NZ: Scenes of Te Kuiti - Part 1...

On The Road: To Te Kuiti

It's amazing how you can start the day looking like this...

... And then look like this. Ah, Autmn in the
Southern Hemisphere.

Then it looks like this again. This is Hamilton, about
65 miles from Auckland. It's kinda like Mayberry,
only with a ton of coffee shops.

Just some guy doing some archery in the middle of the day.

I took this shot of these pillars in one of the large
roundabout we were trying to navigate through the
city. Did I mention this was taken at the 3rd pass
around? Yeah, getting OUT of Hamilton can be tricky
if you don't read the road signs well. Then again, I
guess Kiwis like to have their own little inside jokes.

Ah, green.

About another hour and a half later, we arrive in Te Kuiti.
Yep, it is the shearing capital of the world.

Here's another welcome sign, but it lacks the pizazz of
the other one. The former always takes the glory.

This is the B & B my Dad and I stayed at. I know, it looks
like a futuristic barn on the outside, but it really is
quite lovely and comfy.

Here's where I got to sleep. It was the worst roll-away
ever, but heck, the view and the rest of the house
really do more than make up for it.

See? Ain't it awesome? The shed to the left is the owner's
own sheep shearing shed, 'cause apparently you've GOT
to have one if you live in these parts.

Believe it or not, that lake is actually for the local water
sanitation. Yep, even the yucky get a beauty make-over.

For good dining (well, lunch anyway) in Te Kuiti, you'll look
no further than Bosco's Cafe. They've got chic' dining
with a nice outdoor-sy feel to it.

And right behind Bosco's is Brook Park, where you
can finally see some...

SHEEP!

Yep, they really do love to strike a pose!

So, let's check out the rest of the town!

Here's the main street, Rora Street.

Here's a giant statue that sits right at the end of main street.
If you still don't believe that this place is the shearing capital
of the world, the statue should clinch it for ya. It's also
a helpful place to meet, 'cause, like, there's only ONE
giant statue and if you can't find it, then something is
wrong with you.

Here's the Train Station. It's very Gary Cooper,
High Noon-ish.

This is a WWII Memorial Archway. Names of locals who
died are commemorated on plaques on either side of the
arch.

Here's the other local War Memorial. Plaques on either side
of the pillar are inscribed in both English and Maori.

Now, my father was very excited about visiting this spot.
I mean, with the words "Millenium Pavillion" you'd think
it'd be rather large, right?...

...Well, I suppose "large" is a matter of perspective.
Let's take a look inside!

I think the stained-glass rocks!

And no trip is complete without a visit to the local watering
hole, Spanky'z. They've got Karaoke Thursdays, Slot
Machines in the back room, and of course, alcohol to boot!

Mmmm... refreshing. Is it, or is it not, an alcoholic
beverage? Hmmm...

We still had just enough time in the day to stop by the
Waitomo Caves, where the famous glow-worms reside.
I'd show you pics of stalactites and stalagmites, but they
didn't allow for photography. Sorry folks, it's Wikipedia for
the lot of you!

Just a few miles away from Te Kuiti is another sleepy town,
Otorohanga. What you see here is what passes for
"fine dining" in the area, The Thirsty Weta.

Surprisingly, the food's not that bad. Then again, it's the
only bar/eatery that stays open past 9 PM in the town, so
there could be a psychological factor at play. I'd
recommend the chicken, it was nicely BBQ'ed up!

I just thought the sign looked cool. "90%" just wouldn't have
the same ring to it...

Well folks, that's it for now. Next time we'll be leaving Te Kuiti
and heading back to Auckland.

TO BE CONTINUED...