Sleeper vans and windy vistas

Since we last left you, we’ve done a lot. Let’s do a quick recap.

Tuesday (October 27^th)

We picked up our sleeper van, braved the wind at One Tree Hill in Auckland (where we sighted our first real live sheep), and met a donkey on the beach at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. We also had our first experience at Pak ‘n Save.

Wednesday (October 28^th)

Pretty much, we did the Bay of Islands. We got up close and personal with Hole in the Rock, dropped off on a remote island (it felt like we were on the island in LOST), although the cruise failed to deliver on its promise of dolphins.

Thursday (October 29^th)

WE DROVE ON THE BEACH!!!!!!! Oh. We also went to Cape Reinga (which was windy, but breathtaking. It felt like you were standing at the edge of the world). On the way up to the Cape, we made some notable stops including: Doubtless Bay (which was named after an entry in Captain Cook’s log, in which he stated it was “doubtless, a bay”. Lonely Planet says to that, “No shit cap’n. It’s a bloody big bay at that.”), Matai Bay on the Karikari peninsula (which was beautiful), and 90 Mile Beach (WHICH WE DROVE ON!!!! And would never exist in Canada due to liability and reckless drivers).

Friday (October 30^th)

We woke up to the sound of crashing waves and the gorgeous beach that is Ahipara (where Julie played with a random dog and a piece of bamboo and nearly lost her beloved Roots hat to the Tasman Sea). We attempted to pick up some things in Kaitai, but due to a power outage in the “town” we were out of luck. On our way back down south we drove through Waipoua Kauri Forest (which has the most ridiculously twisty roads) to see Tane Mahuta (girth: 13-m, height: 52-m) and Te Matu Ngahere (giant Kauri trees). That night we stayed in Sheep World (the first time we decided to pay for accommodation; we needed laundry). No word of a lie. It’s a real place. And it is awesome.

Saturday (HALLOWEEN)

After a lazy morning at Sheep World, we drove up the Coromandel Peninsula (in other words we weaved past a long distance biker race on a rather mountainous route). We hit up the Cathedral Cove (you know, that iconic limestone arch) and climbed up to yet another “Pa” site where we found no evidence of a Pa… Again. (a Pa, by the way, is apparently an ancient Maori fortress on top of a volcanic (everything here is volcanic) hill). P.S. Hahei beach is pretty.

Sunday (November 1^st)

We woke up to gulls screaming outside our van. It was GREAT. But we quickly forgot our worries when we dug ourselves a hole on Hot Water beach (although, after several failed attempts to find actual hot water (and when we say hot, we mean HOT (like 60°C)), we commandeered someone else’s natural beach hot tub (aka “hole”). How is the water hot at Hot Water beach you ask? The answer is: volcanic activity (Emily’s go-to answer for any Kiwi related question. Example: what came first, the kiwi fruit or the kiwi bird? Answer: volcanic activity. Works everytime). It was pretty cool (not to mention entertaining as hoards of people attempted to fight against the tide (and sand) to keep their holes intact).

We now find ourselves in Tauranga. This evening we hiked up Mt. Mauganui (a windy, volcanic, sheep-infested hill on the edge of the ocean. Essentially, quintessential New Zealand). Yup. That’s pretty much it (but not really, because we left a lot out… Didn’t want to overwhelm you all with our adventures).

All in all, we’re loving the freedom that our campervan gives us (which, by the way, has a lovely message to the world, “If it swells, ride it”. It’s surfer themed obviously. With a wave and a surfer and everything).