New Zealand Day 3 01/20/2018 Photo Album
Saturday January 20, 2018 evolved into a spectacular summer day in the northern part of the South Island of New Zealand. John, Brenda, Jane and I once again visited Elaine’s Cafe across from the Alpine Lodge for a light breakfast. I could not get enough of the loose leaf fresh brewed tea. After breakfast we returned to our rooms and packed our bags and departed for Motueka, a small city along the Tasman Sea.
John drove the large Hyandai minivan while I navigated. We chose the route that followed the scenic Ruby Coast from Richmond to Motueka, and we stopped at Mapua and the Wharf District along the way. A short walk delivered us to some shops, where we browsed for a bit, and Jane purchased a bicycle trinket, that she plans to use as a zipper pull. The craft shop displayed a variety of metalworking art crafted from recycled odds and ends such as the locking lever on a bicycle tire hub that replicated the beak of a bird.
The Wharf in Mapua
The Golden Bear Brewpub in Mapua
Next we visited the dock that borders the inlet, and we were spectators to local kids, as they leaped into the rapidly moving incoming tide. The drop was roughly ten feet, but the young residents seemed immune to fear. From my position on the wharf I spotted the Golden Bear Brew Pub, so we wandered up to the counter and ordered lunch and beverages. Jane and I savored tacos and quenched our thirst with lemonade (7Up in New Zealand), while John sipped a lager. Brenda wandered over to the Smokehouse Cafe and picked up fish and chips and then joined us on the patio at the Golden Bear.
We Were Impressed by the Flower Wall at the Equestrian Motor Lodge
We vacated Mapua after lunch and continued a few additional kilometers to the Equestrian Motor Lodge in Motueka by 1:30PM. Allan, the owner/manager, checked us in by 2PM, and then I embarked on a forty minute run on the Intercoastal Walkway. Jane and Brenda overlapped with a shortened version in the form of a walk. The air temperature hovered at 29 C, which is quite warm, but it felt good compared to the winter temperatures we left behind in Colorado.
After our activities we drove to the New World Market and picked up breakfast and lunch goodies. Happy hour on the lawn outside our hotel was followed by dinner at Armadillos on High Street in Motueka. We looked forward to four nights and three more days in Motueka.