Today we left rainy Auckland for the rainy northland, specifically Snells Beach. We slept in, unusual for us for the past few days, had breakfast at the local Coffee Club (quiche, scone and coffees), then checked out of the hotel, but left the luggage at the hotel, walked to the Hertz city location, and collected our rented Hyundai Kona car, black. We drove back to the hotel, (navigating the one-way streets and interminable traffic lights) and retrieved our luggage, in the rain. The switch for the windshield wipers are where the turn indicator is normally for US cars and vice versa. Whenever I wanted to switch on the wipers, I hit the turn signal. And likewise, changing lanes was proceeded by the wipers increasing speed (going from intermittent to constant). But we made it, obviously, and as we drove north from Auckland, I got more accustomed to the controls and the required motions.
We left the city on SH 1 (State Highway 1) which starts off as a multiple lane highway, with sections that are tolled. But there are no toll booths, it is all done electronically or with cameras. We paid NZ$7 dollars to cover all tolls at the rental office. I also got complete insurance coverage on the car. SH 1 peters out about half way to Warkworth, our initial destination. Note, for people who have seen the NZ TV series "800 Words," this is the fictional town of Weld, and for those who have watched "The Brokenwood Mysteries," it is the town of Brokenwood. But the police station in Brokenwood Mysteries is located nearer to Auckland in Helensville - we might see it on the drive back to Auckland in 3 days time, and other scenes are set in locations all over the area.
Anyway, we stopped in Warkworth, and walked around town and along the river. It was full, flowing with brown water. A charter sail boat is based here that goes out occasionally on the river to the Hauraki Gulf.
We bought a few groceries in town, which became lunch after we drove to Sandspit (east of Warkworth). We parked at a pull out about half mile from the end of the spit and opposite the Sandspit Holiday Park (campers, vans and the like). We enjoyed lunch in the car and then walked, in the rain, out to the end of the spit. The Mail Boat was just leaving on its route, which includes taking guests to a luxury resort (only 8 rooms) on Kawau Island.
We drove a few miles from there to Snells Beach, Matakana Coast and to the Tahi Lodge (a 2 or 3-room B&B) with the owner living on site. Lauren Kitchin, our host, met us as we drove up the driveway, showed us to our suite and explained how everything worked. Breakfast is provided, self-service with cereal, toast and jam, OJ, yoghurt, and coffee/tea. Our room is very well equipped with a Nepresso coffee maker, electric tea kettle, refrigerator, beach towels, internet, Netflix on the TV, and more spread over 3 rooms. She even gave us a souvenir picture book covering this area's towns, activities, and beaches, ranging on both the east and west coasts (rich in fine beaches and wildlife preserves). One interesting political tidbit: Lauren is not a fan of Jacinda Arden, the prime minister who resigned a few weeks ago, because she spent a lot of money I the northland which did not accomplish anything visible to the folks around here - further modernization of SH 1 is stalled and behind schedule. Lauren opined that improvements to SH 1 would benefit us, the tourists.
We relaxed for a couple hours in our room, avoiding the rain, before venturing out. Actually, it was more like 3 or 4 hours, so we drove into center of town and ate at the one restaurant that was open - Spice Root, Indian cuisine.
We very much enjoyed 800 Words. Fun to think of you there. Hope the weather lets up.
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