Saturday, February 4 - Tauranga (means Safe Landing in Māori) is the largest port in NZ, running 24x7, except Christmas Day. Mike visited Te Puke, where 80% of NZ's kiwis are grown. Kiwi is a berry, grown on a vine. The Chinese Gooseberry, now known as Kiwi, is grown both "tented", which is the golden kiwi and regular, non-tented, which is the green variety that we know and love. The fruit tasted "today" was picked in April of 2022. When it freezes, helicopters blow warm air on the kiwi vines. Returning to Tauranga, he headed out to hike around The Mount/Mount Maungnaui, a dormant volcano, and the beaches on both sides. A great day for exploring. Mary, meanwhile, participated in a kayak trip on Lake Rotoiti, about an hour south. She & another unattached spouse, Christine, teamed up for the day. Ten double kayaks & two guides led us for about an hour until we reached a lovely glow worm cave. Then we kayaked another hour across the lake to have lunch with our other 10 kayaks & 20 friends. We enjoyed bathing at Manupirua Springs, thermal hot springs pools, each of increasing heat, the higher up you go. Another hour of kayaking back across the lake brought us back to where we started. And a great nap on the way home.

Sunday, February 5, we made a short stop a little further down the coast in Napier, on Hawke's Bay. We visited two wineries -- Abbey Estate, located in Hastings, and Brookfields Vineyards, in Napier. Two informative talks, 9 pours of wine, and 3 purchases later, we made our way back along the beautiful coast to the ship and headed south.

Monday, February 6, we spent in Wellington, New Zealand's captital city. Our local guide, John, took us on a fun 3-hour ride around Wellington, NZ’s capital city. We toured downtown, seeing the famous Beehive & Parliament buildings, Old Saint Paul’s Church, the waterfront, and even the National Library & Archives where Pops Smith’s WWII photos & postcards currently reside (donated in 2014). Stops at the top of the Botanic Garden, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, and the Mount Victoria Lookout provided time to walk, take in great views and, of course, take too many photos. John dropped us off in town where we continued our walk along the Wellington Harbour/Te Awa Whanga O Pōneke; visited the Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa; and rode the cable car back up to the top of the Botanic Garden and back down again. The Museum’s Gallipoli exhibit and its larger-than-life figures were emotionally overwhelming. We were stunned and shed a few tears. Kia Ora, NZ. We love your moon, and your Whittaker's chocolate.