We have now finished traveling the North Island of New Zealand. It's been filled with adventure, new friends, great scenery and lots of laughs. We have been traveling in a campervan named Norman who is almost as old as me, has no power steering and doesn't like hills he's a real treat to drive ha ha but he gets us from A to B and a bit further.
Leg 1
Our first leg saw us conquer the wild west coast setting off from our Auckland city apartment on the 14th August and reaching the cape on the 1st September
The West is known for surfing and huge waves it's not called the wild coast for nothing!
First night was Piha (still technically Auckland so not too adventurous) we were going to stay on the beach by lions rock but it was closed so we stayed in the forest our first night. Three of us in a van is cosy and looking back I don't know how we lasted so long before we started using the tent as well.
From there it was one beach to the next where we went to Muriwai (black sand beach) the volcanic sand is super soft, and completely black.It was a good place to relax, build sand castles and check out the local area
From there our beach adventure took us to Shellys beach and our first free hot shower, traveling in a campervan is awesome but there is nothing quite like a hot shower most of the free ones are cold eek trust me when I say you learn to get washed pretty quickly in the winter.
From there it was off to Mosquito Bay to do some night fishing yes it lives up to its name the fish were not biting but the mossy's were
Leaving the beaches behind we took off for Port Albert (fundamentally a car park) but a free campsite nonetheless that saw us well rested for the next days drive
Then it was off to Dargaville a small little town famous for Kumera ( a bit like a cross between a potato and a sweet potato). When we got there the town was a bit bland so after speaking to some locals for good places to see when we were in the area it was off to Kai Iwi Lakes.
We spent two days here and had the whole lake to ourselves (definite benefit of traveling in the off season) Our first night we fished, hung out on the beach and caught up on some needed washing (hand washing is not so bad once you get used to it) We also met Peggy a one legged bird that liked to be fed and had the best sympathy act I have ever seen. (Peggy was the fattest bird on the lake even with one leg) I also met my first cockroach, roaches like to hang out in warm, damp places so you often share the bathroom with some extra little quests but they are harmless.
The second night at the lakes was one of the best we spent on the west coast. A huge storm came in from the sea but the sky above us was starry and clear. We were able to lay on the grass watching the stars and the lightning as the storm traveled over the whole of Northland.
It was time to leave the lakes and continue north to Tāne Mahuta or lord of the forest New Zealand's largest Kauri tree and the four sisters other giant Kauri
From there we headed for Opononi home of Opo the dolphin we stayed a few hours and got great views of the bay from the top of the hill where we stopped for lunch.
Then we went to the Cowshed a place that became home for longer than anyone planned but where we met Janette and Alan our now adopted kiwi parents we stayed here for 2 nights to get out of the rain and tested out the hot springs at Naghwa. There are 12 natural hot springs at different temperatures caused by the volcanic activity below you. Again Naghwa turned out to be a place of mixed feelings for me when we came back.
Then it was off to the forest again at Raetea the road is crazy but worth it were drove over several mountains and along some winding gravel roads until we found our camp and our first double rainbow through the mountains.
Staying with the forest walks and nature we traveled further north to Puketi Forest another interesting road but our first chance to have a campfire most of New Zealand has a fire ban but this campsite allowed small campfires. Warm, sort of dry and well slept we were ready for the North.
Kaitaia is your last taste of civilisation before you head to the cape, we stopped to stock up on supplies and took on the trek to the top. First up was Cape Reinga the very tip of the North Island its a very spiritual place for Maori who believe the spirit goes here before leaving for the after life there is a spirit tree that acts as a marker for spirits and guides them to their resting place. The tasman sea and pacific ocean meet here which is cool to see and a lighthouse signals you have reached the end of the world.
Our first few nights took us to Tapotopotu a campsite in the valley. With some great sunshine all around us in the subtropical north we stayed a few extra days. Taking advantage of the weather we went sand surfing at Te Paki. Sand surfing is a lot of fun you climb up huge dunes and bodyboard down at high speed.
Then it was off to spirits bay for the night more fishing and beach to be had and one of the best sunsets we have seen so far.
Leg 2
As they say what goes up must come down so we started our journey south down the stunning east coast famous for wildlife, boat tours and white sandy beach our little slice of paradise
First up was Doubtless Bay white sand, great beach and never ending coast line. We stayed at an Olive Grove it the pouring rain meaning we pretty much had to camp next to the guys garage so after not such a glamorous night we continued south to see more beach as we followed the coast.
We then cut inland at Kerikeri to see the Wairere boulders the only eroded basalt rocks in the world
From there tired and ready for some relaxation we headed back to the Cowshed and the hot springs. However this time the happy Kaikohe vibe was ruined by me throwing my back out at the hot springs and ending up unable to move for 3 weeks. The owners were lovely and offered to take care of me until I got back on my feet. The boys worked on the farm and I slept in the barn with a family of possums. The first few days we stayed with a Maori family in town then spent the next 5 weeks at the Cowshed with Janette and Alan and of course the stars of the show Ceasar and Lucy (the dogs)
Then it was time to say goodbye to our new friends and head south once again.
This part of the journey saw our luck return! From the Cowshed we drove to Whangarei the home of Lion Man the TV show and Whangarei falls. Sitting in a car park campsite I called in a favour and we managed to get a batch on the beach in Coromandel from an old work mate of mine. For the next week we lived in luxury in a beautiful holiday home. We adventured around the Coromandel to hot water beach where you dig a hole and get your own little spa and Cathedral Cove a must see in New Zealand.
After a quick week we were on the road again to Tauranga where we climbed Mt Maunganui 232 meters later and more steps than you can count we reached the summit what a view definitely worth the sweat.
Then we headed for Rotorua and to meet old friends from the Queen's birthday weekend road trip. Boozy nights and a lot of laughs were had by all then we headed to see Wai O Tapu thermal park
Leaving Rotorua we headed to Tapo home of New Zealand's biggest lake at 616 km² its quite the sight
From Taupo it was time to take on the Forgotten highway 150 km of well nothing just hills, crazy roads and a town called Whangamomona which is recognised one day a year as its own country you get a stamp in your passport in the local pub when you arrive at "customs". Their current prime minister is a poodle it used to be a goat but after eating some poisonous weeds he died (assassination attempt ha ha)
We made it through the highway and ended in Stratford sadly Norman (the van) did not make it we blew a head gasket and fried our radiator ops and had to get towed. So we spent the week in Stratford while Norman was getting back on track. Stratford is a Shakespeare town everyday at 1, 3, 5, 7pm the clock plays romeo and Juliet its fun the first time! and all the streets has a shakespeare theme. It was however at the foot of Mt Taranaki
So broke and with Norman fixed at last we needed to stop for work so back towards Auckland we went up the west coast
Leg 4
A quick trip to New Plymouth then up to Te Kuiti where we spent the night in Piopio forest through Hamilton and on to Mangere where we spent the night at Ambury Park.
A last hurrah of animal cuddles awaited us on the farm with the friendliest goats, sheep, pigs and chickens.
Then it was time to go back to work. I got my old job back in Auckland and moved in with a woman from work. Sue and Brian were amazing and really made me feel part of the family so did Cookie the dog. We had our own pool and the boys found work on a Kiwi orchard not far from our house so we could see each other at weekends.
Just before I left I was invited to a family birthday where we had a pig on a spit and more meat than anyone could eat a great setting on Waiheke Island with some really lovely people.
Before we knew it we were ready to leave Auckland again and return to the Cowshed for Christmas it was nice to have a family Christmas and a New Year with friends from Auckland who came up for the weekend.
So today is my last day in the Cowshed and we are getting ready to go back to Auckland for a Pink Floyd gig then it's time to conquer the South Island and do it all again.
We have already booked our flight across the southern alps and glaciers and I can't wait to see what the south has to offer
