Venturing south to Napier

Having AW here was such a treat that I had to take him out of town for a few days to see the country.  Deciding he might appreciate the Art Deco-ness of Napier, as well as the coastal beauty and vineyards aplenty, we drove the 3+ hours south to enjoy this area.  Made a stop south of Rotorua, the Island's most geothermal area, in Wai O Tapu, something a bit like our Yellowstone Natl Park, but much more accessible and smaller scale.  Full of sulfer smelling bubbling waters, mud pools, and fumaroles ( what a great geologic word!) , it got me all excited about geology once again.  Walking amongst all this makes the world feel very alive right underfoot.
Then to Napier where the entire town has opted to have art deco be its theme, so all store fronts are of this decor.  It is a great city on Hawkes Bay!!  We stayed in lovely B and B up on this Bluff, overlooking the port and the bay.
Photos below to share the fun!

Can't seem to get enough of our local beauty-here is Mount Maunganui beach in late afternoon

How it all came to be.  Steve box, you would love this place!!

The Artist's Palette pool-yellows, blues and orange all in the same pool!

In the distance one sees the volcanoes of the southern North Island, one snowcapped on the right was Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings!!!

Actual color of this pool, this just does not seem natural but due to mixing of minerals and gases from below this is what happens

Huge bubbles of hot hot hot mud

In Napier now, we hired bikes for the day and toured the wineries of this area.  Seemed a cross of Napa Valley and Bolinas, lovely small vineyards along the coast, most with excellent bistros and funky locales.

Much of our trail paralleled the Tukituki River as we headed to the coast

AW crossing bridge onto the coastal part of the trail. 

Lunch at Elephant Hill Winery was a treat indeed!  Best gnocchi EVER!

And if I haven't mentioned it already, one of the best things in the country are the public bathrooms.  The cleanest, neatest, most numerous ever!  

A quick respite from wine drinking and biking to sit and enjoy afternoon tea/coffee.

Pohutakawa flowers, national blossom!

View from atop  Te Mata peak (a lovely hike!) highest point in Hawkes Bay.  Sedimentary thrust fault uplift, more cool geology!  Looking north to Napier and beyond.

Last day in Hawkes Bay found us opting out of wine tasting and trying a bit of cider instead.   Yum!  Such variety and flavors.  It was a welcome stop.

En route home, we encountered the Huka Falls out of Lake Taupo.  Hard to capture the enormity in this photo but it was awesome.  Jet boats come up from below to take a look as well!