Snow :-)

Napier to Wellington

Up early today as we had a big drive to get to Wellington. After waking up and reading the news we found out the Taupo to Napier road, which we drove along yesterday, was shut due to snow and ice. It was a very winding road so we are glad we made it through with it only raining.  We cheated and had drive through HJ's breakfast and headed off from Napier in drizzle.  The weather forecast was for heavy rain but it actually cleared to clouds and patches and blue for most of the morning although we could see heavy cloud and snow in the distance on the Tararua Range mountain range, that was how cold the cold front that hit the  North Island was.   We stopped in Woodville late morning at the Yummy Mummy Cheesecake Cafe Matt had told us about.  We bought a couple of the individual cheesecakes to take with us and Kate and Larry had evil sweet sticky slices to eat on the spot whilst Chloe and I opted for a hot drink and I had a sausage roll.  Headed south towards Masterton noting that the outside air temp gauge on the car never went above 9 deg from Napier to Featherstone.

The interesting part was next as the road was closed last night between Featherstone and the Upper Hutt region of Wellington due to ice and snow. There were signs indicating the road had been opened and wet weather driving was required. Jenny drove this part and we were very careful as it is winding, wet and constantly climbing as we had to get over the range to get to Wellington. About 3 or 4km from the highest point of the range there was snowy sludge on the side of the road and as we climbed higher there was snow all over the trees  on the side of the road. So close but nowhere to stop for Chloe to touch the snow which she had never seen before. After a few more hairpin corners there was a small parking area that holds approximately 8 to 10 cars that is used in summer for a walking trail. There were a few cars there already doing the touch the snow thing so we pulled in and found a park. Well it was bloody cold, gloves, jackets and beanies went on and we played in the snow and Chloe touched and played with snow for the first time. There was some clean snow off the edge of the car park and the kids including the big kid Jenny threw it at Larry. We didn't expect to see snow in the North Island so it was great to have some fun with it. It started to sort of snow, more like a sleet as it tumbled down like small bean bag balls. Eventually we decided that only having runners on was not the best snow footwear and our feet were telling us to get back inside the car and we continued to Wellington uneventfully.

Found the hotel and after dumping our stuff in the unit we headed up Mt Victoria which gives an impressive view of Wellington and the surrounds but we couldn't stay very long as the wind made it extremely cold and uncomfortable.  We estimated the wind chill factor up there was probably about 3 degrees but great views in all directions and it was an interesting experience to look down at an airport and watch the big jumbos taking off.

Headed back to the motel and left the car there with a sigh of relief - driving in Wellington is a little stressful with all the one way roads - and walked down the road to the nearby 'Four Square'.  We decided to just buy groceries and have an early dinner as we had kind of skipped lunch and were feeling too hungry to wait for restaurants to open.   Also nice to stay in our warm, cosy motel room and watch the rugby - New Zealand versus Samoa.   Sorry, but I just can't say I enjoy watching grown men banging into each other and giving each other cuddles.