We hadn't expected to return to Auckland but circumstances brought us back for two more wonderful nights en route to Nelson.
It meant we could return to The Store Restaurant for another amazing breakfast and to my favorite restaurant, SOUL, for dinner later that day.
And it allowed us to to return to Waiheke Island for another day of ebikes exploring some of the wineries we hadn't been able to get to last time.
However, our day on the island happened completely differently!
Our ferry ride over to the island after brekkie was one that we wanted to continue on for a long time because the weather and water conditions were perfect and it felt so good to have the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair!! (Cliche but a good one!)
My dream has been to get to the Man O War vineyard on the other side of the island. I love their wines and order them whenever I see them on the wine list or instore. Unfortunately we discovered that it was too far for us to ride out on bikes or scooters. Luckily we were just in time to catch their 1pm Estate shuttle out to the 4,500acre estate, and the scenery along the way was stunning.
This is the only tasting room right down on the beach and we settled in for the afternoon in comfy chairs overlooking the bay, with a bottle of yummy Dreadnaught Red Blend, a basket of herbed French fries, and nothing to do but enjoy our surroundings for three lovely, lazy hours before being shuttled back to the ferry! We felt guilty at first for not being more active, but that didn't last long as we chatted away and enjoyed watching the activity of the boats on the water and the kids on the beach, recalling lovely memories of our life on BLUE.
It's a sweet thing when plans are replaced with even better ones!