New Plymouth to Wellington

For your information Dave Robey, there are 926 steps in that flight up to Mt. Taranaki (so the lady motel owner informed us). No wonder our thigh muscles were screaming.  Feeling much better now though after a couple days driving and beach hopping south to the capital.

The Sunday morning coffee stop was also a valuable piece of information imparted by the lady motel owner. Although the sofa was crying out to be re-upholstered, but I just don't have time.

The first part of the drive south was along the so called Surf Highway which skirts the Mt. Taranaki peninsula and is part of NZ's surf folklore with numerous beaches, cafés, surf shops and surf dudes  just hanging out. We stopped at Cape Egmont and sat on the cliff marvelling at the beautiful waves. Thinking how envious Neil will be of these pix. (No surfers here as it was rocky and there was no access down to the waves, but plenty of wind surfers just along from us).

 

Later on we found another little family beach for picnic lunch and swim, and carried on down Highway 3 and overnight in Wanganui.  The following day was mainly on the road, topping up on coffee at various cafés, a brief stop at Foxton beach for a swim and then on to Wellington.

 

Apparently the beaches only get better in South Island