I have still got a few posts left in me about my travels at the end of last year – feels odd writing that as I haven’t yet acclimatised to being back in the UK. I keep expecting to see my grandson having breakfast, or being able to go for a walk along a beach. Sigh!
One reason for visiting New Zealand was to meet my son’s partner’s family and in particular, her parents who live in the delightful surfing town of Raglan on the black sands of the west coast of the South Island, about 2 hours south of Auckland. This is the Waikato region; a landscape formed by volcanoes creating a lush, fertile green pastoral heaven. It is no wonder that Peter Jackson picked this region for the home of the Hobbits (Matamata).
Raglan is overlooked by Mount Karioi in the Pirongia forest park, an extinct volcano. Although it would have been amazing to trek into the forest and among the Podocarps, such as rimu and totara which are found at lower altitudes, along with tawa and tree-ferns, the weather was against us, being too wet a lot of the time. I did manage a short walk along Hills Road, where the ‘in-laws’ live, with views towards Mount Karioi and Whaingaroa Harbour. Join me on this walk and enjoy the wonderful views all around in this picturesque part of the country.
If you enjoy a walk, short or long, then you may enjoy visiting Jo’s Monday Walk where you are in for a treat.
TRAVEL WORDS 
I know I’ve said it before but some of you New Zealand landscapes look so much like England. I see above that you disagree either way these are beautiful photos Jude!
A lot of the wild flowers look similar, but then you notice a tree fern or phormium, and conical hills which we don’t have. It’s difficult to see how steep the hills are in these photos, but it doesn’t ‘feel’ English, even if it looks it. (if that makes any sense!)
I had the same reaction as others – it’s so GREEN! We’ve only been to the North Island but the South is on the list. And, being a household of geeks, there will of course need to be a visit to The Shire. 😉
So lush and green, it reminds me of England. Was there a congenial pub along this walk, too?
No pubs Elizabeth – this road is out of the town and a dead end. Just leads to some isolated properties. But there is a delightful historical pub in the town AND it is up for sale – if only I could live there 😦
So beautiful … and I suspect it’s not just the winter-blues talking 😉
Very scenic – why can’t I find a little town like this here in the UK?
Hello Jude what a beautiful walk and lovely photos 🙂 My uncle lives in Christchurch and we finally visited him 6 years ago for his 80th birthday (though my husband had been before for work)! I just loved South Island so unspoilt with amazing scenery. I thought the landscape unique – we went on the Tranzalpine over to Greymouth and also the railway up to Picton plus visited Akaroa and Queenstown for a few days. This was in the pre earthquake days and I would love to go back some day and support them as they rebuild. Thanks for visiting my blog at Le Chic En Rose and I’m glad to have found yours! Very best wishes for 2015 Rosemary 🙂
How cool to have family (in-laws) from this gorgeous region in NZ – and we have a new restaurant here in richmond va that features new zealand lamb and beef (so good too) – and the employees sometimes give a talk about the vast green pastures in NZ – and well, your post shows so much of it! 🙂
Beautiful walk, Jude!
Nice to have you along Aletta – it is a beautiful country 🙂
This really looks like the landscape near my cousin’s place at Tauranga. Nice to see it’s as lush and green in the summer as it is in the winter.
I definitely have to go back!
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous. I should so love to’ve visited kiwiland. Don’t you think your images look more English than England, Jude ? – I do.
Well seeing as you have been to NEITHER place… 😉
…funny how so many people see England, and I didn’t. Not really. Yes there are similarities, but it still felt more South African to me, or at least the Cape.
What a beautiful part of the world. I can see it rains a lot there, by the emerald green of the grass. 🙂
The weeks before we arrived had been wet and cold and foggy! But I’d put up with that for those views.