Campervan North Island - Part One

Friday 9th May - Saturday 23rd May

Auckland to Pakiri So this is going to be laid out a little different than the way we usually do it as there won't be a day to day thing as some days we didn't do much or were shopping or washing clothes, so it's going to be more of a general what we done in each place. We picked the van up on the Friday after getting a taxi out to the hire place we spent an hour or so unpacking and getting ourselves familiar with the van as we would be spending the next 7 or so weeks in it (We keep joking that it's our first home as its the longest that we have spent in one place together).

Once ready we hit the road north and immediately gazed upon the dramatic scenery of New Zealand, some of the trees had green lichen (green fungus) on them and wolfie managed to convince Corinne that it was there to keep them warm in the winter and that the local council do it! After a couple of hours driving through rolling green hills, forests and coastline the sun was starting to set (around 6ish it goes dark). So we decided to look for a campsite, the nearest one being in Pakiri a small beachside town. We parked up, plugged in and went about making some tea.

Pakiri to Keri-Keri (Bay of Islands)

After a decent night's sleep it was a bit of a slow start on Saturday 10th May we were still feeling the effects of the jet-lag (and did so for about the first 10 days). Wolfie went for a surf on the beach just in front of the campsite and it wasn't bad. We went to the Goat Island were you can view the fish swimming around when you're standing on the rocks as it's a marine reserve so no fishing is aloud at all so you could see big snapper and blue cod. Afterwards we drove north to towards the bay of islands taking in a little more of the scenery along the way. Once again it was dark before we rolled into the camping ground for the evening and met the nice owner Philip who was one of the original surfers in NZ. Anyways we had some nice tea and watched a movie before succumbing to the jet-lag once more.

On Sunday 11th May we headed off over to the Waitangi Treaty grounds where the treaty of Waitangi was signed. It's basically when the Maori signed over their independence to the crown of England in return for protection and order from the different groups of sea-men and settlers that were being attracted to NZ for one thing or the other. The local town Russell was that bad it had the nickname of 'hell hole of the pacific. Anyways we had a look around through the house of James Busby in whose garden the massive tent was erected and the treaty signed after many days of discussion between the chiefs of the Iwi's (Maori tribes). We walked past the Waka (Maori war canoe) that was made to commemorate the first 100 years after the treaty was signed.

After spending a couple of hours there we had a quick drive into Pahia and got the ferry across the bay to Russell and had a walk around, NZ is great as in all the towns or places of interest there are information boards explaining the history and/or the significance of a certain part of town (so you don't have to go to loads of museums and read loads of books). We got the ferry back and watched the sun go down across the bay as we did so. With still feeling the jet-lag we decided to spend one more night in around the fabulous bay of islands (BOI) and see if it helped.

(Monday 12th May) We got up and went on a walk through the mangrove swamps; they have this clever little boardwalk through there. We got followed for a little while by the Piwakawaka (fantail) that flies in crazy little circles around you catching the small flies that you disturb. After some lunch at the campervan we had a look around and done some shopping at Keri-Keri before going off to find the rainbow falls which were amazing and there seems to be so many waterfalls in NZ.

Keri-Keri to Taputuputu

So after 3 nights around the BOI we left and started to make our way up to Cape Reinga on Tuesday 13th May. So after buying some chocolate from the makana chocolate factory (very nice you have to go if you come here) and getting lost we made our way to Taupo Bay to check out the surf and there wasn't any, but we played about in the sand for a bit. With it getting near to being night time we left the beach and jumped back in the camper.

We then took the long journey north virtually leaving civilisation after the last town and after many long and winding roads we came to the unsealed road and drove the last 20km to the Taputuputu DOC (department for conservation) campsite complete with no power hook-up and much to Corinne's delight cold showers and long drop toilets. After hunting out the local possum we had some tea and made use of the campervan toilet before heading to sleep.

Taputuputu - 90 mile beach - Kauri Forests

Waking on the morning of Wednesday 14th May we had a look around the beautiful bay of Taputuputu and took in the local sights before driving the last 5kms to Cape Reinga on the northern tip of NZ. We walked to the lighthouse and watched as the Tasman and Pacific oceans collided on what was a relatively calm day and we wondered if it would be even more impressive on a huge day. On the way back down the coast we picked up some body boards and went to do some sand dune boarding on NZ's biggest sand dunes the Te Paki sand dunes. We had soooooooo much fun starting off on the smaller ones before working up to the bigger ones ooooooooooo. Wolfie got a mouth and eye full of sand but it was still a good crack.

We then checked into a campsite with proper hot showers for Corinne about 100kms down the coast. After a warm shower and the use of proper toilets Corinne was happy and we set of for the kauri forest home of the mighty trees.

So on Thursday 15th May we made our way further south making a few small stops along the way including a small town were wolfie went to get cash out and got talking to a nice Maori bloke who offered us his front yard for a couple of nights, wolfie very politely thanked him for the offer and told him that we were on our way to see Tane Muhuta, they talked some more before leaving (such a nice genuine bloke).An hour or so later we pulled off the road and took a walk for a couple of minutes till we reached the lookout for Tane Muhuta the 'God of the Forrest' aptly named so for being bloody huge and over 2000 years old. We were unable to do what the tree huggers can't and give a proper tree a hug because if you try to get near the Kauri trees there feeder roots are very delicate and if one of these is broken the tree dies quickly. We soon left Tane's glade and went further up the road to see some more of the big trees including the 4 sisters a group of trees joined at the roots, in the trees there were also saw a pair of 'moreporks' a small owl named so by the Maori as there call sounds like 'more-pork'.

Later that evening we booked into the Kauri forest top 10 campsite and relaxed for the evening.

Friday 16th May was pretty much spent doing washing and Corinne cleaned the van out with her new found love for cleaning (she really has). In the evening still at the same campsite we booked to do a night time wildlife walk through the woods with the owner of the site. So at around 6.30pm once the stars had come out we went on the hunt for Kiwi's.

We were no sooner than about 10 minutes into the walk having fed the eels and found some big cave wetas we came across our first and only Kiwi of the Evening (northern brown variety). We also seen some kauri snails, crayfish and glow worms, it was great as all these creatures are animals of the night and the bloke does this walk each night and knows where they all are. We were amazed to see a Kiwi as most people who live in New Zealand have never seen one.

Kauri Forrest - Orewa - Piha

We left the forest on Saturday 17th May and drove south stopping at the Kauri museum and had a look around there for a couple of hours learning about the settlers and there harvesting and uses for the wood and gum. Afters we drove even further south aiming for Piha just west of Auckland when there was a clicking noise coming from the engine and it got louder before there was a huge bang and loads of white smoke filled the van. We quickly evacuated and grabbed the all important chairs out to take a pew whilst waiting for the AA; yes they have the AA in NZ.

Lots of people stopped to see if we were ok, asked if we needed food and a cup of tea. After 5 hours (there not as quick here) the tow truck arrived to take us to the campsite for the evening to await a replacement van.

So un-expectantly we spent the night in Orewa and woke on Sunday 18th May waiting for our new van, when it arrived it turned out to be an older van similar to the one we had in Australia (which we prefer the lay-out inside it). After packing up we headed for some lunch in a near-by cafe and had some kumara a pacific sweet potato. Not far from the Orewa was the Auckland luge, so we stopped off and had 3 rides on these little kart type devices going full belt down a hill great fun. In the evening we arrived at Piha a surf spot famous for its huge waves and STRONG currents.

The next morning Monday 19th May leaving Corinne in bed wolfie went for a surf, the waves were great and wolfie spent about 2½ hours in the water next to the towering lion shaped rock. In the afternoon we went for a mammoth walk down the Piha beach looking unsuccessfully for blue penguins but we did see lots of cool rainbows and what not. It was pretty much an all in all lazy beach day.

Hot water Beach - Raglan - Waitomo

Tuesday 20th May WOLFIES BIRTHDAY (thanks for all the happy birthdays). After a birthday morning surf which wasn't very long as wolfie was full of a cold and feeling poop, wolfie spent some time looking at his presents off his lovely wife which included a sushi kit, jelly sweets, Cadburys rocky road, some other Cadburys chocolate, DVD and some lollypops. We then headed off up the coast road stopping off at the surf shop and buying a cool canvas art painting.

For Wolfie's birthday lunch we went to breakers a surf style themed restaurant and sat in the campervan. We even got a piece of carrot cake with a candle and happy birthday sung!!!The aim for the day was to reach the hot water beach area on the Colomandel peninsula in time for the next day. We did so by nightfall and after locating a campsite that wasn't empty, set up the sushi making kit. It was so much fun and turned out really well and very nice. We watched the DVD and got drunk on some wine before falling into bed.

On the morning of Wednesday 21st May we headed for the Hot Water Beach to try and dig to find the hot springs but after the hire people let us hire the spades it turns out the sea was to rough and there was no chance. We dodged the jellyfish that the rough seas had bought and tried to find the hot water for a while before giving up and heading off to Raglan. We arrived at the campsite once again after it had gone dark and had some tea.

Thursday 22nd May we went for a look around Raglan and with the surf no good we had a little time shopping, Corinne got the hot water bottle she wanted for the south island as well as an extra heater but oh well. We drove a little out of town and went to see the Bridal Veil Falls which were amazing over 50 metres high.

Along the way to Waitomo we stopped at the Otorohanga kiwi house and we got to see the northern brown kiwis up close and get put to bed and also a great spotted kiwi. Pretty soon afterwards we checked into the campsite and took advantage of the free hot tub soaking up the heat watching the stars.

The next day Friday 23rd May was our Black water rafting day. We waited for the bus to pick us up and low and behold Siobhan who wolfie used to work with on K3 pulled up with her family in the Camper as they have emigrated here. We Chatted for 20 minutes and arranged to meet up at Papamoa in the bay of plenty. So after being picked up we got to the centre and kitted out in the oh so sexy wetsuits, boots and helmets and headed off to explore the Ruakuri caves. We had a practice in the river on the waterfall simulator which was freezing cold, before taking the short walk up to the cave entrance. Once inside the caves we headed straight off to the action tucking our bums into the rubber rings and floating off, jumping off waterfalls (Corinne even went first on one occasion out of everybody), we joined up and turned the lights off floating underneath the glow-worms before reappearing 2 hours later into the forest. Once again after some hot soap and a shower back at the base we took advantage of the hot tub and had a good rest for the next day.