Tauranga

We have departed Auckland and now on our sea journey. Our time in Auckland was short lived but that was all right.  We did not have dinner reservations and we were told to get at "Soul" in Auckland, lo and behold no res until 9pm- but hey I still got it!! We went right in

John asked if we had reservations and I told him- NO WAY!!!

He's took one look at my smiling face and told us to shag that table on the patio overlooking the water and away we went.  Great food and wine,of course. 

  

After our first night on the boat we docked at Tauranga, on the Glorious Bay of Plenty.  I had booked this tour with Tours by Locals and we had a wonderful guide, Julie Cunningham who picked us up in her vintage Rolls , a 1979 Silver Shadow!

Talk about driving Miss Stevie and Miss Julie!

What a hoot!

 Julie took us through the countryside and up to a town called KatiKati, where she ives.  It is a beautiful spot not far from the beaches but up in the hills. In town about 10 years ago they had an art contest and the locals painted the history of their  town on the sides of the buildings to draw some tourists and revive the local economy.  It worked.  Very charming.! 

The wifi goes off and on, so I will continue a new page