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Hills outside Wellington Flower Garden Train Museum
Wellington, NZ 10/19/08
We dock at the Aotea Cruise Terminal. We had strong winds thus the name Windy Wellington. Our ship was an hour late docking due to the 50 mile an hour winds. We boarded a motor coach and headed out of the city. Our goal was to drive over the Rimutakas, 1600 feet, to the Wairararpa region, the heart of the New Zealand Wine Country. The ride was spectacular with winds blowing in the canyons. We passed one of the sites used in Lord Of The Rings. The area is often used for movie sites including Whale Rider and Piano.
We drove about an hour outside of Wellington and stopped in Martinborough. The town was started by Martin. He had traveled around the world and named the streets after cities that he had visited. Our coach driver grew up in this area and he remembers riding his horse to school and either giving him a pat to send him back home or putting him in a paddock to graze until school was out. The area has small ranches with sheep and cattle. Many are being combined to make larger ranches. Vineyards are also taking over the landscape with olive orchards also being planted. Grapes and olive trees grow well in the same climate.
We visited the Murdoch James Winery and were offered samples of their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They have 60 acres of beautiful vine covered slopes. Murdoch James Estate Dry River Road Martinborough NZ 5954. After leaving the winery we travel a few miles to Awati Gardens. The family had raised dairy cattle until the last few years. Over 20 years go they started a garden. Due to the high winds in the area they planted tall hedges enclosing large open garden rooms. Beautiful floral plants rise high over your head with stunning colorful flowers. They also have a pond with lily pads and many arbors. A bright blue peacock walked the garden. It is like a Secret Garden and you could easily get lost within the maze. We also had lunch with tea, homemade breads and a whipped cream and meringue desert.
On the return we stopped at the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston. The H199 is the only remaining Fell locomotive in the world. It is one of six engines that were designed for the Rimutaka Incline. The engine climbed grades as steep as 1 in 13. It was built in Bristol, England in 1875. Restoration of the engine took 8 years and was completed in 1989. Wayne certainly enjoyed the engine and the accompanying movie and memorabilia. The volunteers that staff the museum invited us to tea. As they said they “Put the kettle on”. We were served round scones with strawberry topping and pure whipped cream. Yum-O! http://www.fellmuseum.org.nz/.
As we returned to sea, we passed an island in the harbor. The creator of Lord of the Rings lives there.
We dock at the Aotea Cruise Terminal. We had strong winds thus the name Windy Wellington. Our ship was an hour late docking due to the 50 mile an hour winds. We boarded a motor coach and headed out of the city. Our goal was to drive over the Rimutakas, 1600 feet, to the Wairararpa region, the heart of the New Zealand Wine Country. The ride was spectacular with winds blowing in the canyons. We passed one of the sites used in Lord Of The Rings. The area is often used for movie sites including Whale Rider and Piano.
We drove about an hour outside of Wellington and stopped in Martinborough. The town was started by Martin. He had traveled around the world and named the streets after cities that he had visited. Our coach driver grew up in this area and he remembers riding his horse to school and either giving him a pat to send him back home or putting him in a paddock to graze until school was out. The area has small ranches with sheep and cattle. Many are being combined to make larger ranches. Vineyards are also taking over the landscape with olive orchards also being planted. Grapes and olive trees grow well in the same climate.
We visited the Murdoch James Winery and were offered samples of their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They have 60 acres of beautiful vine covered slopes. Murdoch James Estate Dry River Road Martinborough NZ 5954. After leaving the winery we travel a few miles to Awati Gardens. The family had raised dairy cattle until the last few years. Over 20 years go they started a garden. Due to the high winds in the area they planted tall hedges enclosing large open garden rooms. Beautiful floral plants rise high over your head with stunning colorful flowers. They also have a pond with lily pads and many arbors. A bright blue peacock walked the garden. It is like a Secret Garden and you could easily get lost within the maze. We also had lunch with tea, homemade breads and a whipped cream and meringue desert.
On the return we stopped at the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston. The H199 is the only remaining Fell locomotive in the world. It is one of six engines that were designed for the Rimutaka Incline. The engine climbed grades as steep as 1 in 13. It was built in Bristol, England in 1875. Restoration of the engine took 8 years and was completed in 1989. Wayne certainly enjoyed the engine and the accompanying movie and memorabilia. The volunteers that staff the museum invited us to tea. As they said they “Put the kettle on”. We were served round scones with strawberry topping and pure whipped cream. Yum-O! http://www.fellmuseum.org.nz/.
As we returned to sea, we passed an island in the harbor. The creator of Lord of the Rings lives there.
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