Anniversary Trip

Our 40th Anniversary was fast approaching so we needed to decide how we wanted to celebrate.  I'm the social secretary in this household and after throwing a few ideas around, we decided on an Anniversary Trip, ending up in Rotorua.  This is where we spent our honeymoon, all those years ago!  But first, we needed to drive through to Ohaupo, Hamilton, the collect the caravan.  Our caravan Romany Rambler had been driven up to Leisureline Ohaupo just a week before Robin’s knee replacement operation, and left there for some work to be done.  They kindly stored it for us until we could collect it again. I must say, packing the car for a trip away is so different than packing the caravan.  Various bags,  chilly bins, clothes on hangers, stuff for the cat, all had to be fitted into the car, instead of inside the caravan in drawers, cupboards and wardrobes.  It was finally all packed, and away we went.

Collecting our caravan we decided to stay two  nights in the Tauranga area to catch up with our friends Louise and Robert, who live nearby at Papamoa.  “Come for lunch” they invited, so we did, and spent a really pleasant day together.  Lots of talking and catching up to do.   Louise and Robert had recently purchased a new to them Kea Dreamtime motorhome and Robert has been checking it out and fixing up a few problems that he found.  They are looking forward to a South Island holiday in the New Year.

Louise and Robert

Then we were on our way to spend five nights at Rotorua. Once settled, we went to town to make a booking or two.  After all, this is our 40th Anniversary Trip and we plan to celebrate in style.  The I-Site Visitor Information Centre is housed in a wonderful building, opened in 1914 as a Post Office.  It consisted of two floors and a tower with rough cast cement plaster exterior and Tudor-style decorative timbering. The building incorporates a memorial town clock tower.  While there, we booked an Anniversary Dinner for Sunday evening, more about that later.

Tudor style buildings, Info Centre on the right

The rain came down overnight, and it rained heavily all day on Friday.  That meant a change of plans, much too wet to do anything outdoorsy.  So we  decided to go on a drive to Lake Rotoiti – rain or not.  Needless to say it rained, and rained, and we stopped at the end of the lake for some photos.  There was a black swan on the lake front with a bunch of fluffy grey cygnets, she was not at all pleased to see us!

Lake Rotoiti and the swans

Driving back to town through even more rain, we stopped for lunch at the Rotorua pub, the Pig and Whistle, a pub featured  in my book, the Great Kiwi Pub Crawl.  Its been a while since we have checked out one of these pubs.  The building was opened in 1940 and served as Rotorua’s Police Station until 1969.  With exterior walls 18 inches thick, it was constructed of concrete, reinforcing steel and covered with many thousands of bricks.    “Pig and Whistle”  has been around since 1993, and is a trendy bar and restaurant. There's the old police building behind that huge tree.  It was a bowl of tasty Fish Chowder for me, and Pizza for Robin for lunch.

My book travels in the caravan, and the Pig and Whistle pub

The next day, Saturday was a bit brighter, and we had a booking for High Tea at the Prince’s Gate Hotel.  This is one of the country’s oldest hotels still in operation with a history that dates back to 1897.

Our car parked outside the Prince’s Gate Hotel

This was delightful, I’m really a High Tea type of girl, but don't get to do it all that much.  As I often remind Robin, I’m sure I was someone very important in another life, I really enjoy these ladylike type of outings!  Not sure if he agrees with me though, maybe I was a scullery maid or a washer woman instead.  The table was set beautifully and the food and drinks arrived.  The morning was still a little chilly but we were nice and cozy sitting by the gas fire.

High Tea for two

There are indeed a set of Prince’s Gates right by the hotel.  The gates, with an archway resembling a royal crown, was built for the 1901 royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V, at the entrance to the Government Gardens in Rotorua. This structure is now unique in New Zealand. Colloquially known as Prince's Gate.

Prince’s Gates

These impressive gates lead into the Government Gardens, home to the beautiful former Bath House, which opened on 1908 as a thermal spa offering medical and therapeutic treatments, before closing in 1966.  Today the building, classed as Highly Significant by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, houses the Rotorua Museum of Art and History. It is closed while currently undergoing earthquake strengthening

The magnificent former Bathhouse and Spa

Our anniversary celebrations continue.  Tomorrow, Sunday 5th November is the actual day, and we are looking forward to an anniversary dinner, plus a little more sightseeing in Rotorua over the next couple of days. Gemma has settled right down to caravan life, she certainly seems to enjoy her time away with us. 

Gemma on the caravan quilt