New Zealand—Napier and Wellington, February 13-15, 2025

 New Zealand—Napier and Bus to Wellington, February 13, 2025

Our six hour bus ride to Wellington left at 1:50PM, so we had to figure out how to pass some time between check out at 11AM and 1:30ish. Luckily, the Napier Art Deco celebrations were underway and all we had to do was walk around town and enjoy the festive atmosphere. I took a couple videos of three singers in 20's regalia and included them. After catching their act we walked along Marine Parade and enjoyed the sunshine and Pacific Ocean.

The bus ride was uneventful, and that's always a good thing. We pulled into Wellington 30 minutes late because of road work, the usual summer repaving that takes place in the summer all around the world. The ride was restful and bucolic as the pictures indicate. Enjoy.

Art at Clive Park.

Couldn't get into this building yesterday during our guided tour.

Note the Art Deco windows and wall sconce.

And the light fixtures are fabulous.

The Daily Telegraph building was home to Napier's newspaper.

And the vintage cars are making the rounds.

Thought I should show the font of street signs.

The Sound Dome is swinging!

We didn't catch their name but they were good.

A dove at Marine Parade Park serenaded us.

And we're off to Wellington, enjoying the scenery.

We saw lots of sheep, cattle, and fields and fields of corn.

Wellington can't be far away now.

And by 8:30PM we were "home".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wellington, February 14, 2025

Our first full day in Wellington was spent walking to the Cable Car and taking it to the top, and walking through the Botanical Garden back down to the harbor and along the waterfront park. And then we hung out in our large apartment at TRYP Wyndam Hotel, taking it easy prior to our dinner meeting with Dan and his wife Jen. I taught Dan his 8th grade year at St. Joe's 45 years ago. It will be fun catching up with him.

For now though, here are some pictures from today.

Line for the Cable Car.

35 minutes from joining the line we were at the top.

Mural in Cable Car Station.

And away we go!

 

Panorama of Wellington Harbor from the top.

New Zealand pigeon.

The walk down to the harbor.

The walk down through the Botanical Garden is lovely.

These gnarly trees are Hobbit-esque! So cool.

Gathering pollen for the hive.

Couldn't believe the size of...

...this Eucalyptus tree.

And it's height is even more impressive.

These heritage homes skirt the Botanical Garden.

Bolton Street Cemetery (1842) at the bottom of the Botanical Garden.

Parliament's New Building.

Wellington Harbor Board Wharf Office is a beauty.

Open space that's part of Queen's Wharf.

Kupe, his wife and Maori priest.

 

The Wellington diving board near 

Waitangi Park is clearly a favorite.

This mural is across the street from our hotel.

Lunch at Panhead brew pub.

Oh wait, this was lunch.

Me, Marie, Jen, and Dan. Yummy dinner at Rock Yard, a Vietnamese Restaurant.

Wellington, February 15, 2025

Today we caught the East/West ferry to Days Bay and the village of Eastbourne to visit Dan and continue our visit. Jen flew to Auckland to see their daughter at university in Auckland so it was just us and Dan. We took an extended walk along the bay and up a trail to get a picture back to Wellington before finishing the day at the Eastbourne Sports Centre where we had chilled refreshment before catching the last ferry back to the city. This was a relaxing and fun day.

I've included a few pictures of this suburb of Wellington.

We started our day at Joe's Garage a few doors from...

...our hotel. The breakfast was way tastier here.

Waiting for the ferry at Queens Wharf.

June Jackson mural on the side of a warehouse at the wharf.

Walking to the ferry we caught some Dragon Boat races.

The ferry to Days Bay.

The walk along the bay we took with Dan.

Between walking to and from the ferry and the one we did with Dan, somehow we walked 7 miles today. Sure didn't feel like it.

There's an extensive trail system up and through the preserve surrounding Eastbourne.

We only walked partway up for a picture.

Looking back to a Wellington suburb. City is to the right.

Summer is finally in full swing.

Dan said summer got off to a slow start and now everybody's making up for lost time.

The locals jump off the ferry pier. It's a thing!

All aboard! And we're off for Wellington.

 

Sunday morning we'll rise early for the Interislander ferry and cross to the south island. It's a 3.5 hour crossing and we're looking forward to the second half our our New Zealand trip.