Day 15
This was a day spent in Taronga with Deanne and her family. We used to work at Thomas's together and she left for New Zealand nearly 2 years ago. It was such a great day for the weather - beautifully sunny, for a change! We arrived at her house and we could've stayed there all day just talking but then we would not have seen any of the area. First we went out for a walk around the Mount (Mount Mauao), spotted seals, watched the boats pass by and kept on chatting. The kids, Isaac and Oscar, we're very happy to have us visit and they were enjoying their New Zealand life. Ice-cream time and then we headed to a park at the waterfront to see the Hairy Maclary statues. On the way home Deanne showed us where she worked. We spent the rest of the day talking and talking...had a delicious dinner with the family before enjoying the evening of more chatting then off to bed.
This was a day spent in Taronga with Deanne and her family. We used to work at Thomas's together and she left for New Zealand nearly 2 years ago. It was such a great day for the weather - beautifully sunny, for a change! We arrived at her house and we could've stayed there all day just talking but then we would not have seen any of the area. First we went out for a walk around the Mount (Mount Mauao), spotted seals, watched the boats pass by and kept on chatting. The kids, Isaac and Oscar, we're very happy to have us visit and they were enjoying their New Zealand life. Ice-cream time and then we headed to a park at the waterfront to see the Hairy Maclary statues. On the way home Deanne showed us where she worked. We spent the rest of the day talking and talking...had a delicious dinner with the family before enjoying the evening of more chatting then off to bed.
Day 16
We had a comfortable nights sleep in a proper bed, where Joaquin could stretch his legs out. We then had breakfast with the family before we had to say our goodbyes. It was a really lovely time catching up with Deanne and we thank her and her family for the hospitality. It was then a drive over to Rotorua where we went to visit Te Puia. This is a place where the Maori lived/live and a place to learnt about the culture. At this centre we saw the geothermals, a kiwi, a replica village, traditional dances and watched men, boys and some woman at work learning the crafts of the Maori to keep them alive and to pass them down through the generations. As it was raining we decided not to head to a natural warm river and just head to the campsite again, McLaren Falls.
We had a comfortable nights sleep in a proper bed, where Joaquin could stretch his legs out. We then had breakfast with the family before we had to say our goodbyes. It was a really lovely time catching up with Deanne and we thank her and her family for the hospitality. It was then a drive over to Rotorua where we went to visit Te Puia. This is a place where the Maori lived/live and a place to learnt about the culture. At this centre we saw the geothermals, a kiwi, a replica village, traditional dances and watched men, boys and some woman at work learning the crafts of the Maori to keep them alive and to pass them down through the generations. As it was raining we decided not to head to a natural warm river and just head to the campsite again, McLaren Falls.
Day 17
Before leaving this campsite we look a walk along the path of see some waterfalls. Then it was a drive up the Coromandel. We took a walk along by the sea to Cathedral Cove, then visited Hot Water Beach close by. Unfortunately we arrived at the wrong time to feel the hot water springs at the beach. It's best to go around low tide, give or take a few hours. You are supposed to dig a hole and it fills with hot water from the underground spring. We saw some old holes and I dug a little and felt the warm water just on my feet.
Before leaving this campsite we look a walk along the path of see some waterfalls. Then it was a drive up the Coromandel. We took a walk along by the sea to Cathedral Cove, then visited Hot Water Beach close by. Unfortunately we arrived at the wrong time to feel the hot water springs at the beach. It's best to go around low tide, give or take a few hours. You are supposed to dig a hole and it fills with hot water from the underground spring. We saw some old holes and I dug a little and felt the warm water just on my feet.
Day 18
Another long day driving but we did break it up by stopping off in Auckland. Joaquin needed to have a vaccination for South East Asia and we went to the post office to get some boxes to send stuff home to make our backpacks lighter. Before heading out of the city we went to see the volcanic crater which looks out over the city of Auckland. We continued our journey on up to the Bay of Islands. Arriving to a campsite that had a kitchen.
Another long day driving but we did break it up by stopping off in Auckland. Joaquin needed to have a vaccination for South East Asia and we went to the post office to get some boxes to send stuff home to make our backpacks lighter. Before heading out of the city we went to see the volcanic crater which looks out over the city of Auckland. We continued our journey on up to the Bay of Islands. Arriving to a campsite that had a kitchen.
Day 19
We got up used the kitchen as I needed to start finishing up the food we had left and then we got ready for our horse ride. Unfortunately when we turnt up for our trek there was no one to be seen. We then received a message to say that it had to be cancelled due to the owner breaking her shoulder. We took the opportunity to get some washing done at the campsite and organised our boxes of stuff to send home.
We got up used the kitchen as I needed to start finishing up the food we had left and then we got ready for our horse ride. Unfortunately when we turnt up for our trek there was no one to be seen. We then received a message to say that it had to be cancelled due to the owner breaking her shoulder. We took the opportunity to get some washing done at the campsite and organised our boxes of stuff to send home.
Day 20
We spent the morning kayaking up the river. We first headed into the mangroves and kayaked through the trees trying not to get stuck. Next we paddled up the river to the waterfall, Harura Falls. After taking lots of photos having a snack it was time to drift back down the river. The tide was going out so not much effort was needed to paddle this way. I did get stuck on a small sandbank at one point! We wondered what to do for the afternoon so on a recommendation we stopped in at Ngawha spring pools. It really smelt but we went in and had a dip in different temperature pools. It was time to head down to our campsite for the night but we stank of the pools!
We spent the morning kayaking up the river. We first headed into the mangroves and kayaked through the trees trying not to get stuck. Next we paddled up the river to the waterfall, Harura Falls. After taking lots of photos having a snack it was time to drift back down the river. The tide was going out so not much effort was needed to paddle this way. I did get stuck on a small sandbank at one point! We wondered what to do for the afternoon so on a recommendation we stopped in at Ngawha spring pools. It really smelt but we went in and had a dip in different temperature pools. It was time to head down to our campsite for the night but we stank of the pools!
Day 21
After staying at Waipu Caves for the night we decided to have a quick walk to see them before having to head back to Auckland. This was not our journey...we got diverted as there had been an accident on the main highway. There were no diversion signs as it had just happened so we started following all the other cars. It was a race around the counrty lanes trying to find our way back to the main road further along. We had made it! Only thing was, we hadn't passed the accident and had to turn back and find another way. This put an extra 2 hours to our journey. We were then rushing back as we had to return the campervan that afternoon. It was a made rush when we finally made it back into Auckland...checking in, throwing our bags in the room, off to the post office to send the parcels back (12kg less weight to carry between us), fill up with fuel and made it with one minute to spare to drop off the Campervan. Phew!
After staying at Waipu Caves for the night we decided to have a quick walk to see them before having to head back to Auckland. This was not our journey...we got diverted as there had been an accident on the main highway. There were no diversion signs as it had just happened so we started following all the other cars. It was a race around the counrty lanes trying to find our way back to the main road further along. We had made it! Only thing was, we hadn't passed the accident and had to turn back and find another way. This put an extra 2 hours to our journey. We were then rushing back as we had to return the campervan that afternoon. It was a made rush when we finally made it back into Auckland...checking in, throwing our bags in the room, off to the post office to send the parcels back (12kg less weight to carry between us), fill up with fuel and made it with one minute to spare to drop off the Campervan. Phew!
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