The Rose Garden in Napier, Hawkes Bay

 

Nestled at the back of Russell Road in Marewa, this inner-suburban garden is home to an ever-growing variety of roses. Planted in 1951, the collection now encompasses 5000 individual roses and 500 named varieties of covering bush, standards, weeping, climbing and prostrate rose forms. A prominent feature of the garden is a 90-metre long display of climbing roses and a small fountain in the centre of the garden. The rose display usually peaks around mid-November; however, these fragrant beauties can be enjoyed from October through to April. Park your car along the Russell Road frontage and take a wander. Amazing flowers of different sizes and colours at Hawkes Bay, Napier in New Zealand.

 

 

Ruapehu- The snow covered mountain

 The snow covered mountains of New Zealand. Could go very close to one of the  three snow covered mountains here namely, Ruapehu. The other two mountains are Tongariro and Nauruhoe. There is a lot of skiing done in Ruapehu mountains during winters but since we are here during summer missed this. There were lot of signs though, of shops selling winter clothing, general equipments  and skiing equipment.  There are a number of cottages dotting the area and skiiers stay here. One can almost drive through the foot hill of this mountain. The mountain stands tall in all its majestic wonder and we could feel the bone biting cold as we get down from the car. The landscape around it is frozen and nothing grows.

Huka Falls

 Huka falls is a water fall from  a canyon  where the lakes Waikato falls into Taupo river. Nearly hundred meters near the lake is a narrow canyon where the water falls into the lake. There is immensel  beauty surrounded by mountains, jungles around this place. There is nature spread all around with different walkways. The water is crystal clear, green and pure. Indeed very pleasing to the heart.

lake Taupo

 Lake Taupo is one of the largest lake in New Zealand on the northern basin. It is spread over 616 kilometers and it is said that Singapore can fit into this lake. This was created by a volcanic activity. As elsewhere there are beautiful walkways, pine forests, pure air and nature at its best. We were lucky to have stayed in a Bach  here  next to the lake and enjoyed the natural surroundings and the pristine environment. This was a beach house that belonged to a friend of my sisteres and they leant it out to us for the weekend. Most of the activities in New Zealand are outdoors and one does not want the environment to be disturbed by television or internet. Here you have nature at its best, calm, cool, soothing with  pin drop silence. The only sounds one can hear is of the waves crashing on the rocks as in the sea and different varieties of bird chirping.

The beach town of Tauranga

 We are in the beach town of Tauranga. It has a lovely beach and all the motels are situated along the beach. The attraction is Mount Maunganui situated next to it and standing as an impressive landmark. There are beautiful pathways marked in this mountain and we were able to walk around the mountain. There was nothing but heavenly bliss with the jungle on one side, the sea on the other and there was no commercialisation. One could even not see a single eating place on this and there was nothing except nature at its best.

Wai - O- Tapu- The Thermal Wonderland

 On 20th Novemeber, 2017, visited Wai - O- Tapu, thermal wonderland not only of New Zealand but the world. New Zealand's most colourful geothermal attraction - just a short drive from either Rotorua or Taupo. An area in which the landscape has been sculptured by geothermal activity and where unique volcanic features can be viewed from well defined tracks. Spread over an area of 18 kilometers these are volcanic eruptions that date back to about 160,000 years back. This is the largest thermal sesemic activity in the region. Depending on the shape and colour of the water in the crater, which is green, red, black or blue due to the presence of  crude oil, sulphur, iron oxide,silica or manganese oxide, they are given beautiful names. Some of the names are Devils home, artists palette, bridal veil fall, frying pan, ink pot, devils bath etc. An amazing experience with the variety of shapes and sizes and seeing a live volcano. There are various trails where one can walk seeing these craters. Once abroad, I always admire the infrastructure, organisation and tourist friendly places which is a treat and keep hoping we develop this infrastructure and attitudes in India.