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Published: January 28th 2007
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We had a couple days in Auckland again, mainly so that I could sort out my flights. Not so straight forward as John's, I need to fly via LA to get to San Fran. We also enjoyed another lovely evening with Sinaed and Lucien.
We were on a campsite with the smallest pitches ever, no room to even put out our guide ropes and we were already overlapping into next doors terriotry. By the time we were set up, we were 6 inches from the next tent (a bit close eh?). However the facilities were excellent, with 6 washers & dryers, and at least 10 modern showers. (most campsites have one washer and dryer and 2 or 3 showers for the whole site). Two nights here was more than enough though.
Leaving Auckland once again, we are headed to Raglan, a famous surf spot where competitions are held in the summer. Manu Bay is said to have the longest left hand break in the world, the supposedly long uniform waves are created by the angle at which the ocean swell from the Tasman sea meets the coastline. IT WAS FLAT!! and there was a wind building as we set up
tent. We got little sleep that night as the gusts grew and blew across the open campsite that was more like a gypsy settlement. As everyone seemed to be packing up the next day (well it was Sunday) we decided to do the same, the winds were forcast to get up to gail force. Getting the tent down was a mission and one of the tent poles split as the tent tried to blow away. My mistake, I unpegged the inner tent too soon. OOPs!!
We headed off for another check on the swell, still nothing, and afterwards a visit to the Bridal Veil Falls, which is a spectaular 55 m Fall, into the pool below, where you can climb down to, and look up at the fast flowing white gush of water. We were advised when we got back to the van about the risks of leaving cars in remote areas such as this. I have been told this several times about various places, particularly in Northland.
We drove on to Kawhia (pronounced Kar-fee-a) the 50km drive took 1 & 1/2 hours, once again unsealed roads and maniac drivers coming the other way at mega speeds. Most
were carrying more than one trial bike and much later we came across the field where the trials day was taking place. Kawhia was a pretty place, but the day was fast disappearing by this time, so after one of those marvellous hot dogs (sausage in batter on a stick) and chips, we carried on to Otorohanga (which is fairly close to Waitomo). Decided not to tent tonight, got a cabin.
Otorohanga consists of one street of shops, and one pub, and we had to cross a railway line to get to it, a bit scarey on the way home in the dark, especailly when a train went thundering past.
We had a very interesting day at Waitomo Caves. Tubing in TumuTumu caves. Which I have to say was nothing like I expected. You imagine going along on an inner tube in a cave being quite sedatary. It was actually pretty hard core. We were taken to an 'Anderson Sheltler' in the middle of a cow field, where we changed into one of the wetsuits they had for us, booties and white wellie boots (gum boots as they are known here), and with hard hat on again we all
Kawhia
Very Tranquil trudged off across the fields to the entrance of the cave. Right at the start, as we squeezed down into the cave on a metal ladder, I knew it was going to be challenging. During our two hours underground we walked, climbed, swam, when it got pretty deep, and a little tubing. As we went along a narrow tunnel of water in our tubes looking up at the glow worms, (which in truth turn out to be, not worms at all, but maggots). They found the trips sell better to call them glow worms, rather than glow maggots. It was pretty amazing though, gliding along looking up at what could have been fairy lights. We all had to put mud on our faces to protect us from the 'Cave Monster', in camouflage style, and John got to be our human sacrifice, should the Monster appear. He was sent into the tunnel first, with a target drawn on his back. Half way through the cave we stopped in an amazinly large cavern, they have named the 'hard rock cafe', for a choccy fish and a Hot Lemon drink (which we agreed afterwards, was just like Lemsip), and the hardest part to come with narrow jagged rocks to climb over, although ardious, you had to admire the creations of the underworld, the shapes and forms you could make out of the formations carved by mother nature. For me, this was the most differcult as wellies and botties inside are now full of water and add much weight to already tired legs. Finally crawling out of the cave into daylight, over boulders and feeling both excited to be back in 'the real world' and disappointed that the experience was over.
The cave formations were spectacular, and it was surreal to be underground, with no other sound but us, my favourite bit was gliding along in a line on our tubes, John loved every minute of it, he couldn't decide which he liked best. As we walked back across the fields to our clothes and belongings, in the Anderson shelter and a shower, we were shown exactly what route we had taken underground, approx 900m.
On our way to get some much needed food, we stopped off at the Bunny shearing place and were just in time to see another Angora Bunny being sheared. You get to stoke it afterwards, and they are soooo very soft.
Next day, still feeling knackered after yesterday's events, we made our way back to Raglan for a second chance at the surf. There was a little swell and John got in and enjoyed the experience of surfing at Raglan, of course it could have been better, just one of those things, you can't do much about the weather or the swells.
After stopping the night in the town, which has little to offer other than surfing and fishing, we carried on with our journey, across to Lake Taupo.
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