We’re Not Fast Enough!

WELLINGTON 10 NOVEMBER 2024.

We’re awake before 6 am and upstairs to the dining room just after 8. Breakfast is labelled as “Continental” but in truth is cereal, tea and toast. All is overseen by John, the owner.

Our guide book describes a driving tour entitled Marine Drive. Starting from Oriental Bay it hugs the coast taking in Evan’s Bay, Mahabharata Bay, Scorching Bay, Worser Bay, Breaker Bay, Lysol Bay, Island Bay and finishes in Owhiro Bay. Shortly after leaving Evan’s Bay, the road is blocked to allow for speed trials in souped up cars. Obviously, our insurance policy excludes our participation. We head across country to Scorcher Bay.

From there, we rejoin the route observing signs warning of nighttime penguin crossings and what to do in event of a tsunami! We stop in Lyall Bay where the coastguards are undergoing training. Then, park up at Island Bay and walk to Owhiro Bay for cake and coffee.

After returning to the car, we finish the journey back to the hotel and , an hour later, we walk down to the Waterfront. Being Sunday it’s busy with street food stalls from around the world.

We decide to eat in the Peking House Chinese Restaurant. It’s quite full of Chinese eating the hot pot special. Boiling water is poured into a brass pot and the diners cook the raw food delivered to the table. There’s too much food on that offering for us so we choose a set meal of soup and sweet and sour pork with rice.