Auckland to Tauranga, through the Waikato 5 July

The Northern Waikato

I had to travel to Papamoa and Welcome Bay in Tauranga to deliver and collect future for Suite for the Soul over the weekend.

I stopped for fuel at Bomaby on my way out of Auckland, so through maybe some detours would, make a trip worth recording.

So, here is an old service station close to demolition, left the the Motorway here and travelled through Tuakau.

Then on to Pokeno, nothing so depressing as a little country town on a wet winter Saturday afternoon.

But, with the new Dairy Factory on the way, maybe the town will soon get a boost::

So, back to the Motorway, I turn off Highway 1 at Ohinewai, just past the the second hand house sales yar:d

And the old tannery which I understand is the northern extent of the tunnels for the Huntley East Mine.

Down Tahuna Road, which is not even a State Highway, it's got a good feel because it is a narrow duel carriage-way road which passes through some nice looking dairy farm country. 

Not real settles ments , certainly no shops or cafes, just the associational country hall, I think this place is called Te Hoe:

Why do they need such a massive and substantial hall, the service station and shop closed and the only business is the Home Kills Butchery:

Then on to Tahuna, once again, there are more closed business than open, at least they have a gas station come shop and a Pub.

But, they have a hall where everyone in the whole community could meet at once and still have room left over:

Then onto Morrinsville and by this time I was getting interested in all the Country Hall, this is Kiwitahi Hall:

I have photographed the Halls because it is so difficult to photo graph the Countryside effectively

Then to Walton, again no shops, but this time 2 halls

Maybe I could write a book, country halls of the Waikato

Then of course I got to Hobbiton aka Matamata

There are several halls in Matamata, this is Scout Hall

Then finally out of the foggy Waikato and on to Tauranga

Not so panoramic leaving the carpark

Maybe looking up the Kaimai Ranges

Rest of the trip next time