, comme l'ancien Bureau de Poste construit en 1903:

Other buildings included a magnificent bank built in 1906 which served the purpose of a bank for over 70 years.

Ici une magnifique banque qui a ete construite en 1906. 

Of interest also was the Tram Shed http://www.tramways.org.nz/ where a group of volunteers had and were renovating trams which were used some years ago in Wanganui. Wanganui was the first provicial town to have a tram system. Below is an example of the ''before and after'' state of the trams in the shed:

Aussi il y avait un Tram Shed ou une groupe de benevoles sont en train de renover les anciens "trams" qui etaient en service il y a quelques annees a Wanganui.  Ici  un exemplaire d'un tram "avant" et "apres" renovation.

Then it was on to Wellington for some delicious Moules Marinieres (made by France) and  a superb BBQ (we seem to be having BBQs all the time!!) and on the TV the chance to see South Africa struggle against Samoa

Puis nous sommes arrives a Wellington chez les Plummers pour une superbe Moules Marinieres (fait par France et bien recu par les Plummer), et un BBQ de tres bon steack (il me semble que nous avons eu beaucoup de BBQ) et a la television nous avons regarde Afrique de Sud contre Samoa.



Pioneer Village and on to Wanganui: Pioneer Village et puis Wanganui

Our journey now took us south  to Wanganui on the coast 200k north of Wellington

A vist to the Pioneer Village  http://www.pioneervillage.co.nz/  near Stratford was our first stop:

Notre trajet nous a emmene au sud direction Wanganui au bord de la mer 200k nord de Wellington.

Une visite au village Pioneer a cote de Stratford etait notre premiere etape:

Here 40 original pioneer buildings had been pulled together from all parts of North Island to illustrate what life was like in the early days of immigrants to New Zealand. Interesting buildings including shops of all sorts, a hospital, prison, court house, church etc.........all authentic.

Ici il y avait 40 anciens batiments de 1900eme siecle de toutes les regions de l'Isle du Nord pour montrer la vie pour les immigres a NZ.  Il y avait les magasins, un hopital, prison, tribunal, eglise etc..... tout authentique.

In this photo you'll see Mount Taranaki in the background

Dans cette photo on peut voir Mont Taranaki au fond.

with streets constructed of various buildings dating back over 100 years

Of note was a small cottage illustrating the hardship of the very early settlers:

Il y avait une petite chaumiere qui montrait les difficultes de la vie pendant les annees 1800.

Of interest also was an exhibition of  the trophies won by a local man in log sawing competitions....Merv Jensen

Il y avait aussi une exposition des trophees gagnes par un homme du quartier dans les concours de scie - Merv Jensen.

In this picture you can see the size of the log that was sawed and the one handed saw he used. A video showed Merv at the age of 65 becoming the world champion, a position he had held for some considerable years

Dans cette photo on peut voir le taille du buche qui etait scie et la scie pour un main qu'il a utilise.  Un video a montre Merv a l'age de 65 ans quand il est devenu champion du monde, une position qu'il a tenu pour quelques annees.

It was then on to Wanganui for our stay in a campsite on the river

Puis nous sommes arrives a Wanganui pour notre sejour dans un camping au bord de la riviere.

Caniwi Lodge and Walking the Hills - Caniwi Lodge et les balades dans les collines

With a pause it was a chance to see the Caniwi Homestead and gardens:

Avec une pause, c'etait une bonne chance de regarder la maison et jardins:

Set on the top of the hill it is a location not merely to stay but for marriages and celebrations of all kinds with the possibility of a marqee on the lawns. The previous owners created lovely gardens including a croquet lawn. There must be something about the soil or the climate which makes Rhododendrums and Camelias grow to such a size. Within the gardens there are hedges and bushes of some size of camelias as you see below. A significant amount of work has clearly gone into creating the garden and maintaining it

La maison est situee au sommet d'une colline et c'est une position tres bien pour les mariages et fetes, avec un chapiteau sur la pelouse.  Il y avait une pelouse de croquet aussi.  Plein de rhododendrums et camelias enormes et dans les jardins il y a des haies et arbustes de camelias - beaucoup de travail mais les proprietaires etaient tres contents de le faire.

An afternoon was again then spent in the hills with magnificent views:

Une deuzieme apres midi dans les collines!

Around us were hundreds of lambs some only just born with just about the ability to stand. This one was rather curious of the passing strangers!

Tout autour etaient de centaines de moutons, quelques'une tres tres petite.  Celle ci etait un peu curieuse des etrangeres qui passaient!

As mentioned Caniwi is not an easy place to get to and the photo below illustrates the route we needed to take in the Campervan although this is not the steepest and narrowest. Imagine taking such a road in the dark!

Comme deja dit, Caniwi n'etait pas facile a trouver et la photo ci-dessus montre la route que nous etions obliges de prendre dans le campervan, quoique ceci n'etait pas le plus etroit ni le plus raide!   Imaginez un peu rouler pendant la nuit!

A walk in the hills

The day started with a trip on the lake which extends some 8 kms ending at a hydroelectric plant Our ''voyage'' was on a converted house boat, originally with a covered area and cabin but converted by Jean, the owner of Caniwi,  into a day boat:

Notre journee a commence avec un visite sur le lac qui etends 8kms.  Notre "voyage" etait sur un house boat converti par le proprietaire des loges, Jean.

The weather was again kind to us and the views as you'll see below were excellent:

Il faisait toujours beau et les vues etaient magnifiques:

including groups of Pongas on the side of the lake:

Il y avait des plantations de Ponga au bord du lac.

We felt that the accommadation below was somewhat unusual!!

On pensait que l'ancienne habitation etait un peu bizarre!

It was about time that we did some walking so it was off up the hill opposite the lodge ......a good climb!

Maintenant c'etait le moment de marcher, donc on a monte la colline en face le lodge.... une bonne grimpette!

 

Not easy because there were no recognised paths; one just had to rely on tracks made by farmers and their quads when tending to their sheep.

Il n'y avait pas de sentiers indiques, on devait prendre les anciennes chemins des bergers et leurs quads.


At the top the views were splendid with distant views of Caniwi. What made it even better was that as far as the eye could see there were almost no houses........nothing!

Au sommet, les vues etaient splendides avec les vues lointaines de Caniwi.  En plus, il n'y avait pas de habitations.

The photo and video below really show the rugged nature of the countryside:

Overall an excellent afternoon out having well earned our BBQ dinner with the company of Roger the cat!

Enfin c'etait une tres bonne apres-midi et nous avons bien merite notre BBQ avec Roger le chat!

Wales v Namibia

A spectacular start to the day with wonderful sea views from the camp site

Un debut spectaculaire a la journee avec les vues magnifiques du camping.

We are now in the Taranaki area with views of Mount Taranaki with snow on the top. Apparently there is a saying in the region that ''if you can see the mountain it is going to rain, if you can't see it it is raining!''

Nous sommes maintenant dans la region de Taranaki avec la Mont Taranaki avec la neige

It's then off to find our resting place for the next few days before the match Wales v Namibia - Caniwi Lodge http://www.caniwilodge.co.nz/

Puis on est alle chercher notre hotel/chalets pour les prochains trois jours avant le match Pays de Galles contre Namibia - Caniwi Lodge.

As you will see it's something special set in the hills west of Eltham which is south of New Plymouth. Not an easy place to access particularly with a campervan with tortuous gravel ''roads'' through the hills.

Comme vous verriez, c'est quelque chose tres special dans les collines a l'ouest de Eltham qui est sud de Ne Plymouth.  Pas un endroit facile a accesser vec un campervan avec les "chemins" de gravier traversant les collines.  Mais quand on y arrive, c'est magnifique dans une position merveilleuse:


When you get there it's stunning with an outstanding position

with spectacular views from our cabins:

avec les vues depuis nos chalets:

It's then off to New Plymouth for the game in a compact stadium:

Puis on devait redescendre ces chemins tortuouse pour aller a New Plymouth pour le match dans un tres jolie stade compacte:

Surprise surprise, the dragons were there again in full support of the Welsh team:

Surprise, Surprise, les dragons etaient la a nouveau!!

Of course our team won with 81 points scored but Namibia did score a try, there only one of the tournament, with the scorer being nominated man of the match. Wales played well with some excellent tries
Here we see the Welsh pack:

Bien sur, les Gallois ont gagne avec 81 points marques, mais Namibia a marque un essai, le seul qu'ils ont marque pendant le coupe du Monde, et le marqueur a ete nomme l'Homme du Match!  Pays de Galles a bien joue avec quelques essais excellentes.  Voice les devants gallois:

The players fully deserved the applause after the game:

Tous les joueurs ont merite les applaudits apres le match:

We then had the difficult journey back across the mountains with a pause for a late chinese meal.....the only place open late at night.......... we thought in all of New Zealand!!

Puis nous avions eu le trajet difficile pour rentrer avec une petite pause pour un repas chinois a la seule restaurant ouverte dans toute la Nouvelle Zelande!!

Auckland to New Plymouth Auckland a New Plymouth

A chance to recover today and travel down to New Plymouth for the next Wales match, but first a chance to see and meet the French players at their hotel......some not too happy! A chance also to watch the post match Press Conference

Une chance de se calmer un peu aujourd'hui et nous avons pris la route depuis Auckland a New Plymouth, mais d'abord on a rencontre quelques joueurs de l'equipe de France a leur hotel - ils n'etaient pas de tout heureux!  Aussi on a regarde le Conference de Presse avec Marc Lievremont.

Stopping at Akawino en route we managed to take in the match Fiji v Samoa with the unusual two hakas at the same time......Fiji well outplayed by Samoa....it's fortunate that Wales beat them in their match

Nous nous sommes arretes a Akawino en route ou nous avons regarde le match Fidji contre Samoa avec les 2 hakas differents.  Samoa a une equipe tres forte, c'est bien que le Pays de Galles les a battu.


The route from there to New Plymouth was one of the best we've seen.

La route depuis Akawino a New Plymouth etait le plus jolie qu'on a vue.


The camp site on the beach at Oakura illustrated very well the coastline:

Le camping sur la plage a Oakura montre bien le cote.....

It was then off to the pub for the Scotland v Argentina match and the last minute victory by Argentina and a soaking on our return to the camper van.....one of the very few occasions when we had rain

Puis nous sommes alles au pub pour regarder l'Ecosse contre l'Argentine et la victoire au dernier minute de l'Argentine....  il pleuvait encore ce soir et pour retourner au camping nous etions absolument trempes.  Heureusement on avait les vestes de l'equipe de France qui nous sauvaient a nouveau!

Match Day.....New Zealand v France

With no showers at our ''five star accommodation'' a visit to the Olympic Swimming Pool for showers was an essential start to the day!

Sans douches, nous etions obliges d'aller a la piscine Olympique d'Auckland pour se doucher!

Now the centre of Auckland was vibrant with thousands of French supporters.....the French had arrived!!

Maintenant le centre d'Auckland etait plein de supporteurs francais - les Francais sont bien arrives!

Again it was a chance to see the Port of Auckland. This was, 15 years ago, merely a fishing port where few visited. As a consequence of hosting the Americas Cup and general development of the Marina, apartments, hotels , restaurants and bars it is now magnificant....all completed in 15 years!

Encore on a visite le port d'Auckland.  Il y a 15 ans c'etait qu'un port de peche, mais grace au Coupe America et un developement enorme de la marine, les apartements, les restos, et les bars, c'est magnifique - tous en 15 ans!

Noon here is celebrated, as in Hong Kong, with the Noon Day Gun which caught us by suprise as we calmly walked around

On a entendu a midi le gros canon qui nous a pris par surpris!

Kate and Vaughan joined us and I'm afraid to say we overenjoyed our lunch before returning to Alexandra Park to prepare for the evening match!!

On a retrouve Kate et Vaughan pour dejeuner sur le port ou nous avons trop bu avant de retourner a Alexandra Park pour prendre la navette a Eden Park.

We were not alone in looking foolish with some other neighbours also dressing for the occasion

Tout le monde etait bien deguise en couleurs de la France ou des Blacks!

 Eden Park for the match was absolutely full with an ambiance extraordinary:

Pour le match, l'ambiance a Eden Park etait absolument super:

Being enjoyed by one and all....some more than others!!

Tout le monde se regalait..... quelques unes plus que les autres

The Haka of course was well received by all, setting the scene on the match:

Le Haka:

We all know the result with some exceptional tries scored by the All Blacks.........a lesson in Rugby Down Under and a match to remember. After the match the French team were well received by the crowd

Tout le monde connait le resultat - il y avaient des essais exceptionnelles des Blacks - une lecon de rugby et un match a se rappeller.  Apres le match l'equipe francaise etait bien accueillie par les supporteurs NZ.

The evening contained another celebration, that of Richie MCcaw achieving his 100th cap....the first All Black to do so

Un autre fete cette soiree, la 100eme selection de Richie McCaw - le premier All Black de l'avoir fait.

And so ended the evening of a very special match

Le fin d'une soiree exceptionnelle.

Back to the Sports Bar and a chance to see the match over again on the television

Retour au Bars des Sports pour revoir le match a  la TV

Auckland

Some arose early but the ''three in the bed'' stayed put! Michel and France though enjoyed the views from Mount St John:

Il y avait eux qui se sont leves tot - Michel et France se sont regale par les vues depuis Mont St John - mais les trois dans le lit y restaient...

amid a lovely parkland with animals of all sorts:

dans un parc plein d'animaux:

All the team were destined then for the centre of Auckland and after meeting Bertrand Pelletier for coffee it was off on the Explorer bus for a trip around Auckland; the only real way to get to know the city:

Toute l'equipe est parti pour le centre d'Auckland, et apres un cafe avec Betrand Pelletier, nous avons pris le bus, l'Explorateur, pour visiter tout Auckland.

One of the best stops was at Bastion Point, top right on the map above. Here we were able to see some magnificent views of Auckland, away from the City and towards it:

Une des meilleurs etapes etait Bastion Point, a droite en haut sur la carte.  Depuis ici on pouvait voir Auckland, les ports, les isles, le centre,.....

By chance while we were there a Maori group from a Methodist church were preparing a film on the Maori culture and songs for television:

Par chance il y avait une groupe de Maori qui faisait un film de la culture Maori pour la television:

with a Maori singer:

avec une chanteuse maori:

As you'll see below it was something special:
C'etait quelque chose un peu speciale:

A stop which also was worthwhile was the Mount Eden gardens with its spectacular Rhododendrums, Camelias and Magnolias. An interesting garden created by a group of gardeners 40 years ago in a disused quarry:

Une etape tres interessante etait les jardins de Mount Eden avec ces rhododendrums, camelias et magnolias.
Ce jardin a ete cree par une groupe de jardiniers il y a 40 ans dans un ancien quarry.

Some peace and calm could be found in the ''Dell'' with a wonderful range of plants and colours:

On pouvait trouver le calme dans le "Dell".

It was strange for us to be seeing Spring colours when at home it France we're in Autumn, although  we understand that Sariac is having an Indian Summer!!

C'etait bizarre pour nous de voir les couleurs du printemps pendant que chez nous en France c'est l'automne, quoique nous comprenons que a Sariac c'est un ete indienne!

The centre of Auckland and around the Port was very busy with thousands of rugby fans attracted by the Rugby Ball and other Exhibitions on New Zealand and Rugby history

Le centre d'Auckland et autour du port etait tres charge avec les supporteurs de rugby pour  les expositions sur le rugby neo-zelandais et l'histoire de Blacks

It's no wonder that Auckland is called ''The city of sails'' when one sees so many boats of all sizes, some quite luxurious

Auckland est renomme pour les bateaux et les yachts, il s'appelle le Cite des Voiles.

Back at the luxury accommodation at the race track we had the chance of spening time with our South African friends where the dragon and the springbok seemed to be getting on well!

Retour au camping 5 etoiles, nous avons discute avec nos nouveaux amis sud africaines ou le dragon et le bok s'entendaient bien! 

Our stay at Alexandra Park coincided with a race meeting of Trotters where money was won on the races at the same time as enjoying a good meal and the match......I forget who was playing!

Notre sejour a Alexandra Park a coincide avec un concours de trotting ou on a gagne sur les chevaux a la meme fois que nous avons bien mange et regarde un match - mais j'ai oublie qui jouaient!