I give up on natural thermal spas! We've looked at some in several countries in Europe (full of old naked hippies) and one in Chile (full of algae and old Germans), and the one in Maruia Springs was nice enough, empty, sulphorous (not surprising) but the hotel was built in the seventies and never updated. So much for that romantic notion. Our "Japanese" dinner was less than authentic and just so-so, a downer for a country with so much good food and wonderful cooking.
Yesterday afternoon, we drove over the mountains to the town of Westport the gateway to the West Country of NZ. It rained all the way and turned cold in the mountains. After a good lunch and in the afternoon drizzle, we drove down about 10 k to Foulwind Cape and adjacent Tauranga Bay. The clouds began to thin, and we walked all the way around to the light house along the cliff top track, passing spectacular scenery, friendly horses, and munching sheep. Actually, we even had patches of sun shine most of the time. The baby seals rolling around and playing on the rocks were an extra treat. We took lots of pictures, and I'll post them tomorrow when we get home.
The Bay House is a new restaurant at the end of the bay with a new chef and owners. We sat on the patio and watched the surfers in the bay, then ate fresh lemon fish in brown butter sauce over bok choy. Bill keeps saying, "this is the way to live." Afterall, there was a glorious sunset for which this part of NZ is known. More coast today, and then we turn back toward Picton. The sun is predicted to shine all day. WISH YOU WERE HERE. NEXT TIME.
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