From Aukland we drove North in our hired campervan to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. We met up with Gary, Stephen's cousin and hi girlfriend Maddy.
The bay of Islands is a beautiful area, renowned for the dolphins that love to swim around the boats.
It is sometimes possible to swim with the Dolphins in the wilde. We didn't have the opportunity to swim with them because they had young with them.
As you can see from the photos some of them came to play around the boat.
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The Hole in the Rock
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Bottle Nose Dolphins
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Fancy a race?
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Day 86
Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga is the Northernmost tip of New Zealand a bit like Lands End in Cornwall. It is where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.
It is possible to see a ridge of waves where the two meet. This area is famous for the Ninety mile beach and Kauri trees.
The ninety mile beach is not quite as long as it sounds, because it is actually only ninety km long but that didn't sound as attractive as ninety mile.
The Kauri trees are an ancient tree from Jurassic times. They are huge second in the world to the Giant Redwood.
In the information centre is a staircase carved from an ancient Kauri tree trunk.
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Famous Four at Cape Reinga
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The Tasman Sea
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How far from home?
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Swimming in Spirits Bay
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One big Kauri tree
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Maddy in boots
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Day 87-89
New Zealand Nash Hash
The NZ Nash Hash took place on Waiheke island just off the coast from Auckland.
We had a great weekend very sunny, great views and good fun. Met up with Twin Peaks and Teazemaid.
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On the road again
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Hash Beer
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Wear Sunscreen!
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Day 90
Coromandel and The Bay of Plenty
After getting off the ferry we set off upp the Coromandel Peninsular. Lots of Hilly windy roads, but spectacular scenery.
The road we followed is called the Pacific highway which is the scenic routea along the coast. We visited a place called hot water beach.
Hot springs emerge on the beach at low tide. People get to the beach just before low tide and hire a spade to dig a hole.
Once the whole is dug you can relax in your hole and let the hot water mingle with the cooler sea water until the temperature is just right.
We arrived at low tide and the place was like a circus with some people frantically digging while others relaxed.
It is worth clicking on Bunny Riley to look at him properly, he's really cute!
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Digging for a hot spot
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Kiwi 360
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Bunny Riley
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Day 91-92
Rotorua
Rotorua famous for hot springs, is also famous for the foul smell. As we entered the town the smell of rotton eggs filled our nostrils.
Once we became used to this we found Rotorua to be a really interesting town.
As we drove down the road we could see steam coming from people's gardens and from the drains at the side of the road.
The campsite we stayed at had thermal pools, a naturally heated swimming pool, and a steam cooker called a Hangi.
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Maori Dancers
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Prince of Wales Feathers Geyser
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Lamb cooked in the Hangi
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Hellsgate
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The Devil's Cauldron
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A relaxing mud bath
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As Rotorua is such an interesting place we decided to stay two days. One day yot explore and the second day to roll around in the mud.
Day 93
Waitomo Caves
One of the Higfhlights to our tour of NewZealand was the visit to the caves at Waitomo. There are a few different tours of the caves
there is the relaxing, gentle, dry, river cruise experience, or the full on, wet wild and active experience.
Guess which one we did? Well you only live once!
Clare had never absailed before, so was a little apprehensive about the first ever absail into what they described as the Black Abyss.
It was easier than expected and the whole trip was really exciting. Many thanks to our caving guides they were great.
www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz
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Blackwater Rafting
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Absailing practice
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Into the abyss
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Going Down!
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Clare reaches the bottom
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Stop for tea and chocolate
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Getting into the tube
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Steve behind a waterfall
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A tight squeeze
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Are we having fun yet?
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Light at the end of the tunnel
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The crew
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Day 94- 96
Taranaki
One of the great advantages New Zealand has over Australia ( the Kiwis would probably name loads starting with a better Rugby team),
is that it doesn't take a whole day to drive from place to place. After a full day in Waitomo, we had a short drive to New Plymouth to Stephen's Aunt an Uncle's house.
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A view of Auckland
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Camping at Haruru Falls
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Does anybody recognise this scene?
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Mount Taranaki
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Steve with Unc at the Museum
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Clare trys to master the switchboard at the museum
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Day 97-103
Wellington
A week in Wellington was a fine way to end our time in New Zealand. It was a chance to catch up with Cousins, friends and generally enjoy
what proved to be a most charming city.
We also got the chance to experience a taste of the South Island by popping on the Lynx ferry to Picton for the day.
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A view of the waterfront in Wellington
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Tram to the Botanical Gardens
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Meeting up with the LOTR travellers
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Queen Charlotte Sound
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Clare Canoeing in the Sound
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Out with the Cousins
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