On Tuesday, Phil and I drove three hours southeast from Auckland to the city of Tauranga. Because this was Phil’s first day driving on the other side of the road after a 2 year gap, we made sure to take plenty of breaks. We pulled over at the Karangahake gorge and thought it looked like a great place to stop for a short walk to stretch our legs.
Our plan was just to walk across the bridge and take a peek around the corner, because we were a bit apprehensive to leave the car for long since it was packed with all our stuff, but when we turned the corner we saw this
and couldn’t stop walking and had to see what else lay ahead.
The trail clung to the rock wall following along the river, with multiple tunnels going into the steep hillsides. It was spectacular.
The Karangahake gorge lies between the Coromandel and Kaimai mountain ranges and was the location of gold mining from the 1880s to 1950s, producing 60 percent of the total gold from New Zealand.
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-:- Wednesday -:-
I taught 2 workshops in Tauranga, and my first was a one day painting imagery with textile paints class.
A lot of beautiful work accomplished in 6 hours.
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-:- Thursday -:-
On Thursday, Phil and I took a breathtaking walk around the base of the extinct volcano Mount Maunganui.
I was so amazed to see a beach in one of the coves that had a solid covering of shells and no visible sand.
Bliss…
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-:- Friday -:-
What a great time!
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While in Tauranga, we also went hiking at McLaren falls located on the Mangakarengorengo River, about 20 minutes away. The amount of water flowing over the rocks changes seasonally, and also when the power station releases water.
There are several small lakes in the park surrounded with tree shaded hills with flocks of sheep to mow the grass. I love that natural alternative to power mowers!!!
One of the lovely waterfalls we saw on a track through the bush.
Up until the time I left for this trip, I had been working 7 days a week for at least 4 months preparing for my workshops in Houston, Napa, and New Zealand, and working part time in the makerspace, so despite my busy teaching and travel schedule, I was feeling very relaxed and happy by comparison.
Next stop Whakatane.
Keep creating,
Judy
I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:
I’m not sure how many of these events will take place due to impact of the corona virus, but I’ll post cancellations and updates as they occur.
2020
May 27-31 Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI
Tea & Ephemera and Painting Imagery with Textile Paints
Australia!!! Cancelled
Berry, AU- June 27, 28 Berry Quilting Retreat 2 day Tea & Ephemera
Adelaide, AU- July 2, South Australia Quilters Guild Lecture
July 3, 4 Exhibition with the South Australia Quilters
July 10-16 Quilt Encounter 3-day Paint & Printapalooza, 2 day Tea & Ephemera
Brisbane, AU- July 18, 19 Queensland Quilters 2 day Tea & Ephemera
August 11-13 Calico Cutters, West Chester, PA
Tsukineko Inks and Tea & Ephemera
August 31 Color Theory lecture Pioneer Quilters Guild, Loomis, CA
September 26 River City Quilt and Fiber Art Festival, Sacramento, CA Tea & Ephemera
October 18-24 Hudson Valley Quilt Retreat, Greenville, NY
Paint and Printapalooza
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.
6 responses to “Beautiful Tauranga”
We forget how breathtaking our country scenery is till we see it afresh through the eyes of travelers – Carol Ngaruawahia group
HI Carol,
I completely understand that feeling after living in some very beautiful places growing up on the coast of Maine and Northern California, and then coming back to them years later after living in some less than ideal places, as well as traveling to a lot of places that hold little charm. One of the things that I’m always stunned by after returning from New Zealand, is how filthy the US is by comparison. It’s very sad. I have a lot of respect for the value kiwis put in maintaining the environment. New Zealand reminds me a lot of California (which I also love) but so much of NZ is unspoiled so it’s easy for me to be completely enamored by it, and am anxious to return whenever I can. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful pictures of your trip to New Zealand. You look so happy!
Hi Marilyn,
you’re welcome. New Zealand is definitely my happy place and I love being able to share it’s beauty with others, especially now when our world has shrunk down to the walls that surround us for the indefinite future.
I am loving these reports and pictures from New Zealand, and they are inspiring me to up my hiking (or even walking) game! Such beauty! Some of it makes me think of the Pacific Northwest (U.S.).
Hi Rebecca,
New Zealand reminds me a lot of the pacific northwest, but with hills that are steeper and closer together. Hiking can be a bit more strenuous as a result, but so beautiful. It doesn’t have the wet and dry seasons that California or Australia has, so it doesn’t turn quite as brown and crispy in the summer, but they have been experiencing their worst drought since the 1930’s so it was a lot drier than any other time I’ve been there. The coast is very similar to the northwest though with steep hills and cliffs going right into the ocean and big dramatic rocks off shore.