We then enter the Hawke Bay agricultural region, a fertile area specializing in wine production with over 15 wineries. We stopped for lunch in Napier, a trendy vibrant costal city with long grey sand beaches. The town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and was completely rebuilt in the art deco style. Across from the café where we had lunch, a vintage Porsche car rally with over 50 cars was on display.
As you drive through rural New Zealand, you certainly have a strong sense of isolation. It must contribute significantly to the friendliness of everyone as well as inspire a strong desire to travel to areas with more people around. Reportedly there are over 1,000,000 kiwis living abroad.
We then followed route 2 through Hastings on to Waipukurau where we headed down the old Wellington coach road towards Porangahau. Initially the road had long sweeping turns through green hills dotted with sheep and some cattle but south of here the road narrows and there are continuous tight turns as it rises and falls beside river valleys and over ranges of hills. Just outside of Porangahau, we pass the place with the longest name in the world;
Taumatawhakatangihanakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhe
nuakitanatahu!
The last 120 kilometers of driving were in drizzle and rain, which reduced our speed on the twisties considerably. Masterton is an innocuous town of 16,000 people and we stayed at the Empire Lodge in the center of town. We had dinner at an Indian restaurant served by a waiter who was light in his loafers.
1. Coffee at Wairoa 2. Art Deco Building in Napier
3. Porche Rally in Napier 4. Countryside near Porangahou
5. Longest Place Name in World
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