An earthquake leveled the town in 1931, so this “Miami Beach of the Southern Hemisphere” was rebuilt with art deco-style buildings. From Hawke’s Bay our bus drove inland through Havelock, a lovely village tucked into the surrounding hills; stopped for us to sample huge strawberries at the Strawberry Patch; and ascended Te Mata Peak for a brilliant panoramic view of the
Tuki Tuki River valley.
We proceeded to Clifton Station where our group entered an 1886 Woolshed to see a professional sheep shearer at work. I was impressed that he could expertly shear a lamb with electric shears in less than a minute.
Two kinds of dogs were used to herd sheep: The New Zealand Blue Heeler who “stares” at the sheep for obediance and the NZ Huntaway who barks at the sheep – both with much running around the flock according to the farmer’s left and right singles.
On our way back to the ship we had our first stop for scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream at a studdning beach front location on Hawke’s Bay.
