Our Trip to Helensville October 2018

Thursday 11th October Riverhead In the morning the weather gradually deteriorated so that by the time we reached Riverhead it was threatening rain:- Here is a view at the back of the Riverhead looking down to the landing Down at the Landing to our surprise was a Sea Leopard

Wednesday 10th October Helensville Museum We set off for the Kaipara Gardens and Sculptures (not the Gibbs farm) and on the way passed the helensville Museum saw lots of cars parked out side which surprised us because we had read on the sign on Monday that it was going to closed on the second Wednesday of each month. Mary-Ann was a bit doubtful. We thought it might be a funeral as there was a flag flying at half mast, but when I went in through the gate all the doors were open and I could see people inside looking at the exhibits. I met John Smith who turned out to be the president of the Museum Society of Volunteers. He said, "Bring your wife round (this was her expedition after all) and I will show you round. So I scrambled back to the car, got Mary-Ann, introduced her to John and we were off on our guided tour - couldn't have been better! Here are Mary-Ann and John outside the Old Court House: The whole area is really well looked after. This is looking down passe...

Tuesday 9th October Muriwai Beach We pottered round in the morning to get ready for our trip to Muriwai Beach - about half an hour drive away - Turn right off Highway 16 at Waimauku. Nice homes as you approach the beach - like Titirangi in Auckland. It was a beautiful sight as we drove down to the Beach and the sea. We walked down passed the lifeguard station ... ... and there was the sea - 60 kms of it according to the camp brochure: We then looked for a place to have our picnic lunch - the onshore breeze was a bit cool .. After lunch we had a good walk around the campground and the huge picnic area with free barbecues that looked well maintained:

Monday the 8th Ocober First whole day at Parakai Springs. We went up to town to do a bit of shopping: The lady in the Visitor Centre was really nice and helpful. Further up town we found these lovely old buildings that had been given a new lease of life: The BNZ - now a private home: ... and the old Post Office now a community Centre Further up the hill we found the town cemetery with Mary- Anne looking for McLeods We also found the Helensville wharf down just off the main street: ... looking back up the Kaipara River: It is an "upside down" river at this point. Then we went down to the Helensville Museum back on the way to Parakai Here is the entrance:- .. and then the Museum itself. It was closed - struggling with volunteers to staff it! Mary-Ann was disappointed as she had family connections that she wanted to look at: Hendley house next to it ... and then the Magistrates Court On the way back we found an ol...

We're Off Sunday 7th October 2018 We set off to Helensville this morning at about 10:30. Had to pump up the tyres at PaknSave on both the caravan and the car. A beautiful day for a drive - warm and sunny. We got to Pokeno for lunch at about 12:00. had a great meat pie and an Anzac biscuit. We left the motorway at the Airport turn off - Highway 20, and continued till it became Highway 16 . Eventually we arrived at Helensville and the Parakai Springs Campgound and Pool Complex. Cost us $128 for four nights. Here we are all finally set up: Later we drove up to Shelly Beach. Not a very good photo as clipped off the end of the wharf. It was a bit of a mess as diggers were trying to clear out the Mangroves. ... and then came back to the Parakai Landing where the Kaipara Harbour Kewpi 2 ferry picks you you up from just beside the camp ground.