Train from Auckland to Wellington

We are starting a ten day trip in the North Island of New Zealand. The first day is  ride on the Northern Explorer. We decided to lash out and reserved seats in the luxury carriage where we will be served food and drink throughout the trip.

The platform. It was supposed to rain today but it looks fine.

The raised tablecloth makes it easier to slide into your seat.

Spiffy lighting.

The hot towel was very welcome.

It's not often you are served a cappuccino on a train.

Auckland has lots of inlets.

The menu for thee trip.

Oddly enough, Marianne was carrying a sign with the same words that you can see at the bottom of the page when we met in Spain back in 1974. I must have been the only person around who spoke English.

All the food was delicious but I really enjoyed this.

Breakfast with bubbly.

We saw lots of these cats tails.

Everything is super green.

Lunch with a glass of syrah.

Dessert.

There are lots of deep gorges with bridges or viaducts.

Afternoon tea. The camembert was so rich that I could only eat half. We are not used to eating so much rich food.

Tet another river.

Dinner with Pinot noir. The wines were very tasty.

Dessert. I managed to eat it all.

The train passes next to the coast at dusk. The South Island was visible.

There was enough rain on the windows to make taking photos difficult at times. With all the train travel I have done, I cannot think of a more spectacular journey.

Waterfall Way is open.

One of the reasons for going to Bellingen is to drive inland up a steep escarpment to Dorrigo. Along the way, there are several waterfalls. The road had been closed for some time due to a landslide but has recently reopened.

Driving up the hill towards the road closure.

The side of the hill had fallen onto the road. The solution was to temporarily open one side of the road by installing shipping containers filled with gravel. Of course, traffic lights were set up to control the flow.

We reached Dorrigo and then continued a few miles north to Dangar Falls.

It's no Niagra, but impressive enough.

Of course, there was a small park with toilets, picnic facilities and a playground for the kiddies.

A photo from the early 1900's. Nothing was fenced off in those days.

Going back down the mountain.

Two days later on our way home, we stopped at Ebor Falls.

Marianne was so pleased to see Autumn / Fall leaves as we headed back north to Queensland.

Bellingen revisited

We decided to do a little road trip in northern New South Wales and we are staying here for four nights.

But first, here is an interesting breakfast. When we travel, we enjoy having cappuccinos and some form of food we wouldn't bother creating at home. I rejoice when I see waffles on the menu and order them without really considering what is part of the total package. This arrived and you will be pleased to know I didn't eat much of the brown stuff. I ate the strawberries. Yes, that was a syringe of Nutella.

Bellingen is a small trendy village about half-way between Brisbane and Sydney. We stayed in a guest-house in a room next to the verandah.

This was the view and I think you would have to agree it's not too shabby.

We spent a lot of time just relaxing on a sofa just outside our room, or napping on the bed. Anybody would think we must lead a frenetic exciting life in Hervey Bay by comparison.

A Bunya Pine towering over the village.

Downtown in Bellingen. It's full of cafes.

My rosti and smoked salmon brekkie.

Antique shop.

Many of the old buildings survived.

A lovely door.

Robin will be pleased to see there is a lolly shop.

Can you buy crocodile meat where you live?

There is so much rain that everything is really green and lush.