Day 4- Pahia to Auckland- very late

I am sitting here in Queenstown looking out our balcony at the lake and having a glass of wine, and telling myself "Elaine, you haven't done DAY 4 Blog yet". There are several old ones that I haven't done, and will try to catch up, as we are on Day 29 today. I will see what I can remember…
Pahia is on the North Island, near the top, and this day we needed to get back to Auckland. 
I had read about visiting the island town of Russell, so after leaving Pahia we headed to Russell, the first European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. It is very quaint.
The shortest way there is the car ferry from outside Pahia. It was a beautiful sunny day to start. 

On way to Ferry

Car Ferry

I had read about Christ Church, so it was the first place we visited as we entered the town. The headstones were very interesting, dating back to the mid 1800's.  It has recently been renovated.

Christ Church Russell

Christ Church Entrance

Elaine inside Christ Church

Pew  cushions

Each pew and chair had a different pew cushion on it that had been handmade by people related to the church. They were beautiful.

Chair cushion

Pew cushion

We stopped for a coke at a local restaurant, and I picked up a white shirt at the Thrift Shop, not that I had room to pack it. A walk along the beach completed our time in Russell as we had some distance to cover to Auckland. Somehow it takes a long time to go a short distance in New Zealand.

Michael's neighbors were in Auckland, on a cruise, and we were to have dinner with them, so no time to waste.

Off Main Street

Russell  Beach

Russell Beach

After our Russell visit, we headed down the coast route….

Driving away from Russell

Daily Morgan photo  

We drove and drove

Unsure of our route, I think we drove a lot of extra miles down the scenic coast route before we finally came to Highway 1, the direct route to Auckland, stopping at McDonalds for lunch.

As we approached Auckland, the rain started and by the time we arrive, roof down, at our hotel, we were somewhat wet. 

Weather getting bad

There was a large group that joined Michael and Patsy and their neighbors for dinner at a nice restaurant on the Viaduct in Auckland Harbor. (Can't find Michael/Dave's photo of that night).
It was a nice, long day, and now it is DINNER TIME here in Queenstown. More blog later.