Weekend in Whanganui

Ran away up north a couple of hours to the Whanganui River for three days. Stayed in an old railway signal box that has been relocated and refurbished and placed on a river bend. Cute as. Windy as blazes the first night and the windows are original so it leaked cold air and cracked and creaked. It kept the rain and hail out though. 

All part of a signal box adventure.

We were on acreage and saw nobody, only the owner's chickens and two kune kune pigs. The word 'kune' in te reo means fat and round. They're a sociable domestic pig so they came over to say hello.

Wandered some of Whanganui's art galleries and second hand shops and cafes. Drove up river for a looksee and then down river to the beach.

Not many bridges over the river but here's one - a footbridge.

And its infrared shadow. The river was a major thoroughfare for Maori and early white settlers. There's so much history along here that the river has special status and is legally a person.

Both roads alongside the river are a bit dicey in places - I wouldn't do 100kph at this point.  Crazy.

 

We headed inland down dirt roads about 20km to visit Paloma, a large private succulent/palm garden. Extremely impressive, says Mish. We had a pleasant stroll around there, apart from getting dive bombed by a magpie and stepping over a dead lamb. Spring in the countryside!

Walking through the bamboo grove (with airy artworks).

Admiring the size of a giant aloe with flower spike.

Full moon rising over the river was simply gorgeous. This is the view from the signal box through trees with car headlights on the other side of the river on the Whanganui-Taupo road.