Day 170 / 2016 - A Weekend Pow Wow

It is always exciting when you see friendly face's from home while you are on the other side of the country.

Leila, Frank and myself went to Uni in Bunbury together and including our partners we have all become good friends. We have arranged two weeks in New Zealand as a group in October flying out from Brisbane. The weekend just gone we all got together in Yungaburra for a Pow Wow to nut out some of the logistics of where we would like to go while there. Leila had already organised the car to carry us all and individually we all booked our plane fares but we still needed to plan a route which would fit in all the tourist sights all of us would like to see.

The morning started early for us rising at 4am to meet the plane in Cairns by 6am. Driving down the Kuranda hill the traffic was light but still slow due to the light sprinkling of rain having us err on the side of caution. As we drove into the airport we spied the Perth flight just about to touch down talk about good timing. Parking the car we met them in the baggage hall looking a little bleary eyed but in good spirits. John asked as soon as he sees Frank can he start stiring him up I recommended not till after breakfast as Frank was doing the cooking.

Driving back up onto the Tablelands and beyond to Yungaburra we traversed the Gillies pass which prompted Leilas memory of the last time she passed through here. Winding roads are not her speciality but had thoughfully taken some quells before we set off. Arriving at Frank and Alice's we were greated by the wafting smell of bacon frying on the Barbie where we quickly made our entrance and tucked into a rather large sumptious breakfast. We though the travellers would probably want a nap after breakfast but instead seemed to get a second wind promting us to take a drive to Nerada Tea plantation as they hadn't been there before. Unfortunately the road was closed as workers were dropping trees and blocking the way for up to half an hour at a time. To kill some time we drove to Millaa Millaa and did the waterfall circuit. An hour and a half later for a second try at getting to Nerada the road was still blocked. Deciding it was 'not to be' we returned to Yungaburra for nibbles and wine. By this time John and Leila were fading fast and decided to have a nap. John slept longer and missed out on the cheese(took him a while to get over that) but Leila made in time. That evening we visited the Malanda pub for a meal.

Next day we headed back to Yungaburra for more laughs and mayhem. After much talking, reminiscing and large quanities of bull dusting we finally got down to business of discussing the up and coming NZ trip (which was the reason for the pow wow in the first place). A few glasses of wine some nibbles and plenty of discussion over options finally we agreed on a route taking us from Christchurch via Dunedin to Queenstown then back to Christchurch again.

Next came the booking of accomodation 3 days in Christchurch including a trip to Arthurs Pass then one night in a castle with a second night in a victorian guest house for Dunedin with another 3 nights in Queenstown to allow for an all day trip the Milford Sounds... job done. The tourist sights we can plan when we get there but we did all agree wineries must be included. We finished off the evening once again with a scrumptious roast dinner courtesy of Resturaunt Honsa and a few more wines ans sprinklibg of music and laughter.

Next day John and Leila were flying out. We all drove down to Cairns together stopping at Kuranda for lunch and a quick look around at some of the markets. By evening it was time for them to board the plane and head off back to WA while the Honsa's and Robson's treated themselves to Hotel rooms for the night enjoying quiet drink before heading off to bed.