Here we are, still on our ICA (International Caravan Assoc) trip. After a week or so of gloriously hot weather, we had days of torrential rain. The weather forecast promised us rain and colder temperatures, and it wasn’t wrong. Just a bit of a shock after all that really hot weather we had been enjoying. Sunday morning was time to move on, and I must admit that some of our group with bigger motorhomes were rather worried, as we were parked up on rather sodden ground. Only one motorhome needed help in the end, and Robin was happy and our 4WD, together with the blue recovery strop into action to pull David and Pamela’s motorhome off the grass. Our stop for the next three days was the Hawera A&P Showgrounds.
The rain had eased off the next morning and we all went to the Tawhiti Museum. Widely acclaimed as the best private museum in the country, the museum uses life size exhibits and scale models in a series of realistic and engaging displays. All these displays are designed and built on the premises by Nigel Ogle. Firstly we started off looking through the Traders and Whalers exhibition. We stepped into a boat which took us gently around, showing tableaus of traders selling muskets for food and flax, life in Maori villages, and flash, bang, watch out! We were caught up between warring parties as muskets nearly blew our heads off. No photos were allowed to be taken on our boat ride.
Local Maori people trading with the sailors
Then we had a tasty lunch at Mr Badgers Café, and look, there his is, curled up on the fireplace, engrossed in reading his book. A series of scale models in the café illustrate scenes from Wind in the Willows.
Mr Badger
The main part of the museum was full of displays of the Maori Wars, and early days of the settlers to New Zealand, tools and machinery. Very interesting, to be sure, but as usual, I gravitated to those displays showing the life of women in those early times.
Mum in the kitchen
Drapers shop
We came across a small shed amongst the other displays.. “Have a look in that door”, I told Nola, who was beside me, knowing full well what she would find. Ooops, its a man sitting on the long drop toilet, by the look on his face he seemed to get as much as a surprise as Nola did!
Oh dear, it’s occupied!
We were at the Tawhiti Museum for several hours, but really, there was no way we could do it justice in that time. But weary backs and knees were telling us it was time to head back to camp. If you are ever up this way, take our word for it, this is a marvelous place to spend the day. The rain had cleared, the ground was firm underfoot so we gathered together between a couple of motor-homes for Happy Hour after our time at the museum.
Happy Hour at Hawera
2 comments:
that is a good thing about traveling in a group is having someone to help get another unstuck! We don't ever camp on grass like you do it - almost all places have designated parking spots where it is on a hard surface and grass might be to the side or back.
I like the historical places to wander too and see how people lived in years past - it is so interesting and makes one appreciate all the nice conveniences we have now (like indoor plumbing!)
I think it's wonderful how you and Robin go about, seeing your country! You've seen so much history in your travels, and are surely learning a lot and making memories too. This looks like such a nice museum. I would have enjoyed that "boat ride," and getting caught up in the drama of warring parties. It's good to know the weather has been mostly cooperative. I'd take heat over cool rain any day. Take care of yourselves.
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