We are now back in Auckland after spending over a week away touring the North Island. We hired a car for $19 a day which works out at less than 10 pounds, so obviously we weren't expecting a nice shiny new car. It arrived and was a dented, scratched, white Kia Rio. It could turn left and right, go forward and backwards so what more could we want. After planning our route we set off for Cambrigde to meet some relatives of mine. The drive down was nice and easy and when we arrived we were treated to a delicious lunch followed by a drive around the area. The scenary was beautiful around that part with rolling hills, cattle and interesting houses dotted around. The landscape reminded me of Derbyshire, if only it had had the dry stone walls. More delicious home cooked meals were to come which we were so grateful for.
On the Sunday we were taken out to Mount Maunganui on the East Coast, the sun was shining and we had a lovely day walking around the Mount and the beach. On Monday we headed to Rotorua for the day to see the fascinating geothermal activity. We went to a place called Wai-O-Tapu one of the best in the area for what you see and the price. We arrived just in time to see the Lady Knox Geyser erupt, admittedly it was induced, but it made it no less spectacular. After that we walked around the Thermal Wonderland, if it wasn't for the other people it would be a truly eerie place. With steam spurting randomly, acid lakes, bright orange and green pools, it was like being on another planet. The smell was indeed unique, like millions of rotting eggs, Pete thought it wasn't unique however and said it remined him of my wind after a curry. We saw some cool bubbling mud, which was very active and we got some great videos, we then decided to escape the smell and got back in the car and drove around, first I took us up into the hills and then we drove around the lake, discovering some seriously good driving roads.
On Tuesday we said goodbye to my relatives in Cambridge for a few days and headed to lake Taupo, luckily it was quiet and we managed to get a fantastic apartment for less than 50 pounds a night. The weather wasn't great when we arrived overcast and cold, but it didn't look promising for the next few days so we decided to risk a boat trip. We went on the Ernst Kemp a replica steam boat. Having decided it would be a nice gentle trip around the lake we weren't prepared for how choppy it was, the waves throwing us from side to side, at one point I thought a life jacket would be needed. Luckily it calmed down for a while, enough for me to fall asleep for 20 minutes. When I woke up everyone looked at me amazed I could drift off in such weather. I didn't miss anything though and still got to see the Maori carvings, the lovely gated houses and Rod Stewarts old house. I cooked dinner that evening and said the next night would be Pete's turn.
After a gorgeous mornings walk around the lake (it was sunny and warm, typical), seeing the steaming hot springs trickle into the lake, we decided to drive to the Tongario National Park, because from where we were we could see the snow capped mountains situated there. We drove through Turangi and then went up into the mountains, we drove as far as we could or wanted to in our dodgy car. We were up in the clouds with snow around us and it was freezing cold, after a quick photo opportunity we headed back down, Pete having fun driving on the twisty roads. Back at the bottom it was blue sky and warm again.
On Thursday we headed off to Napier in the Hawke's Bay wine region. Before we set off Pete asked if he should fill up with Petrol, I said we should have enough to get there. Anway we took off on the road, again it was an up and down, winding road, which was great fun for me, because the scenary was stunning, but for Pete the driver it was not great. Pete started to get worried as the needle on the fuel gauge headed to the E, he was getting stressed and started to swear, I obviously kept calm not wanting to antagonise him. In the end there was nothing to worry about and we reached a petrol station with plenty of miles to spare!!! (Only after we coasted down all the hills)
Again it was quiet in Napier so we got a lovely apartment, this time with a spa bath. We were lucky enough to get on a wine tour for that afternoon and were the only ones on it, so we got the guide all to ourselves. This did mean however we tried a lot of wine, in total we went to 5 wineries and tried over 40 wines, but the amounts weren't sips, more like 3 gulps, so by the third winery Pete and I were a little bit giggly, by the fourth we were swaying slightly and after the fifth we were drunk. Finally back at the apartment, I was slightly ill, while Pete laughed at me and even sneakily took a photo. Once I had cleared my system I felt much better, but still hopped into bed and watched TV. I sent Pete out to get some fish and chips, luckily he didn't have to cross any roads as he was still swaying and he had uncontrolable hiccups while waiting. We ate our fish and chips in bed, followed by a relaxing spa bath, which was basically a jacquzzi with bubble bath.
The next day we walked around Napier admiring the Art Deco buildings, before the rain came in which was when we decided to head back to Cambridge. On the way we stopped at a truckers cafe, for the all important fry up, it was delicious and although I wasn't suffering from a hangover, having had it the previous evening, it made me feel more alive.
On the Saturday we decided to drive to the west coast for the day to see some black sand. We went to a little place called Kawhia, which is very much an old fishermans village, again we had great weather and managed to enjoy another lot of fish and chips, this time on a bench with seagulls surrounding us instead of a cosy bed. We went to Ocean Beach which has stunning black sand dunes and very blue sea, together they didn't look real. After I failed to escape over a fence (check out the pics) we decided to head up the coast to Raglan. We didn't realise how bad the road was, well saying that I didn't think it was too bad, but Pete overeacted. Again it twised and turned, went up and down, but instead on sealed tarmac, it was unsealed rocks. Pete was sweating, swearing and stressed, it only got worse when 2 rotweilers attacked the car and starting chasing us and we almost ran them over. Not only did Pete have to contend with the 'dangerous' road surface, but the sun kept blinding him and other cars driving a lot faster came by and rocks flew up at us, adding to the chips. Finally back onto the tarmac and arriving in Raglan we took some photos and drove around the town, before heading back to Cambridge, Pete needed a rest after his ordeal on the road.
More fantastic home cooked meals and wonderful stories from my relatives, when he lived in Kenya and when they both lived in Australia working on big farms. We had a wonderful time with them and travelling around and so were sad to be leaving. We had a good run back up to Auckland yesterday and stopped briefly in Thames for lunch, but didn't have enough time to see the Coromandel properly. We had an exciting and fun week and have enjoyed the north island so much, that we can't wait to explore the south island and see what it has to offer. Perhaps no more wine tours for a while though!!!