Views of Waiheke

Dec. 18

Yet another day when the sun shone into a blue and white New Zealand sky. After the same incredible and healthy breakfast, Derek, Sue and John packed up the car and headed to Devonport to pick up the ferry to Waiheke Island. It is a famed island in the Hauraki Gulf outside Auckland's Waitmeta Harbour. It is a green, lush sanctuary outside Auckland's bustle of exquisite beauty, organic vineyards, white sand beaches and quaint villages. For some reason John had not been there either. Scott and Karen had visited when they visited John for a week in 1999 bu John had never gotten there.

The ferry trip took about 40 minutes. Derek rented a car after they arrived and they set out to see the island. They stopped at Charlie Farley's at Onetangi Beach for lunch. They shared three small baguettes filled with bacon, beef and veggies. Sue and John had a beer each while Derek declined as he was driving. They walked along the wide sand beach and talked to a woman who was out with some friends for a day trip.

Then it was on to Man 'o War Bay where Captain Cook had anchored many centuries before. All along the way at so many super scenic locations, John was asking Derek to stop or Derek was very considerately asking John if he wanted to try to capture the scene. So, all along the road, John was jumping out of the car to try to capture some of the breathtaking scenery. It was not pssible. The beauty of this country can simply never be adequately recorded in photographs, videos, or movies so John's effors, though beautiful, represent only about one-tenth of one-tenth of what it is really like.



The three friends then headed back to the ferry where Derek dropped off the rental and they travelled on the 5:35 ferry back to Auckland City, transferring to the Auckland-Devonport cross harbour ferry. On the long trip back they were able to talk to an interesting but very talkative lady who sat down beside them with her small bottle of wine. She gave John a guide book for Auckland that she had. He didn't have the heart to say he did not have room even for that.

The drive home along the motorway was interesting because Derek and Sue pointed out the changes that the landscape has undergone since they had moved to Auckland in the 1980's. John could remember the changes from the days he had first arrived some eleven years ago.

It was an end to a day filled with natural, impressive, indescribable beauty.

TRB

Please note: Video will be uploaded when possible.