We landed in New Zealand at 4 am on Christmas Eve.
After a few hours wait, we collected our camper - Well, a converted people carrier. Cozy but the cheapest option.
Decorated to ensure we would never lose it in both car park or campsite.
Soon we had arrived near a little town called Waipu up the North East coast where, every year, they had a Christmas Eve parade (the only one in the whole of New Zealand still continuing). Local groups and clubs all dressed up on floats. Oh and Waipu - very serious about their Scottish heritage.
They even had tartan sheep!
We have big trailers as floats they have big boats.
The pony club.
We soon fell asleep and woke early for our Christmas Day breakfast.
Waded through the lake to hit the beach.
Christmas day on the beach. (Which was totally deserted!)
Totally!
A Wall tradition - Champagne on Christmas morning. (Well fizzy wine for us).
We were invited by a family camping next to us for Christmas lunch. The strangest Xmas lunch ever, a sausage with 3 hash browns! These Kiwis!
Followed by an afternoon body boarding, courtesy of the kind family who lent us their boards. Kenny's first time on a board and he assures me he did not have his eyes closed the whole time. (When you miss-time a wave, you tend to get a lot of spray in the face. That's all I'm saying! - K)
Finally our barbeque tea to round off a true South-of-the-Equator Xmas day.
We were warned to head off soon if we wanted to find space at the campsites up north as the whole of Auckland will be setting off for their summer camping holidays on Boxing Day. Luckily with a people carrier we did not need much room and they managed to squeeze us in next to the toilets. (Whananaki campsite).
The bays up here just get more and more beautiful.
With warm oceans and clean beaches.
Many caves and coves to explore.
Hopefully the tide was not on its way in? (My recollection was that the tide was very much on its way in - Hence why we had to scramble over rocks to get to the cave! - K)
So relaxing after our crazy last few weeks in South America.
Need I say more? ......................
...........................
Getting used to this one stove cooking - Chili was on the menu.
Nearby they bragged about the 'Longest Footbridge in the Southern Hemisphere', it was indeed very long, but not sure how long as there was no sign. So we will have to take their word for it.
Worth it for the beautiful view across the inlet.
We headed off again, (this time further north to Waitangi the famous 'Treaty Grounds') when the rains came. The van is small but even smaller when you are stuck in it in the rain. Uno and snacks came out as afternoon entertainment (something we are now very familiar with).
(You didn't mention the fact that it's really Dinosaur Uno, Sarah! - K)
The Treaty grounds are where the British signed a treaty with the Mauri in 1840 to agree to mutual terms of trade, protection and settlement etc. This was to set the scene for the future and, although there were some glitches, the treaty still shines through today as the Mauri & European Kiwis live together in relative harmony.
The Mauri meeting house.
Wonderfully decorated with woodcarvings representing all the local tribes.
Our guide next to the flag pole which holds the British flag the modern NZ flag and the old flag designed at the time of the treaty to identify the ships (based on the St George cross design).
We watched a show reenacting some of the Mauri songs, dances and traditions including the famous Haka.
The tongues out and eyes wide to challenge and intimidate - I joined in with the spirit of it!
Yet further up the coast to pitch up for New Year at Maitai Bay.
Starting with Uno & wine in our little home.
The kitchen in the back with bed just in front which can be converted to a small table (if we could be bothered moving it all around each day).
New Years Eve tea - Thai Green Curry (getting good on the camping stove).
Champagne on the beach at midnight, Kenny looking a little worse for wear.
As was I.
Heading even further north on New years Day we stopped on 90 mile beach (again I feel the Kiwis have exaggerated here as the road alongside is only 66 miles). Can be driven up but unfortunately we were forbidden in our hire van.
Happy New Year - Welcome 2011.
Right at the very top of North Island once again the beautiful beaches.
With the most northerly light house.
This most northern point has a little tree growing out of it - the Mauris believe that once you die your spirt heads north to fly off back to the home land, this little tree is the take off spot for those spirits.
Beaches and waves and water warm enough to swin in, we had such fun jumping about in the surf and as the showers on the site were cold (as are most on the the cheaper or remote campsites) it doubled up as a bath!
Heading back down we stopped off at a place that promised to show us so big rocks!
It was not wrong. There were some very big rocks!
All strewn down a valley floor where a Dutch guy had spent many years building walkways amongst them.
Some only just big enough for Kenny to squeeze through!
Some big enough for me to fit into!
A beautiful walk.
Kenny also found a big tree - preface for tomorrow.
At the top of the valley looking down at all those rocks!
Another campsite another gas top tea.
After the big rocks, we thought we ought to stop off at the big trees! These big Kauri trees are huge. This is the biggest, they grow for thousands of years and have diameters that are metres across.
A split tree.
They really are massive this one is only the 7th biggest in NZ.
The four sisters.
Time for one more tree before heading back to Auckland and down South.
Christmas and New Year were awesome here but very, very odd. Where at home we all group to togther indoors, out here they all hit the beach. We have been able to slow our pace down here too, after rushing around South America. Things are so much closer together, and anyway, I am not sure I have the stamina to be a 'night' camper and drive for 12 hours like the night busses.
So, time to relax, cook our own food, do our own washing and go do lots of 'tramping'.
All good in new Zealand apart from the Mozzies!
No comments:
Post a Comment