We didn’t want to venture very far today, we need a rest!

We found we could get to Rere easily on a tarmacked road. So off we set to explore the arboretum down Wharekopea Road towards Rere. Very strange words to spell and pronounce.

The arboretum only cost £6 each and it covers quite a few acres over a valley. There were different walks to follow each taking about an hour.

First stop was the tea house. The lady had just baked veggie cheese scones hot from the oven, who could resist? They were scrummy.

The gardens around the tea house were full of late summer/Autumn flowers and very pretty.

We decided to follow the yellow route that seemed to join a purple route and we ended up on a brown route! So I think we walked further than we intended but it was lovely and cool in the shade of the huge old trees. The trees were all named and the grandest trees were starred.

After another cup of tea no food this time! we left and continued up the road towards Rere.

Here we found the falls. You park just above them. This is the amount of water in the drought of Summer so I think they would be very different after Winter rains.

The rock round here is slabs of smooth stone and the river runs widely over the rock pavement.

Further along the road we reached the rockslide. It looked such great fun. Some people were riding on small body boards and one on a tyre inner tube. You push off at the top and slide riding the river, ending in a lake of river water. They were having a great time and we were laughing and enjoying it with them as we watched.

another hot day and a lovely day, hope you like my photos.

Went out to a posh restaurant tonight and had a most delicious meal.

Missing you, getting homesick a lot now xxx