A Celebration of Romance~ Wai Ora

The years go by and I can't say that it feels like any particular time at all, yet here we are 44 years on- so long since the divine serendipity that brought about our meeting in Miramar Wellington. We often wonder what would have become of of either of us had we not looked across a Baptist church hall & seen one another for the first time that Saturday, one long ago November. Our lives now, lived in union are so much more expansive, richer & more amazing than we could ever have imagined they could be. And best of all, we have both stepped in to the joy of safely becoming our true and best selves. After all, that's all that we're here for. Isn't it? It doesn't really matter which anniversary it is- this one is important for us. And we were so excited when we discovered Canopy Camping and spotted Wai Ora in Central Hawke's Bay and we decided that we would put aside the funds from our little fruit stall and make plans to spend time there. 

Best of all Wai Ora is less than an hour from home and just a few paddocks away from our beloved Taniwha and the daffodils. We love exploring our wonderful province and take every opportunity to find a road less traveled wherever we possibly can. On this adventure, we decided to head down Middle road and along the way I kept spotting the wild roses dotted down the fence lines (can't say we have hedgerows here!)

We took the back roads in to Otane to visit with the wonderful avenue of old commemorative Linden trees, but the flowers weren't quite in bloom yet so we made plans to return in a week or so. Next, we stopped in at Waipawa butchery to buy steak to cook on the open fire at Wai Ora. We had to ask for advice as we eat red meat so infrequently. I had made a wild rice, three quinoa, dried cranberry, fresh cherry, pomegranate and pistachio salad dressed with maple syrup and tamarind blend, to go with our scotch fillet. The haw sauce that we made from foraged berries last Autumn was a perfect compliment.

We then headed across country to Ongonga to visit a little, newly opened, but rather unmemorable shop. While walking along the main street we made the acquaintance of 90 year old Doug Simpson who was thrilled to regale us with village history and point out the houses where his grandmothers had once lived. We kept chatting as we wandered and ended up walking around the corner to see his house- originally built in the late 1800s. Somehow we found ourselves having the grand tour inside too- with strict instructions not to tell him off for the mess. Honestly, there wasn't any.

How amazing to live your whole life in one small New Zealand village.

Just out of Waipukurau we took a turn off and soon found ourselves at Wai Ora,

 

so up the rural driveway we went. 

A magical spot that Beth & Ben have created in the middle of their farm.

Entirely off grid, utilising a mixture of solar power, wood fire, a little gas and a lot of ingenuity.

Our first evening was a challenge as everything we encountered had to be figured out- where's the wood to light the fire that heats the hot tub and how do we manage that as apparently it takes at least three hours to heat up. Which pots go on the little gas burner and what can we use to cook the salmon? Oh no that kettle has a little rust in the bottom- how can we boil water for a cup of tea? Good thing we packed our own mugs as the enamel jobs just aren't quite the same. Lucky we brought the little pot trivet too so we could make our coffee in our old faithful Bialetti.

I am so glad I spent the time to plan our food. I managed to make an interesting celebration cake with dried pears, prunes and figs using honey and butter and lots of almond meal.

I picked the flowers from our garden. Perfect timing for the roselilies and alstroemeria. 

Salmon marinated in pomegranate molasses came out brilliantly on the little barbecue and only took a few minutes to cook.

What could be more perfect than spires of foxgloves!

And the clever plan of a wood fired hot tub. No, we are not pizza! How wonderful to sit in hot spring water, serenaded by frogs and watch the stars appear in the heavens above with the person you love the most in all the world.

I woke the next morning as the sun was coming up, the mist was rising over the wetlands and I knew I had to grab my camera and scramble out of bed. Come on Rob- wake up!

It's magical out here!

The dew was heavy and the wild grasses all a-sparkle.

From boggy, useless marshland to this tranquil wildlife haven in just a few years.

Look here he comes...

So lovely to see true Toitoi- see how they bend their heads.

Rye grass

Quite a different colour and form to Pampas grass. I've only learnt that in the last few years.

Time for a cuppa. Golly it's still early!

The hot water for washing dishes is heated by the main fire.

On one side is the wetlands and on the other a spring fed creek and then the river. Water all around. 

Just along the creek bank is Dingley Dell.

As close to true woodlands as we'll ever get here in Aotearoa- a meandering grassy path lined with Hedge woundwort.

And a spot for a picnic in the dell.

Stachys sylvatica hedge woundwort. The foliage has an unusual stinky smell but the plant is medicinal and the flowers bring me joy. The flowers themselves are edible and taste just fine.

I discovered wild plants that I have never met before like this Tarweed (Parentucellia viscosa). My fellow plant ID group members weren't very complimentary about it, but I think it's lovely.

Monkey musk (mimulus guttatus) also lines the banks.

A morning wander on the other side found us exclaiming with every step the joy of seeing the abundance of wild flowers and grasses dew drenched and vibrant. 

Wildflower bouquets are the best!

Just before we left home we popped in to pick up our delivery of Lindsay Farm raw milk and I quickly made a jar of my new Caspian Sea yoghurt. How amazing this stuff is- just mix in 2 tbsp to the fresh milk and pop on the lid. It does it's thing at room temperature and was all set and ready to eat by the next afternoon. The three cheese sourdough is the most delicious bread ever which we picked up from Yeast Coast Bakery at The Farmers' market on Sunday. Slow food for a perfectly satisfying and rejuvenating stay.

The fireplace at Wai Ora is enormous and open. Rob found himself collecting large stones from the river bed as he recalled them being used in the fireplaces in Kenya when he lived there as a child.

Best to heave them across the flow.

On our second day we drove through the countryside of central Hawke's Bay passing lush pastures

and fields of barley and other grains.

We loved this old woolshed on the Ashcott property. The homestead is lovely and available for weddings and bed and breakfast.

Driving along country roads that we've never been on before is so interesting. We soon came to Ashley Clinton cemetery bordered by paddocks of old Totara trees and swathes of buttercups in abundance- all the rain we've had this spring has caused plants to flourish vivaciously.

This little Cinnabar moth (Tyria Jacobaeae) caught my eye flitting about. When it's wings open out it becomes a vibrant red. Introduced in 1929 to help combat ragweed apparently.

Still standing the test of time- tree and fence leaning together.

This wee headstone caught my attention and touched my heart. I thought yes, that's what we are are doing here- remembering the miracle of our finding each other and our love. Thank you Duppety.

We then headed on to walk the track at Monckton Reserve. Such a lovely place with lots of old Beech trees (and others of course) that make such pretty leaf litter. With all the rain this past spring there were trees down all over the place and plenty of muddy patches. And my river where the fairies live was too slippery to access. We'll just have to visit again in summer.

False Turkey Tails, I suspect.

We were delighted to pick red clover in the paddock at the entrance. 

It's not far back to Waipukurau so we stopped in to visit the hospice shop and find ourselves a coffee. We discovered that The Rookery and Espresso Loco both make great coffee.

We climbed the hill of Pukekaihau Pa and found it intriguing to look out over all that industry.

Around this side we spied a church steeple just over there- so off we walked around the block until we found...

St Mary's Anglican church, which amazingly, was open.

What a beautiful window! The church was closed for four years for earthquake strengthening. I am so glad they made the effort. Re-opening was 2018.

This made us giggle.

When we got back to the sanctuary of Wai Ora, Rob lit the fire for the hot tub and I got dressed for dinner. What if we had honeymoons over & over all our married days? After all we are always growing and evolving and life is perpetually changing giving us new opportunities to know ourselves and each other better with every passing year. 

We loved the inspiration of Bethany and Tasha's Elopement at Wai Ora.

The man who loves wood, flowers and me!

A celebration of a love so true and precious.

Handfasting.

It's quite tricky taking photos of yourself you know- even quite hilarious.

The precious man that I love.

Katie Daisie's Wildflower cards.

Perfect

The peace of wild things...

Time to light the fire it's getting a little chilly.

Such a beautiful space. So romantic and restful.

Goodness after all that preparation, steak doesn't take long to cook.

So satisfying.

Orzo pasta salad and red cabbage coleslaw were just perfect travelling choices.

Two Go On A Romantic Adventure

Pretty storage to keep the mice at bay and ensure that we had all our own supplies of olive oil, raw sugar and sea salt, spare matches, salad dressings etc 

Oh look, a swing for all ages!

You forget how much effort it takes to work a swing.

Kind of them to leave a Viking safety helmet for our use. I let Rob try it first.

Our last morning was perfect for a walk along the riverside amidst the wild flowers once more.

The day was overcast and balmy and so peacefully perfect.

The guest book is full of stories of the eels that live in the swimming hole. Apparently none of them bite. Shame it was a bit too chilly for a dip this time round 😀

Extraordinary that everything is so very lush and green at this time of the year.

This island of abundance evolves through the seasons. How wonderful to visit while all the wild flowers and grasses are singing.

When I was little a peculiar feeling would come over me whenever I read the story of Heidi and the wildflower meadows of her summer days, and the love of her grandfather. 

In this sacred place I feel that same delight 

and so much joy.

Have you ever "walked" a barley grass seed head up your forearm? It's so much fun!

Oh look there's a handy little seat in the middle of the river beach- just for Rob.

A Heidi meadow!

On our way home we took the highway 50 route and stopped off at a house with eggs for sale. The eggs had sold out but I had a lovely chat with the nice old man and his granddaughter. That meant we had to take a little detour up the road and oh look what we found. 

Foxgloves beside the woolshed up the road.

It was so worth the u turn to revisit this delightful hillside covered in Oxeye daisies.

Home again now. Tucked in with our memories of a rich, romantic and magical time.

You can find Wai Ora just here:https://www.canopycamping.co.nz/wai-ora