We flew into Auckland on 20 February, Syd’s 56th birthday. We’d chosen to stay for three nights in a city centre hotel, so we made our way by bus into Auckland. The hotel was on the corner of two busy streets. Won’t make that mistake again. The noise at night was terrible, buses, cars, pedestrians and the sirens from the fire engines etc. Don’t think we slept much the whole time we were there.
We only had two days in Auckland so we decided to see some of the sights. The first day was warm and sunny so we took the ferry to Weiheke, an island about 1 hour out of Auckland. The island is home to the area’s wine production and also home to many artists.
It is a rather small but very scenic island. We got on the bus tour for a trip around the east of the island.
There are many small forests and beautiful bays that look out over the pacific ocean. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information on the area.
After the eastern side tour we went for a hike down through a forest to the beach.
It was about an hour’s hike but we enjoyed it. We then decided that we couldn’t leave the island without sampling some of the wine.
We went to “Jurassic Vinyard” for some wine tasting. This vineyard is a relatively new one. It was established about ten years ago by a retired Neurologist from England. Wine was his passion and he decided to up sticks and move to the best place in the world to grow grapes. The wine has won a few gold medals over its short life. It certainly tasted very good.
It is a rather small but very scenic island. We got on the bus tour for a trip around the east of the island.
There are many small forests and beautiful bays that look out over the pacific ocean. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information on the area.
After the eastern side tour we went for a hike down through a forest to the beach.
It was about an hour’s hike but we enjoyed it. We then decided that we couldn’t leave the island without sampling some of the wine.
We went to “Jurassic Vinyard” for some wine tasting. This vineyard is a relatively new one. It was established about ten years ago by a retired Neurologist from England. Wine was his passion and he decided to up sticks and move to the best place in the world to grow grapes. The wine has won a few gold medals over its short life. It certainly tasted very good.
Our second day was going to be the sights and museums of Auckland. We were walking down Queen Street heading towards the Maritime Museum when we spotted something far more incredible, Yvonne and Gary Hunter, friends from Cove. They were over visiting their daughter Claire.
We couldn’t believe it. We had to go for a coffee, then it was decided that an alcoholic drink was required. We ended up in the bar all afternoon, well it was happy hour. Double vodkas on an empty stomach – not a good idea. After hours of catching up Gary & Yvonne had to catch the ferry to Davenport, so we walked them to the harbour then went for something to eat. That was the end of our sightseeing in Auckland.
We couldn’t believe it. We had to go for a coffee, then it was decided that an alcoholic drink was required. We ended up in the bar all afternoon, well it was happy hour. Double vodkas on an empty stomach – not a good idea. After hours of catching up Gary & Yvonne had to catch the ferry to Davenport, so we walked them to the harbour then went for something to eat. That was the end of our sightseeing in Auckland.
The following morning we went and picked up our campervan – not a motorhome (our budget couldn’t stretch that far).
After filling in all the paperwork and getting a very short tour of the van we set off. First stop the supermarket to stock up on groceries. While we were pushing the trolley around deciding what to buy we became aware of a very loud sound of rain! The heavens had opened and the rain was pouring down. We quickly loaded the shopping into the van and just because we could we made a cup of coffee before deciding what to do. We had intended to drive north towards the Bay of Islands stopping en route to see the sights. We headed off in that direction but the rain was constant. It was pointless looking at the sights because all we could see was grey skies and rain.
We made it to Paihia just as the rain was beginning to ease off a bit. Paihia is a small town just on the bay with lovely views of some of the islands. We went up to a nice view point and looked out at the sights. It was like a smaller version of Halong Bay. Our first night in the campervan was spent on a site in Paihia. The bed was a log comfier than it looked.
After filling in all the paperwork and getting a very short tour of the van we set off. First stop the supermarket to stock up on groceries. While we were pushing the trolley around deciding what to buy we became aware of a very loud sound of rain! The heavens had opened and the rain was pouring down. We quickly loaded the shopping into the van and just because we could we made a cup of coffee before deciding what to do. We had intended to drive north towards the Bay of Islands stopping en route to see the sights. We headed off in that direction but the rain was constant. It was pointless looking at the sights because all we could see was grey skies and rain.
We made it to Paihia just as the rain was beginning to ease off a bit. Paihia is a small town just on the bay with lovely views of some of the islands. We went up to a nice view point and looked out at the sights. It was like a smaller version of Halong Bay. Our first night in the campervan was spent on a site in Paihia. The bed was a log comfier than it looked.
The next day was sunny and dry, so we set off to travel to the west side of the peninsula. When we had picked up the campervan we had been supplied with a Tourist Radio. It is a box which you tune into a specific station and the box uses GPS signals to spot where you are. The radio then tells you what interesting things are coming up and where to turn off if you want to go there. We set it up that morning and set off. We were advised of a Heritage village which we were coming up to, so we turned off and went to visit.
It is based on the time around 1850’s to 1940’s.
It showed the life of the early settlers in New Zealand. After spending about an hour there we continued on our journey. We came to a turnoff for the Wairere Boulders National Park. It was situated about 16km along a gravel road which got narrower and steeper the further along we went. The Wairere Boulders are huge rocks which have toppled down from higher up the valley over millions of years.
They lie all over a riverbed and in some places piled one on top of another making caves.
To reach the largest boulders you have to walk about 45 minutes through the forest scrambling over rock, fallen trees and over water.
It was a magnificent sight. Something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. We carried on with our journey to the west coast. The road passed through forest then all of a sudden we saw a golden glow in front of us.
It was a giant sand dune. We had reached the other side. The water was a beautiful turquoise and the sand dune was enormous. You could get on a sledge and toboggan down it. We got out the picnic chairs and sat by the edge of the water eating our lunch. It was a struggle to move on, but we decided to follow the road back south. The road took us into the Waipoua Forest. The radio told us that the largest surviving Kauri trees were within the forest and that we could see the largest on just passed the car park. We couldn’t miss this. They are the second largest trees in the world and we’d already seen the largest – the giant redwoods in California.
These Kauri trees are huge. As they grown they drop their branches which makes the trees very straight. When Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand and told of these trees, they were chopped down and shipped to England to be used to make ships. The forest have been depleted and nowadays are managed so that the trees will survive.
It is based on the time around 1850’s to 1940’s.
It showed the life of the early settlers in New Zealand. After spending about an hour there we continued on our journey. We came to a turnoff for the Wairere Boulders National Park. It was situated about 16km along a gravel road which got narrower and steeper the further along we went. The Wairere Boulders are huge rocks which have toppled down from higher up the valley over millions of years.
They lie all over a riverbed and in some places piled one on top of another making caves.
To reach the largest boulders you have to walk about 45 minutes through the forest scrambling over rock, fallen trees and over water.
It was a magnificent sight. Something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. We carried on with our journey to the west coast. The road passed through forest then all of a sudden we saw a golden glow in front of us.
It was a giant sand dune. We had reached the other side. The water was a beautiful turquoise and the sand dune was enormous. You could get on a sledge and toboggan down it. We got out the picnic chairs and sat by the edge of the water eating our lunch. It was a struggle to move on, but we decided to follow the road back south. The road took us into the Waipoua Forest. The radio told us that the largest surviving Kauri trees were within the forest and that we could see the largest on just passed the car park. We couldn’t miss this. They are the second largest trees in the world and we’d already seen the largest – the giant redwoods in California.
These Kauri trees are huge. As they grown they drop their branches which makes the trees very straight. When Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand and told of these trees, they were chopped down and shipped to England to be used to make ships. The forest have been depleted and nowadays are managed so that the trees will survive.
We stopped for the night in Matakohe where the Kauri Museum is. We spent most of the next morning there. The museum was great.
It gave in depth descriptions of what the trees and the sap that it excretes was used for and how the Maori’s used the gum.
We had met a couple from Scarborough Steve and Lynne who were staying in the same campsite the previous evening.
They gave us some information on what they had enjoyed during their travels round New Zealand. We had a coffee with them before we all set off on our separate ways.
It gave in depth descriptions of what the trees and the sap that it excretes was used for and how the Maori’s used the gum.
We had met a couple from Scarborough Steve and Lynne who were staying in the same campsite the previous evening.
They gave us some information on what they had enjoyed during their travels round New Zealand. We had a coffee with them before we all set off on our separate ways.
We headed south back through Auckland and made our way through the beautiful countryside to Matamata. This is where the movie Lord of the Rings was filmed, at least the part with the Hobbits. We booked ourselves onto the tour to Hobbiton.
The set had been left after the original film was made and has recently been restored and extended for the new prequel which is in the process of being filmed.
Hobbiton is in a farm just outside of Matamata. It is a beautiful setting. The set itself was something else.
We could just imagine ourselves as Hobbits. The tour lasted over two hours.
The set had been left after the original film was made and has recently been restored and extended for the new prequel which is in the process of being filmed.
Hobbiton is in a farm just outside of Matamata. It is a beautiful setting. The set itself was something else.
We could just imagine ourselves as Hobbits. The tour lasted over two hours.
We had spied a large waterfall not far from where we’d stayed the previous night so we set off to see it up close. The Wairere Falls are viewed by hiking up a mountain for an hour.
You are then at a viewing platform where you get a magnificent view of the falls. It is possible to climb for another hour to the top of the mountain where there is a stunning view over the whole area, but we decided to give that a miss. We headed back down and set off for Rotorua.
You are then at a viewing platform where you get a magnificent view of the falls. It is possible to climb for another hour to the top of the mountain where there is a stunning view over the whole area, but we decided to give that a miss. We headed back down and set off for Rotorua.
Rotorua is in the centre of the Thermal area of New Zealand which is sacred to the Maoris.
We visited “Te Puia” where there is a Maori cultural centre and is home to Pohutu Geyser. The geyser erupts about once or twice an hour and can reach 30 metres in sight. It was something to see. All around was the smell of sulphur and pools of bubbling mud.
Two or three times a day the Maori’s put on a cultural performance where they display their music, dancing and warrior skills including “The Haka”.
One member of the audience is chosen to be the visitors Chief and accept the challenge from the warrior. Syd was chosen to be our chief. We had a great day at Te Puia.
We visited “Te Puia” where there is a Maori cultural centre and is home to Pohutu Geyser. The geyser erupts about once or twice an hour and can reach 30 metres in sight. It was something to see. All around was the smell of sulphur and pools of bubbling mud.
Two or three times a day the Maori’s put on a cultural performance where they display their music, dancing and warrior skills including “The Haka”.
One member of the audience is chosen to be the visitors Chief and accept the challenge from the warrior. Syd was chosen to be our chief. We had a great day at Te Puia.
We travelled south through Taupo where we saw another waterfall,
towards Tongariro National Park which is where there are several volcanos. We had hoped to take a scenic flight over the volcanos but the rain set in again. The nearest we got was a trip up to Wakapapa village then along the ski road to the ski lifts of Mt Ruapehu which is the highest of the volcanos. The ski lifts were not operating due to the high winds and snow on the top.
The drive up took us through lots of lava which had been left from the last eruption. The volcano still emits clouds of steam on a regular basis.
towards Tongariro National Park which is where there are several volcanos. We had hoped to take a scenic flight over the volcanos but the rain set in again. The nearest we got was a trip up to Wakapapa village then along the ski road to the ski lifts of Mt Ruapehu which is the highest of the volcanos. The ski lifts were not operating due to the high winds and snow on the top.
The drive up took us through lots of lava which had been left from the last eruption. The volcano still emits clouds of steam on a regular basis.
Disappointed at not seeing the tops of the volcanos we headed off and made our way south to Wellington.
This was our last stop on the North Island. We visited Te Papa which is a museum that tells the story of how the Maoris came to settle in New Zealand and also the more recent settlers from all over the world who have come to New Zealand to escape from problems in their homelands.
The museum if enormous, it could easily take a whole day to see all it’s exhibits. The museum is situated on the quayside in Wellington. There are many restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity. It was a nice place to wander around.
This was our last stop on the North Island. We visited Te Papa which is a museum that tells the story of how the Maoris came to settle in New Zealand and also the more recent settlers from all over the world who have come to New Zealand to escape from problems in their homelands.
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| Gift of feather cloak given to Capt Cook by Maori Chief |
The museum if enormous, it could easily take a whole day to see all it’s exhibits. The museum is situated on the quayside in Wellington. There are many restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity. It was a nice place to wander around.
Our North Island tour ended the next morning when we set sail on the ferry heading for Picton on the South Island.
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