New Zealand Day 23

It was Sunday and sunny so we took a drive.  First we went to Scandrett Regional park just south of our B&B.  We visited an old homestead (4 generations of Scandrett's from 1863 to 1998) and walked two loops around the peninsula (Mullet Point and Scrandretts Bay)., practicing our tree spotting skills and communing with a flock of sheep.  The trees are amazing, in particular a Norfolk Island Pine which was planted 150 years ago and has an 8 to 10 foot diameter.

View from our B&B/Suite

Our Suite is on the lower level; our rental car is the black one.  The Owners live above.

Typical landscape - hilly, grassy, with patches of native bush.

The 150 year old Norfolk Pine.

A dotterel, maybe

The Scrandrett homestead, now a bach

Our next drive was to Brick Bay Winery and Sculpture Trail,  just north of the B&B.  We walked the sculpture trail first which has somewhere over 60 contemporary pieces.  In the last few years they have  sponsored a "folly" contest.  The winning entry is then erected on site and joins the trail.  After the walk of about a mile around several lakes, through dense forests, wet lands, and open areas, one emerging next to the vineyard.  The trail starts and ends at the Glass House Cafe and an outdoor tasting "row" where we sampled 3 wines (Pinot Gris, Rose, and Red blend).  The Pinot Gris had a sweetness to it, somewhat surprising, but the Rose was dry and quite tasty.  We bought a bottle of the Rose.  Two of our readers have done similar tours, so for Donna and Ralph, enjoy the sculptures.

The vineyard is trying to be self-sufficient, with olive trees, beehives, a market garden, and even a grove of oak cork trees. It was great fun and very impressive.

An aluminum boat amid the lily pads

Circle of Life

The Glass House Cafe bordering the lake.

"Pillows"

Kinetic sculpture - two thin vanes that move in the wind.

Unusual Road Signs

A tribute to the dying off of Kauri Trees.

A house which is about the space inside, not the structure.

A cork tree

Looks like a large bee nesting box, but it is a seat.

An ode to tangents.

For unusual accounting.

A posh garden gnome in bronze

A wooden carved cowry shell

I am in the middle.

A rabbit with human form.

Our last drive was north to Leigh and the beach across from the Goat Island Marine Preserve.  We sat on the Pahir Beach for a few minutes and then I went swimming.  The waves were stirred up, along with a strong sideways current and cold water, so Betsy passed on swimming.  The beach was rocky and the walking was tough, particularly when the waves were hitting me and I am trying to maintain balance.  We walked over to some tide pools but didn't see much.

Goat Island in the background, the swimming area in front.

After cleaning up and changing clothes, we drove a short way back to Leigh to walk around its small, peaceful, commercial harbor.  We walked out beside the water on what looked like an old two-lane roadway.  But it is still being used by the owner of a small bach on the left not visible.  We talked with the owners a bit after going a little way on the trail, before getting turned back by slips.  The owners told us about a waterfall just a minute behind their house and allowed us to view it (see below).

The Leigh Harbour

A stalking White-faced Heron

The waterfall.

We went for dinner at the Sawmill Brewery partway back to Snells Beach and our B&B.  We went with a flight consisting of 5 beers -- an experimental IPA using several NZ hop varieties, a doppelbock lager, an hazy IPA, another IPA using only Riwaka hops and a "homegrown lager."  They are a large artisanal brewery offering about 15 different brews.  We ate spicy Korean lamb ribs, gnocchi with eggplant, other stuff and lots of olive oil, and finished with an flourless orange and almond cake.  The brewery has been in business for some time and does a number of things to reduce waste, recycle, and lower their impact on the environment.  They also use local farmer produce in many of the menu choices. 

The front of Sawmill Brewery