We spent most of the day traveling to New Plymouth in the rain with stops at Lava Glass Sculpture Garden, Huka Falls, the Waitakei Geothermal Power Station and Te Kainga Marire Garden.

VIEWS ALONG THE WAY

LAVA GLASS SCULPTURE GARDEN

This company produces incredibly beautiful glass art at incredibly expensive prices. The garden shows off the 600 pieces of art very effectively:

HUKA FALLS

The Waikato River drains Lake Taupo which is the largest freshwater lake in all of Australasia. The river, which is normally 300′ wide, is constricted into a narrow gorge which is 60′ wide with the resulting increased speed of the water and the sound of the crashing waterfall:

This is the most visited park in New Zealand.

Sophora microphylla:

WAIRAKEI GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

About 10 – 15% of energy in New Zealand is produced by geothermal power plants. About 65% is from hydroelectric.

The water is heated up to 230 – 260 degrees Celsius by the rocks deep in the ground to produce steam which is passed through the pipes at 200 kps to a turbine generator at the power plant. Electricity is produced at this generator.

TE KAINGA MARIRE GARDEN

This garden has been designated as a “garden of national significance” and features many native NZ plants.

Interview with the owner:

The garden path and pond:

Back deck, yard and creek:

Side yard and vegetable garden:

Driveway:

Garden tunnel for grandkids:

Fern garden:

Interesting plants:

Elatostema rugosa

Poor Knight’s Lily (Pachystegia insignis)

Boxleaf Hebe (Hebe odora)

Variegated Mirror Plant (Coprosma repens cv.)

Maroborough Rock Daisy

Tomorrow – 3 gardens in New Plymouth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!