East Coast Escapade
A comprehensive summary of our recent trip to the East Coast, including a host of extra photos as mentioned in the December issue of our club’s magazine.
Thursday 12 November, 2015
Everyone was very punctual and ready to leave as scheduled. The weather was fine but a very cold bleak wind which was felt by us all. Our leisurely drive down to Whakatane ended at the beginning of the Toll expressway where there was obviously a green flag waved which we missed and the Monte Carlo began… What a magnificent sight, seeing those powerful machines going through their pacers as we followed the lovely drive down the coast to our lunch venue.
In due course we all arrived at the Red Barn Bakery Café where all the cars were lined up in their true form ready for their next stage of the race…A lovely array of delicious food was displayed which we all enjoyed with our much loved coffee fix and various other hot drinks.
Our journey continued over the hill to the popular Ohope beach and weaved our way down through the countryside to Opotoki to Eastland Pacific Motor Lodge where the Moteliers were very welcoming an efficient and in no time at all we were all settled in to our very clean and some very new units. After unpacking we all left in convoy to Roger & Colleen Clark’s beautiful rural property about 10 mins drive from our motel.
What a wonderful splash of colour greeted us all after we had driven up through their avocado orchard. Their bright abundant display of colour, rhododendron’s, aquilegias, roses, not to forget the amazing show of bromeliads which obviously thrive in their conditions with no harsh frosts like we experience. We visited their garden 2 years ago in the winter, so wonderful to return and view it in its glory at this peak time of the year. We were then provided with an amazing spread of home baking and coffee/tea provided by Colleen and her family. (Maybe Roger too, maybe not….). The selection would have put any café under threat. The ginger crunch and chocolate squares to name a few, must be mentioned.
After we had been very spoilt and lavished with wonderful food a tour of the garden and some exercise was a necessity. Whilst this was on the agenda the men folk (and a few women, I must add) went on a tour of Roger’s sheds to see work in progress and finished projects.
Thank you both again for an enjoyable visit and warm hospitality.
Back to the motel where we were all informed to be ready to be shuttled out to a lovely Irish Pub, the Masonic Hotel where we were to share a meal together after pre dinner drinks in the bar. The drinks were very reasonably priced and certainly no measure lines on my wine glass. Apparently this could be the reason why I mixed and mingled so well that they thought that I should do this report….(Not even abridged !!!)
A wonderful trip which we enjoyed so much and I am sure we can vouch for everyone else too.
By Heather and Ces Thompson
Day 2
Saturday 14 November, 2015
Saturday morning dawned fine and sunny and after a hearty breakfast in the hotel dining room, we headed off in convoy to the Eastwoodhill National Arboretum of NZ, home to the largest collection of northern hemisphere trees in the southern hemisphere – 135 hectares of over some 5000 different types of exotic & native trees, shrubs & climbers, sourced from nurseries around the world in Japan, America, Europe & NZ.
Eastwoodhill was founded by Douglas Cook who started farming the property in 1910. After being injured in WW1, he recuperated in Britain and was inspired by the beautiful gardens & parks he saw there and on his return to NZ, he commenced development of Eastwoodhill. Following his death in 1967, Mr Cook’s dream has been continued by the Eastwoodhill Trust Board and his collection has since been expanded and enhanced in many areas.
With such a large area of parkland to cover, we all headed off in different directions on the many different walks! Some took off at a fast pace to skirt the higher ridges of the Arboretum with good views, some joined a guided walking tour of the Homestead Garden & surrounds, some boarded the 4 wheel drive chariot for a guided tour a bit further afield, (ably driven and with commentary from Bill Harding) and others wandered along the trails at their own pace, enjoying the grandeur, beauty & quietness of their surroundings.
After a couple of hours of being ‘at one with nature’, we made our way back to the Visitors’ Centre where a delicious ‘Boxed Lunch’ and hot/cold drink awaited us – lots of chatter & smiling faces, so a morning well spent!
Next stop were the picturesque Rere Falls, 5m high and 20m wide. With the recent rain, the water was cascading over the full length of the falls and they were magnificent. It was here that Geoffrey & Rose’s E-Type decided it had done enough touring and refused to continue the journey, leaving G&R at the mercy of the AA! Fortunately, we have a wonderful ‘local garage’ at the home of Ron & Dorothy Hopps’, so that is where the E-Type rested until ‘parts’ could be sent from Auckland. G&R unloaded their car and were able to continue their trip with us – as passengers!
A short distance from the Falls is the Rere Rock Slide, a 60m long natural waterslide, which I am sure gives an adrenalin rush as you take off down the slope, for those seeking ‘thrills’ on their holidays – unfortunately, no one was prepared to take the plunge that day!
Next stop was ‘The Falls Station’, Warwick & Pam Hickling’s family farm for a brief visit.
Back to the Emerald Hotel for a quick change and we were off to the “Bushmere Arms” for dinner. Robin Pierson has been the Chef-cum-Proprietor for the past 20 years and has restored this late 1800’s weatherboard hotel to its former glory – polished rimu panelling complements a collection of ornamental fittings from a bygone era. As you enter the main door, you are greeted by a magnificent rimu bar, a fireplace (with mounted deer head!), stained glass lampshades, a mix of NZ landscape paintings and a collection of pottery jugs & plates – all the charm & ambience of yesteryear.
The Conservatory with its stained glass dome, looks out onto beautiful gardens of colourful roses, mature trees, a magnificent fountain with water lilies and a bell tower. Behind the manicured hedges we discovered an orchard and an expansive vegetable garden, the produce going to the restaurant kitchen. Certainly a garden for all to enjoy. The exceptional meal was prepared by Robin, who had to be coaxed out of the kitchen at the end of the evening so we could all thank him! His attention to detail was paramount – pan fried fresh fish with smoked bacon Lyonnaise potato & basil dressing OR Fillet of beef grilled medium rare with wood mushroom porcini essence. For dessert – Bailey’s Brulee OR Sticky date roll with butterscotch sauce OR Fresh strawberries in a brandy basket.
The chatter & laughter in the room that night was infectious and a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” was sung to Maralyn (our Secretary), which added to the joviality of the evening! It was close to 11pm when we returned to the hotel – the end of a truly wonderful day ‘on the road’ with the BOP Jaguar Drivers’ Club. Thanks everyone.
By Judi and Chris Simmonds
Day 4
Day 5
Tuesday 17 November, 2015
We awoke to a beautiful sunny day, which was lovely after the overcast cold day previously. Buffet breakfast was served between 8-9am and a lot of us had packed up our luggage into our Car for a 9.30am take off. Some of the group had already parted our Company the day before as had commitments that they had to fulfil back at home. Because of the unknown terrain, and possible difficulty on the Gentle Annie road some of our Members had chosen to travel home via the Napier – Taupo highway. Out of our 17 Cars that started the journey on Thursday there were 9 Car Drivers who wanted to face the Gentle Annie road to complete their Trip.
A group of 4 Cars left earlier than the rest of us, as we were told they need to go to Taihape to purchase the 98 octane that was required to get them home again. We were in the second group of 4 Cars and left the Hotel in convoy at 9.10am lead by Don & Lynley.We all headed off toward Taradale to get onto the road that would take us over the “Gentle Annie” to Waiouru Army Museum Café where we had all arranged to meet & have lunch together before all heading off in different directions for home.
This road that we travelled on was amazing, and very picturesque, with beautiful yellow broom in full glory all along the way. The road was very easy to travel along through all different types of terrain, through a couple of gorges with lovely rivers flowing below us, and such lovely rolling, green farmland on the Taihape side of the “Gentle Annie” The road was aptly described as “Gentle” as we did gently climb up to plateaus and along the gentle winding high country road. We at one stage stopped as Don & Lynley just wanted to make sure all were OK. We had a quick leg stretch, a “Werthers Original “handed out to us all from Beth, and a group photo.
We arrived at Waiouru about 2 ½ hrs later after such a great Trip. We joined the first group of travellers, for a quick bite of lunch and had only been there about 15minutes when Heather & Cecil arrived, so was good to see that they arrived safely also. From this point we all parted company and our journey home took us up the Desert Road to a stunning vista of Mt Ruapehu & Ngauruhoe topped with snow and looking stunning. What a perfect ending to such a great Trip. We took the by-pass behind Taupo and headed home through Rotorua then the back road home to Tauranga.
What a wonderful drive to end such a great Trip and we just want to acknowledge Sheryl and all those who planned, booked, and made the Trip so interesting, memorable, and enjoyable for us all. Thank you all.
By Dave Penn and Liz Standen-Penn
