Paul Globe Trotting Holmes

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

The Southward Museum, Otaihangar, New Zealand, March 19th 2013

Wet Tuesday, Museum Beckons...

A damp Tuesday afternoon in Te Horo, but do we let the weather dampen our spirits? Of course not, so with the mind firmly focused on the word museum, trying my hardest not to yawn (through lack of exercise), its a drive 10 minutes south to the village of Otaihangar. A nationally renowned museum is located here - The Southward Museum, dedicated to old cars mostly. Uncle says there are a couple of planes there too - I knew there would be something there to save the day, I just had that feeling!

6 quid to get beyond the door and into a large, bright showroom with old vehicles crammed wall to wall, must be couple of hundred at least, and there's downstairs too. The first and most prominent display is a Cadillac specifically designed with American gangsters in mind. This one is reputed to have been owned by Al Capone, some gangster bloke from across the pond - the windscreen is chipped, could have been bullets, giving the story a bit of credence I suppose. And the rest of it, well, actually not a bad collection ranging from antique/ancient to retro mid 80's that even I can relate to - now that is scarey!

The Wellington Album - Bay Watch, March 2013

A coastline drive reveals Wellingtons bays and with mountainous backdrops makes for some stunning scenery on this fresh autumnal day.

A suburban road in Wellington

Ships dock here quite often

Soames Island

From South Island to North Island

Never far from the airport

Wellington Seascape

Panorama

The occasional oddity

Monday, 25 March 2013

Wet Monday, Wet Tuesday, Te Horo, New Zealand, March 19th 2013

Wet, Wet, Wet

Well, the predicted bad weather has arrived, and welcomed by just about every Kiwi since the whole place has been drought for several weeks. They've had a long hot summer, unusually so according to uncle, but here in Te Horo its not a desperate situation since there are numerous mountain streams to utilise.

So, rather than get wet, time to catch up on some blogging......some sleep........more blogging.

Oh, and the groin pain has disappeared, thankfully.

Paraparaumu, New Zealand, March 17th 2013

Paraparaumu

Not the most inspiring of towns but Paraparaumu is significant in that the local airfield is there and today I've managed to persuade auntie to drive me down for a look around. There's also a museum there, she tells me, so an hour here then should be pleasant enough. 20 minutes driving South on highway 1 and its well signposted. A small coastal town, not really on the tourist trail and definitely not on the worldwide backpackers trail! Usual shopping precincts, giant chain stores and a few independents mixed in with the American fast food joints.

Classed as an airport since there are passenger flights with Air New Zealand to Auckland, but security is surprisingly laid back. Plenty of recreational flying - a glider club and 2 flying clubs here. Kapiti flying club is the first hangar, door is open and a casual invitation to the office upstairs where there isn't much going on actually. A spell of bad weather is heading this way, so not much flying going on, but I can come back anytime and get airborne.They seem friendly enough so, i might just do that - its about 75 UKP for a 30 minute trial flight, enough time to get a few photos of the local area and nearby mountains.

The museum is a small affair, in a shed beside the hangar, but it does comprehensively tell the story of New Zealands aviation past, civil and military. An interesting 20 minutes looking at the clippings related to paraparaumu airfield, a host of finely crafted aeroplane models and a few wartime artifacts.

Next, a sandwich and coffee. A drive down to the beach and its easy to park since the main holiday season has passed. A host of restaurants, fish and chip shops and cafes around here, pretty typical of a seaside town in England except here it all looks well maintained, new and clean.