Friday 26 February – to Wanganui

Jessie invited me to go to Wanganui with her. This is where she attends college for her nursing degree. I’m pretty impressed, not only that she has embarked on this full-time course as a single mum, but that she travels this 6 hour round trip at least twice a week. It is a very winding road through the mountains, leaving at 5 in the morning in the dark.

I recognised quite a few places along the way that Leigh had taken me to 5 years previously. Mount Ruapehu looked stunning against the pink morning light.

This time the countryside was dotted with many Toi-toi and fruiting flax where before there were just tussocks in the volcanic sand. Even the dreaded heather was in flower!

Jessie showed me the little town where she had been brought up and her little primary school, and the wooden house where her school friend used to live – her friend’s dad still lives there.

We arrived in the college car park where Jessie handed me her car keys. She would be about 5 hours, leaving me time to explore Wanganui. First I headed on foot to the information centre across the road where they were very helpful. Then Sparks to get sorted with a phone I could use in New Zealand. Next an interesting contemporary Glassworks exhibition by Emma Campden.

Relaxing with a flat white and a lemon shortbread in a wifi area, I set up my cheap NZ phone (local sim would not work in my iPhone so guess it was locked for UK).

Next the Sargeant Gallery which was temporary as the main exhibition building was being refurbished to withstand earthquakes.  I enjoyed the work of Edith Marion Collier, who had spent time in St Ive’s and the Cotswolds, evident in her collection.

I then decided to go back to the college to pick up Jessie’s car which would take me further afield.  The Virginia Lakes were situated just outside town to the north, according to the map the young man in the tourist information centre had kindly marked up for me.

The main city centre was quite busy with lights slowing the traffic all the way through.  However this gave me the opportunity to admire the Art Deco style of the buildings, not dissimilar from Napier.  Parking was easy outside the gardens, with no entrance fee and I spent a leisurely hour or two strolling round the edge of a veridian lake.  It was very quiet for high summer and the ONE DUCK appeared on cue from behind some reeds in many guises and colours and even managed a double act…. then I must have been seeing double, as there were 4 – no 8.  I guess it was the heat getting to me as I imagined so many ducks, geese, swans, coots… even this baby Pukeko posed for a photo.  His feet were incredibly out of proportion with his fluffy little body!

After touring the Winter Gardens with their huge begonias and busy lizzies and the fern garden with interesting metal and wooden sculptures, I settled in a shady spot at the cafe for a spot of lunch – veggie fratatta and ginger beer.  Then my new phone pinged with a message from Jessie saying she was almost done, so I headed back to the college.

jessie had had a productive morning (I think) and drove me out to the Collegiate School, which her daughter, Hunter, had attended previously.  We heard much cheering and banging as we walked through the smart school buildings towards the swimming pool where House Teams were racing against each other.  Jessie knew some of the children and parents here and caught up with them while I chatted to a grandmother next to me who had 4 grandchildren at the Collegiate.  Jessie described the school as a way of life rather than just a place of learning as we left to pass through a rougher end of town…. and the beach.

I just loved the beach here – it was wild and volcanic – black sand littered with large sun dried skeletal tree remains.  The sea crashed over the rocks where brave fishermen stubbornly braved the elements.

Then we headed back through the ‘ghetto’ to the Tower, with it’s amazing panoramic views of the brown river.  The colour of the river is derived from the clay in the hills and is only on the surface, Jessie informs me, it is actually quite clear below.We then headed back towards Taupo, a long drive ahead of us but not without event!  Before long Jessie noticed an injured hawk on the side of the road.  Not wanting to leave it in pain, we threw a towel over it an I nursed it on my lap til we arrived at the house of a vet she knew near her old home town.  The vet kindly put the bird down as it’s wing was beyond repair and we continued on our way arriving back at Taupo Lake by sunset.  

Dan had been busy with the barbecue so there was a delicious meal waiting for us when we got back.  A great day out Jessie, thank you.