New Zealand is so charming!

Posted on by Adventures of Dan and Lisa

We landed in Auckland and spent a few days gathering our wits, getting a car, and acclimating to the time changes. Immediately we were reminded how wonderful and charming the people here are. We stopped at the iSite (the tourist information center) to discuss our local rental car options. We both had the inkling we may have spoken to the woman helping us before. When Dan asked how long she’d been with the iSite because we had visited the old location on a previous trip, she replied “at the Sky Tower? Did I help you get a car rental there? It seems like I did.” We all agreed it was the case!

Speaking of the Sky Tower, we had reservations for the moving restaurant on our arrival. The views were well worth it!
It gets dark early in winter. We were a bit surprised since the day before we’d been enjoying summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s a view of the Harbour Bridge from Orbit 360.
Speaking of charming, Dan forgot when he booked the dinner he invoked my Birthday Season. The server had subtly tried to get information for the “birthday” on the reservation. When we both responded with dumb looks, he did this with the special treat.

From Auckland, we had a leisurely drive east, and spent the night in the old mining town of Thames. We got in early afternoon and wandered through town toward the historic area. It was Sunday, so the museum was closed, but we looked up the road and saw that the Museum of Technology was open. So up we went!

We entered the building and there were two gentlemen sitting by a desk. We inquired about visiting the museum, and after a little Laurel and Hardy banter with and between the two, we were able to purchase our entry. Then one said farewell, and carried on with his day. The other, apparently in charge of the museum for the day, proceeded to give us a very detailed tour of the place.
It is a large building, mostly one room, that was originally built to house the mechanisms used to run an enormous water pump. A gold mine had been operating at great profit for some time, but at about 600 feet down, the gold ran out. They were certain, however, that if they went past the softer rock, closer to 1000 feet, they would find more gold. The problem with that was there was water, lots of water.
The natural optimism of gold miners allowed them to convince investors that pumping the water out made sense. So, a massive engineering undertaking began, in England. And huge steam boilers, pistons, gear wheels, and other equipment was designed and made in England and shipped to New Zealand to be assembled and placed here. This all happened in the 1890’s. These pistons have the highest level of Heritage protection designation, because they are so unique.
They had a working model of the pump, and the lifts for moving miners and and out of the mineshaft.
They also had the actual lift cars! Dan included for scale. Our guide showed us the braking mechanisms, and explained how they must have marked the cables to know when to stop for people to access the shaft.
Another model of the lift mechanisms.
They were able to pump out the water, but there was no more gold to be found at the lower levels. The pump never really made money, and was closed down. Electricity was becoming common, and the location of thr pump house was close to some water runs, so the building was converted to be a generating station. But much of the original equipment, like the gears, had been removed for reuse elsewhere. Those gears are wooden models.
This is a roll top desk used at a local foundry. The photo here is for Lisa’s dad. He loves a good roll top desk!
These are surveyors chain. This museum, like so many we’ve explored in Australia and New Zealand, houses a wide array of items for the particular area.

We were the only visitors at the museum that Sunday afternoon, and we were treated to a charming, detailed, and anecdote filled guided tour by a local who clearly loved the history and lore of the area. And, just as it always is when this happens, it was a great time!

From Thames we carried on toward Tauranga, where we have friends. What comes next is a short story long about how we have friends in Tauranga. We have two sets of friends in Tauranga, one is a lovely couple we met in Melbourne on our first trip Down Under. We were having dinner in a tiny restaurant when the man at the next table leaned over and said “you aren’t from around here, where in America are you from?” And then proceeded to engage us in a delightful conversation. He, his wife, and adult daughter, were in Melbourne because it was a good halfway point to meet his son, who worked in Western Australia. Anyway, they were charming and insisted we contact them when on the North Island. We did, and have remained in contact ever since, and always meet up with them when here. The other set of friends Dan made through a travel to Portugal online group. He answered a question and they started a chat. When it came out that they were New Zealanders, and we were going to be in New Zealand, a meeting was arranged during our last visit. Of course, we schedule visits for this visit too!

Our friend from the Portugal travel website recommended we stop at a particular wine shop between Thames and Tauranga in Katikati. That was really all she said, but was a very strong recommendation. And, she mentioned the owner was an American, and she thought he was from Ohio. Now, Dan and I have had other instances here in New Zealand where “they are from Ohio” has been a thing. So far, we’ve met those folks and they were from Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas. But each one was great!

So, anyway, we get to Katikati, find the wine shop, park, grab a yummy lunch, and then walk over to pick out some wine. The store, Finer Wines – well worth the stop for good wine – looked open. There was an Open sign in the door, and a sandwich board on the sidewalk with some specials. But, looking in the doorway were stacks and stacks of boxes. Dan opened the door, but it didn’t really seem like there was a path. Lisa peeked in the window and saw two people in the back of the store. Maybe the real entrance is toward the back? So we wandered around back, nope. On our return Dan spotted someone come out of the shop with a bag clearly containing a bottle of wine. So, we took a chance and entered the store.

There was a path! And we were greeted by the owner with “it always looks like this! I am too busy selling wine to get it organized!” Then we got to chatting about what we were after. There isn’t really any browsing at this shop, you just tell the owner what type of wine you’re after, or what you like, and your price range. He then makes recommendations. Miraculously, or maybe because he has a system, he is able to produce the wine you agreed on!
Notice the Kansas Jayhawk on the wall!
So many choices! Added bonus, you get to stand around and chat about a variety of topics. This expat moved to New Zealand 20 some years ago and has been running the shop for most of those years.

Over three visits to Tauranga, because we have to come back each time to check in with our friends, we have become a bit familiar with the city. We have a favorite restaurant near the hotel where we always stay, and as we’re joking with the server we both realized we’ve played this game before. Yep, she worked there a few years ago and likely served us back then too. The next day, at a florist shop where we picked up flowers to take to lunch, we told the ladies there that we were enjoying the familiarity of the town. Then, one said, wait, did you buy flowers here a few years ago? I waited on an American couple then. Yes, yes we had bought flowers there last visit. Finding these connections is one of the things we enjoy when returning places.

A cool sculpture on the walking path.
Not really sure what this tree has been through, but it is unique.
Flowers.
Another tree that has been through some stuff.
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Published by Adventures of Dan and Lisa

When the boat broke down the nice lady from England exclaimed "oh goody, an adventure!" That changed the possible problem into a great story and improved attitudes. It has become the motto for our travels. We hope you enjoy the stories as much as we enjoyed the adventure.

2 thoughts on “New Zealand is so charming!”

  2. Re. people remembering you–it helps to be memorable (so funny and dynamic and open)! I would remember you too! What fun to follow along in Google Maps seeing where these places are. Fun!

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