After we finally escaped from the mud and the Gardens outside of Te Kuiti, we came back into the town for a look around to see the bits we had missed the previous day. We had a closer look at the Colin Meades exhibition and also had a closer look at the model of the shearer, parking in the adjacent parking lot and walking the dogs around it.
We then made our way to Otorhanga where there is a NZMCA park where we planned to stay the night. Judy had never been to the Otorohanga Kiwi House though, so that was our main destination for the day.
I think you are always lucky if the kiwis decide to come out and play, even though they are in a twilight zone in their enclosure. We were lucky that one felt like coming over to see us (on the other side of the glass) but all the others were still tucked up in their beds asleep.
There are several other bird enclosures at the park though and because it was duck shooting season there were lots of common ducks as well.
There were several keruru and lots of other native birds including kea and kaka.
Overall it was a pleasant hour or so spent there and Judy can now say she has been.
We made our way to our over night stay, but had a nasty surprise when we went to go to bed for the night. It seems that Hunter had been caught short during the day some time and had pee’d on our bed. We had to strip everything down to the mattress topper and mattress. Luckily I had spare sheets and the spare bed had a duvet on it, so we were able to be comfortable for the night. We will have to take more time to make sure Hunter actually goes when he is supposed to.
The next morning was all taken care of then as we became well acquainted with the 24 hour laundromat in Otorohanga. A couple of hours, and a few dollars was spent getting everything clean and dry again, and put back to how it was.
After that we made our way out to Honikiwi, outside of Otorohanga, to spend a couple of nights on the property of Bruce’s friend and former workmate Garth, and his wife DrewAnne. They live almost in the clouds it is so high, and because the weather was wet, the clouds were actually present all around us. Visibility was pretty poor most of the time. It was a shame as I am sure the views would have been spectacular.
The following afternoon it cleared enough that we all (including dogs) piled into Garth’s ute and drove several kms down to the river flats for a walk. Garth is a keen hunter and fisherman and he was keen to tell us all the spots he had come across deer, pigs and trout.
Because of the rain, all the waterways were a muddy brown mire, and the streams and rivers here were no exception.
Drew served us a delicious dinner on each of the nights we were there, of home grown meat and veges, and Garth taught us a lot about dog training that we will be able to put into practice with Oscar and Hunter. However, aside from a short stint where our dogs chased their cat, I would have to say they were on their best behaviour. Bruce kept pointing out to them that Garth’s dogs lived and slept in an outside kennel, so I don’t know if that made an impression on them or not.
We said our farewlls on Sunday morning, in the midst of more rain and headed back to Otorohanga.
Away From Home NZ 