After leaving Hawkes Bay, we continue heading south. Our first stop, Gwavas Forest. This was where Don started his forestry career in 1978 and so he was interested to revisit. It used to be a thriving forestry community but not anymore. Don’s single man’s hut is long gone. Not much remains of the camp as it was, a few derelict buildings and some newer ones that are also empty and unused.

From here, we stopped at Tikokino. We had a meal and a beer at the hotel where Don and his work mates would go after they had been paid!

We stop at Dannevirke – literally translated as Danes Work. Many of the original settlers were from Scandinavia. Lovely town with some interesting buildings. Also a quick stop at Waipawa where we find an amazing butchers where we buy some very tasty sausages! https://waipawabutchery.co.nz/

We stay overnight near the old Tui Brewery. Such a shame they don’t still brew the beer here but you can buy the beer and have something to eat while sitting in the beer garden in the shadow of the original brewery. What a lovely way to spend the afternoon! https://www.tuihq.co.nz/

Our next stop is Pukaha National Wildlife Centre. Don has a personal connection with the centre that was opened to the public in 1982. Bit of history now: the Takahe which had been labelled extinct 50 years prior, were rediscovered in Fjordland in 1948, with some 500 birds thought to be roaming the mountains. In 1960, a local Mount Bruce farmer, Elwyn Welch, had successfully raised four Takahe chicks on his farm after teaching his Bantam chickens to act as foster mums! It is said that 16,000 people went to see the chicks at his farm. A decision was made to relocate to the Mount Bruce Forest Reserve, a protected site since 1889 which was 2km down the road from his original farm. His innovative breeding programme had rescued the Takahe from extinction. Don’s connection? Don’s Great, Great Grandparents, Henry and Mary Welch were Elwyn’s Great Grandparents! We had a lovely time walking around the park looking out for various birds. We also managed to see: Longfin Eels, Tuatara – living dinosaurs, geckos and…KIWI! Two adolescents, an 8 day old chick which was being fed some ox heart and a hatching egg – probably only a couple of days from fully emerging! So thrilling to see it trying to break through the tough shell. https://pukaha.org.nz/