Helensville Museum Display

We met early Sunday morning at Kumeu and drove from here out to Helensville Historic Museum for their Display Day (organised by the Kaipara Classic Car Club) via the back road - a pleasant 30 minute drive that comes into the back of Helensville.

Parked at Kumeu

After parking in the grounds, Karen and I wandered into town for coffee, and then ambled around all the shops before making our way back to the Museum.

The Museum display; Brian and Bev's 7Y at far right.

The rain held off until just before 3pm, whereupon we retired to the Kaipara Classic Car clubrooms for the prizegiving.

Brian and Bev's 7Y took out the trophy for Best Original Car; John and Jan, and Steven got medals for furthest distance travelled; and Bud received a medal for oldest attendee (despite his protests that he's only a young fella).

As the rain continued to pelt down, we said our thanks and left for home.

Easter Rally 2013: Day 6

Finally, a slightly later start to the day with a short(-ish) run back to Auckland.

We drove from Te Kuiti to Otorohonga for a McDonalds breakfast, which Bud enjoyed immensely.

Otorohonga: last breakfast stop of the rally

From Otorohonga, we took the road through Pirongia and regrouped at Ngaruawahia, then on to Pokeno for a food break.

With the rally essentially over, we each then carried on home, with all vehicles having successfully completed the journey.

Easter Rally 2013: Day 5

Today we began the return journey to Auckland, via the Forgotten World Highway. We left Wanganui early to regroup and fuel up at Stratford.

It was raining as we left Stratford and crossed the 3 saddles before a filling lunch at Whangamomona Pub.

Whangamomona Hotel, Forgotten Highway lunch stop

Whangamomona Hotel, Forgotten Highway

The rain had stopped when we left Whangamomona, we proceeded further on some of the smoothest gravel road I've experienced - smoother than the previous tarmac.

Ohura: once a thriving mining town, now a quiet backwater

Pulling into quiet Ohura, we had the museum opened especially for us. From Ohura we quickly rejoined the main highway and finished our day with fish and chips in Te Kuiti.

Easter Rally 2013: Day 4

We left Wanganui this morning for a run out to Marton via country backroads and visited the Mungoven Gardens. After a short walk around the gardens it was time to move on for lunch at Cooks Restaurant in Martin, along with a friendly Auckland vs Wanganui pool tournament.

The trees provided some shade at Mungoven Gardens

Cooks Restaurant car park

From Marton we drove to Turikina to view a private collection of cars and memorabilia, then out to Turikina Beach for some art galleries.

The day was rounded out with dinner at the Grand Hotel.

Easter Rally 2013: Day 3

Durie Hill tower

This morning started at the Wanganui market by the riverside. Karen and I got some coffee and wandered around town, then finished up by the river watching the kids jumping into the water off the road bridge.

We then drove up Durie Hill where some of us decided to climb to the top of the tower for a better look over town.

After lunch, we drove to Ed's Auto Barn and examined the treasures contained within. We the proceeded to tail-end ring-in Woz's pear orchard where we were encouraged to take as many pears as possible as well as checking out Woz's projects. Then it was back to Frank's place (a local resident near Pat) to view a local Ford Y.

Dinner at Pat and Sandra's rounded out a warm day.

Wanganui from Durie Hill

Parked at Woz's