Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Wow, OK where to start. It has been a while since I have written a postcard. Well it feels like a long time, but I think it is just because i have done so much in the last 14 days (give or take at time of starting this draft). We arrived in NZ on Jan 8th and spent 2 nights in Auckland. The first night the furthest we ventured was to a Star-mart to get a midnight snack because we weren't allowed to take any of our food from Oz, yes mum, that means I had to leave behind the BBQ sauce that cost you an arm and a leg to send to me!!! Gutted. The next day, I had a well deserved lie in and Sevo went to the museum. I've already been so didn't fancy it again, I think it may have been the one I fell asleep in - or was that in Canberra, can't really remember. Anyway, when she returned we went to scout out the hire car places and to talk to a tourist office to see what our best option would be. After much discussion, we decided to rent a car. Found the cheapest one at $30 per day. That evening we ventured down to the minus 5 bar, the bar made from ice. I've been there too but it would have been mean to make Sevo go in on her own. Picked the car up the next day and began our whirlwind road trip of NZ. First challenge - to find our way onto the motorway using only the map in the lonely planet. Not as easy as it sounds. The map doesn't really detail where you can join the motorway so I had to guess. We did ask in a garage but they were bloody foreign and had no idea. Anyway, we made it eventually after a quick stop at MaccyD's for brekkie.
First stop was Tutukaka for one night. This is the main town where people stop to go diving on the Poor Knights Islands. We stayed at the holiday park there and I finally got to sleep at the top of a triple bunk!!! Very exciting. Up bright and early to meet the dive boat for a 40 minute trip out to the islands. There were only 4 people on our boat, so the dive master was pretty chilled and let us get ready at our own pace. The water was about 16 degrees, so lovely and warm - not! Forgot about it once I was diving though. Scenery was very different to what I've ever seen. Loads of seaweed rather than coral, so was awesome to see different marine life. Also saw quite a few Stingrays, spotted and eagle, and a couple of Green eels, 2 were in the same hole in the rock which I've never seen. On the second dive there were heaps of Nudi Branches, I think I saw about 6 different types, got very excited about that too.
After our dive we drove to Paihia, where we stayed for 2 nights. The hostel was called Capt'n Bobs and was gorgeous. Very homely and lovely people that run it. Up early again to go on a cruise. Rained nearly the whole day, which ruined it a bit. Saw 3 dolphins in the morning but they weren't interested so we couldn't swim with them. Stopped off at one of the islands for lunch were we also walked up to the viewpoint. On the way back in the afternoon we saw the dolphins again and this time they were coming right up to the boat so the skipper let us in the water. First time was unsuccessful but the second time we caught up with them and were actually swimming above them and alongside them. Was so amazing. We were probably about 3 metres away. Oh, forgot to mention that it was hammering it down and the water temp was 18 degrees (without a wetsuit this time), but the thrill of it all made you forget how cold it was.
Left the following morning for the Coramandel region. Stayed in a place called Hahei at the Holiday park. Booked into a dorm and when we arrived we were in a dorm, but the dorm was in a portacabin! They called it an Annex over the phone, which sounded great, but apparently it is Kiwi for portacabin. Was very amusing. Had the place to ourselves though thank god, cos there wasn't much room. Drove to Hot Beach in the morning. You are supposed to be able to dig you own spa pool on the beach. The water is really hot when you dig down about a foot or so, but when we arrived the beach was heaving (word of advise, don't go on the wknd or in the holidays), so we just sat and watched all the crazy kiwi holiday makers digging for their lives and laughing when the waves came in and ruined their spa's, hee hee!! Although it came back on us cos when we went to get our sarongs and shoes they had been caught in the swell and were soaked and covered in sand, we were lucky that they didn't get lost at sea! In the afternoon we visited Cathedral Cove, which included a 2 hour return walk, over hills, up steps and through bug invested bush. Was all worth it though. The sun actually peeked through the clouds when we got there and the beach was stunning.
We headed back to the holiday park to sneak in a quick shower before heading to Mount Maunganui. Mt M is pretty much NZ version on Bondi (as quoted by Pierre). So we fell in love with it before even getting out of the car. Only stayed the one night. Went to the hot pools in the evening, where you are meant to get a good view of the mountain, but the clouds were so low we had no chance. We were up early again for our surf lesson. I had forgotten everything I had been taught in Byron Bay last year, but managed to pick it up pretty quick and was standing after only a few wipe outs! I even got to catch my own waves this time. Was so cool. Sevo really enjoyed it too. After our surf lesson we began our long drive to the East Cape. This is NZ's most easterly point and the first place in the world that sees the sunrise apparently. We also had the pleasure of nearly staying in the worst accommodation yet. Opted for the holiday park again and for a cheap caravan, but when we arrived one of the windows was smashed and we had to tape it up ourselves, it stank of mold and damp and there were about 20 mosquitoes in it. We did try, sat in it for about 10 mins trying to kill the mozzies, but I started to feel sick from the smell and we were both getting miserable. So we upgraded to a cabin that had a double bed and 3 singles and its own kitchen and dining area, absolute luxury. Had to wake up at 4:30am to see if the weather had cleared, it had rained nearly the whole way there, to decide if it was worth the drive to watch the sunrise. Low and behold it was chucking it down and foggy, so we quickly returned to bed and got up later on to do the lighthouse walk. This included driving down a gravel track for about 40 mins and then walking up 770 wooden steps to reach the smallest lighthouse I have ever seen in the world. The few was amazing too, white cloud as far as the eye could see!!!!!!! Not impressed. We had to do it though cos we had driven 5 and half hours to get there and sacrificed spending an extra night in Mt M. Oh, and Sods law, as we were driving back down the gravel track to leave, the weather cleared and the sun came out - you can imagine some of the language that was used in the following 10 minutes #%%&*(%$##??"::>!!!
Next stop was Rotorura. Stayed at Funk House backpackers (would highly recommend this place). Arrived in time to go to a Maori evening. This involved watching a group of men from a Maori tribe canoe up and down a stream whilst shouting commands at each other, a song and dance show, then a 'hangi' meal (meal cooked the traditional Maori way), a bottle of wine (all part of the tradition obviously) and then a walk in the forest to see the glow worms after the meal. In the morning we headed for Hells Gate. Now I have been here before too but I loved it, so I was quite happy to go again. So we got to walk around all the smelly bubbling sulphur pools and then return for our much deserved mud path and thermal pool dip. Wonderful experience, however, now Sevos clothes all smell like rotten eggs and its been about 5 days since we were there. We left Rotorura and began our drive to Wellington. Stopped off in Taupo for a wee while and I purchased a much needed ski jacket to keep me all cosy and warm, I'm sure it will come in handy in Melbourne as well, as I know how cold it can get there too. Didn't really get up to much in Wellington, it was just a stop over so we could get the ferry the next day. We did HAVE to go shopping in the morning before we got the ferry as Sevo had left her trainers at the hostel in Rotorura, and we kind of need shoes cos we are doing a lot of walking. So found some cheapish ones in a lush skater shop, which also meant I bought a few things too! Oops, all for Melbourne of course.
ttfn anyway, I have another essay to start to write about the South Island!!!!
- comments