Day trip Hunua, Kariotahi & Glenbrook 25th March 2007
What a wonderful day !!!! A cloudy start but shortly after starting out came the sun and it turned into a beautiful day. Margret, Colin, Christine, Keith, Grant, Ann, Sharlene, Kevin, Neville, John, Bryan, Brenda, Ken, Heather, Michael, Jan, Cameron, Aileen, Phil and I all left Auckland around 9.30am from the usual meeting place of the BP Drury.Traveling along some lovely back roads we arrived at Hunua Falls.
After our coffees and chat we drove across the back roads heading towards Kariotahi beach. What a beautiful place. Couldn’t persuade anyone to race up the beach but was fun watching all the activities there.Agave restaurant, (previously Castaways) which was sited on the clifftop with amazing views right above the beach, provided us with a tasty lunch. The staff were very helpful and friendly.
It was also very nice to have Colin and Margret along as if they hadn't started the group we wouldn't be here enjoying everything.
After our coffees and chat we drove across the back roads heading towards Kariotahi beach. What a beautiful place. Couldn’t persuade anyone to race up the beach but was fun watching all the activities there.Agave restaurant, (previously Castaways) which was sited on the clifftop with amazing views right above the beach, provided us with a tasty lunch. The staff were very helpful and friendly.
It was also very nice to have Colin and Margret along as if they hadn't started the group we wouldn't be here enjoying everything.
1.30pm saw us leaving to hurry to Glenbrook for the 2pm train ride. It was decided most would ride the train while a few went with Ken to check out the Tiger Moth.
What a fantastic job all the volunteers do at Glenbrook. Costumes, station, luggage, etc etc. All perfect. The carriage even had old suitcases stored in the luggage racks. Everything to look so authentic.
After the train ride we drove 5 mins to Wayne's place. Wayne is a very good friend of Kens and he had agreed to take a few for a ride in his Tiger Moth. The airstrip is right beside his house and the garage is the hanger. While we were on the train coming back into the station, the Tiger had flown right overhead us with Grant in.
Everyone waved frantically including all the tourists on board.
I emptied out the bag of food and we all sat on the lawn for afternoon tea which we felt was very civilized.
Michael was next for a plane ride and I am sure I have never seen such a huge grin as his when they landed. He said that while on final approach he said to the pilot that he couldn't see the landing strip at all to which Wayne (pilot) replied "no neither can I"
Christine went next. She was gone for ages and Keith was pacing up and down looking very concerned. Christine had been given the "deluxe" package right along the beach..The next flight was to be the last so Kevin very nicely told Sharlene she could take it. She replied "its ok its yours" and he was off running. Only time to shout "thanks" as he raced to the plane. He wasn't giving her time to change her mind.
What a fantastic job all the volunteers do at Glenbrook. Costumes, station, luggage, etc etc. All perfect. The carriage even had old suitcases stored in the luggage racks. Everything to look so authentic.
After the train ride we drove 5 mins to Wayne's place. Wayne is a very good friend of Kens and he had agreed to take a few for a ride in his Tiger Moth. The airstrip is right beside his house and the garage is the hanger. While we were on the train coming back into the station, the Tiger had flown right overhead us with Grant in.
Everyone waved frantically including all the tourists on board.
I emptied out the bag of food and we all sat on the lawn for afternoon tea which we felt was very civilized.
Michael was next for a plane ride and I am sure I have never seen such a huge grin as his when they landed. He said that while on final approach he said to the pilot that he couldn't see the landing strip at all to which Wayne (pilot) replied "no neither can I"
Christine went next. She was gone for ages and Keith was pacing up and down looking very concerned. Christine had been given the "deluxe" package right along the beach..The next flight was to be the last so Kevin very nicely told Sharlene she could take it. She replied "its ok its yours" and he was off running. Only time to shout "thanks" as he raced to the plane. He wasn't giving her time to change her mind.