Paekakariki Hill Road

Today Porirua to Mystery Creek just outside Hamilton.  First time in a few years that I have set out on a roadie by myself. I think I had forgotten how green the Manawatu is  beautiful.

Up early for trip north, stopping at Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve.  Very windy and the tide was out so not a lot of birds about.  Then on over Paekakariki Hill Road very windy but great view from top of the road down and out to Kapiti Island.
On way north stopped for lunch at Makohine Viaduct, viaduct is 72m high and 227m long, with three main spans.  It is unique on the Main Trunk railway, with side spans supported by cantilevered extensions of the central span to avoid building foundations in the walls of the steep valley. Photo in extras. Always been on a business trip through here and never stopped before.  Would liked to have spent more time but still a distance to go before stopping for night.

Brief stop at the little township of Mangaweka, I could help thinking it looked like a tumbleweed would roll down the main street, called Broadway.  The local community art project was working to bring life back to the historic main street.  Make a great film set. 
Through the desert road the volcanoes looked stunning. I couldn't change the date on photo so ended up on wrong day.  Putting in extras now.

Then up the side of the Waikato river towards Hamilton