The tiny hamlet of Whangamomona on New Zealand’s North Island is independent in more than just spirit.
Whangamomona’s feisty inhabitants weren’t having any of it when local council boundaries were shifted in 1988. The settlement was due to move from the Taranaki region to Manawutu, but the locals realised that this would mean playing rugby for the detested rivals.
This was clearly not going to happen, so they decided to declare the village an independent republic.
Despite having an outdoor toilet as a border guard, the ‘republic’ boasts its own president and even has its own national beer. That said, two of the previous presidents have been a goat and a poodle.
Every second January Whangamomona holds independence celebrations, and of the many events, it’s apparently the sheep races that generate the most enthusiasm. They’re not independent enough from New Zealand to not get excited about sheep, after all.
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Woodlyn Park in Waitomo, New Zealand - Stay in a 1950s plane
You really have to give top marks to this one. A clearly barking New Zealander has got hold of an old plane and made excellent use of it, converting it into accommodation.
Despite once being the proud supply line to American troops in Vietnam, there’s not much use for the Bristol Freighter these days. Except, of course, as a substitute hotel near Waitomo on New Zealand’s North Island.
The plane still has the camouflage livery, and by the looks of it, much of the original gear and furnishings.
A nice little touch is that it costs slightly extra to stay in the cockpit rather than in the tail of the plane. The riff-raff in cattle class should know their place, after all.
Just in case the warplane rooms are not wacky enough, Woodlyn Park also offers accommodation in a ‘train motel’, a ship that the owner is trying to compare to the Titanic and hobbit houses.
Take a look at the pics on the website – the whole place looks somewhat surreal.
It’s also pretty close to the Waitomo Caves – a bizarre attraction in themselves, particularly if you take on the blackwater rafting through the caves, lit by glow worms.
More information: Woodlyn Park
Despite once being the proud supply line to American troops in Vietnam, there’s not much use for the Bristol Freighter these days. Except, of course, as a substitute hotel near Waitomo on New Zealand’s North Island.
The plane still has the camouflage livery, and by the looks of it, much of the original gear and furnishings.
A nice little touch is that it costs slightly extra to stay in the cockpit rather than in the tail of the plane. The riff-raff in cattle class should know their place, after all.
Just in case the warplane rooms are not wacky enough, Woodlyn Park also offers accommodation in a ‘train motel’, a ship that the owner is trying to compare to the Titanic and hobbit houses.
Take a look at the pics on the website – the whole place looks somewhat surreal.
It’s also pretty close to the Waitomo Caves – a bizarre attraction in themselves, particularly if you take on the blackwater rafting through the caves, lit by glow worms.
More information: Woodlyn Park
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