A Taste of the Far North

 A Yesterday we awoke to this heavenly view.

It was inevitable that my day started with a seashore walk.

There were just a few dog walkers around as I strolled along the sand of Cable Bay which is a small resort on the bigger Doubtless Bay so named when discovered by Captain Cook.

We started the day with an uncertain plan but decided to visit the small fishing port of Mangonui which had been an important place in the days of the whaling industry from 1792 to 1850. 

It retains a lot of it's historical waterfront buildings. This particular one being a court house originally is now an Arts Centre.

A stroll into the Information Centre set our agenda for the day. I had read about The Whaling Museum with Victorian homestead and gardens at Butler Point but knew visits were by appointment only. We were in luck! A blackboard advertising a visit at 11am had us off to buy a picnic and we were on our way. Time was found on route however for the farmer to check out a new cattle handling system.

Butler point was all that it promised with an eccentric professor of history as a guide we both learnt a lot about the gruesome practice of whaling. 

The boat alone gave a great picture of the danger to the occupants let alone the poor whale!

No pictures were allowed inside but we also spent a lengthy time in the superb gardens.

We ate our picnic lunch in the grounds and then walked out to the point passing another ancient tree.

Then made a visit to the family cemetery and the Maori Pa or defence settlement on the hill.

We were by then ready to return to our lodge for a swim and a bit of relaxation. Fortunately there are no pictures to see of that!