Great Day Out.

On Tuesday We ( R and P and R from Somerset UK, and Myself ) 4 Seniors, went for a day out. R drove. We picked up the other 2 and headed to 157  Domain Road at Papamoa for a coffee or tea at The Farm Shop.

 Lots of places sell free range eggs but not displayed like this.

 This hen really caught my imagination.

 ( there was a duck with similar marking on the window sill. )

 Outside there were brightly painted containers made into little shops with various crafts displayed and garden plants and garden furniture for sale. The furniture being used for outdoor seating while on display. The shop sell fresh farm produce and other organic products. there is art displayed everywhere and a hire-able meeting/ function room.

 From there we drove down the newish Eastern Link - toll road ( $2 ) ( 1st time for me ) then all the way to Rotorua.

 We went up the Skyline gondolas and had lunch .

 It was a cloudy day so the view of Rotorua wasn't as bright as some days but still impressive.

 I admired the hanging baskets of begonias.

 I was outside taking photos and took this fun shot of the other 3 still inside . My shadow is on the right and P is waving but behind us is the view of Rotorua. R is just visible in the middle.

 It wasn't too busy being midweek but would be at the weekends. As well as going back down in the gondolas we could have gone down the luge. In the gondolas it takes 4.48 minutes to travel the 908 metres. 

Our next stop was at Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre 1164 Paradise Valley Road.

 At the centre one can have a close view of NZ falcons, hawks and owls. At 2 pm we watched the Flying Display.

Here "Oz," the male NZ falcon sits on the hand of a Tauranga Boy's College student.  A bus load of very polite students were there watching too, along with a few overseas visitors.

 This Female falcon has caught the lure that is used in her training. It has feathers and meat attached.

 Many of the visitors got turns at giving the falcon some chicken leg bits.

 The flying display was very difficult to photograph well, so if you click on the link there are some U tube clips there to watch. Injured birds are helped and rehabilitated to the wild where they came from where possible. Some have stayed and breed. NZ Falcons are an endangered species. ( we have recently seen a young female at our place. ) The pine forests in NZ are becoming home to some falcons as well.( which may well save them from extinction ) 

 We returned home via the Tauranga direct road which branches off after Ngongotaha and comes out at the top of Pyes Pa Road. There are pockets of lovely NZ native trees along this route.

 4 seniors  had a great day out!

 Back to work for us yesterday and today.