Relaxed and refreshed at Firth Tower, Matamata
Situated just a few kilometres out of Matamata, Firth Tower Reserve and Museum sits above the town with extensive views of the surrounding countryside with the Kaimai Range towering in the distance.
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Our first Spring trip in the Kiwi Blog Bus
The weather has finally turned, the daffodils and lambs are out and we decided we were well overdue a trip in the bus (and a post on the blog!).
We haven’t had to venture very far to find this little gem of an overnight stop either.
Just a short drive to the lovely town of Matamata, just around the corner from the Hobbiton movie set, and then 2km up the road to Firth Tower Museum.
We have parked up for a very friendly amount of $10 (including power) and I must say it’s a very beautiful spot.
We’ll be looking around the museum tomorrow and i’ll bring you the best of the visit in my next post. For now, I’m off to enjoy a long glass of cold cider!
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Home sweet home: Cambridge, New Zealand
Seeing as we haven’t been away in the Kiwi Blog Bus for a wee while I thought I would blog today about my beautiful home town of Cambridge as it’s certainly somewhere I’d like to visit if I didn’t live here!
This is not meant to be a full and comprehensive guide to the town, rather a few of my personal pictures that I have taken over the few years we’ve enjoyed living here.
If you want to learn more about this very historic New Zealand town then check out the museum website.
And for those of you that have driven through Cambridge on State Highway 1 and not bothered to stop for a look… this is what you missed:
St Andrews Anglican Church, built in 1873 this is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Cambridge
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New Zealand’s Forgotten World Highway
From the Kiwi Annison archives:
In deepest North Island, not far from the steep volcanic slopes of Mt. Taranaki, there is a road that leads you through isolated hills, wild landscapes and past pioneering monuments.
The Forgotten World Highway, otherwise known as State Highway 43, is 150km of winding road leading from Stratford, near the Egmont National Park, to Taumarunui in the Central Plateau.
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Soak up some of New Zealand’s social history
From the Kiwi Annison Archives….
I have a new project at work, and I love it.
As part of my Communications role at Mystery Creek Events Centre, I am to help promote the wonderful Ag Heritage Village; a fantastic destination for school and group visits which offers a unique glimpse into New Zealand’s pioneering past.
I find this kind of social history absolutely fascinating, a fact you may have gathered if you are one of my regular blog readers!
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Minniesdale Chapel and the brave pioneers of Albertland, New Zealand
A spur of the minute decision we made on a trip in April 2011 took us to a place that roused my emotions and stirred my hidden pioneer spirit.
Minniesdale Chapel, Port Albert
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Lake Tarawera and The Buried Village
From the Kiwi Annison Archives…..
In central North Island, near Rotorua, stands Mt Tarawera – the volcano that caused New Zealand’s deadliest eruption.
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A story of gold, cyanide and thoughtful preservation
Situated within a large bend of the Ohinemuri River, opposite Waikino village, are the remains of a revolutionary gold processing plant that was once New Zealand’s biggest and best.
The Victoria Battery site was built in 1897 by the Waihi Gold Mining Company to process ore from the large Martha Mine in nearby Waihi. Read More…
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Karangahake: Camping in an old gold-mining gorge
After our walk through the 1km old railway tunnel and back along the riverside (read Going for gold in the gorge) we travelled in the Kiwi Blog Bus through the gorge and over to our campsite for the evening.
We stayed at the Department of Conservation campsite at Dickeys Flat. Read More…
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Going for gold in the gorge
We have often visited Karangahake Gorge to enjoy its natural beauty and gold mining history, but on a recent trip away in the Kiwi Blog Bus we got to camp right in the middle of this wonderous area and discovered a lot more on our explorations.
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Kiwi Blog Bus
Campervan tales from New Zealand
The Kiwi Blog Bus - campervan tales from New Zealand 