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The Kiwi Experience bus adventure was an experience I’ll never forget. I met friends from around the globe that I hope to keep forever. It was easy and relaxing and cheap and gave me some much needed time to work on Kite Soldiers. But, after almost a month on those buses, hopping on and off, only stopping at set-destinations and lugging my heavy kite gear through the last week of it, I was so ready for some freedom! A rental car dropped off to me in Auckland was just the freedom I craved. It was an amazing feeling to just throw my gear in the trunk and go. Stop when I want, where I want and not lug bags from place to place... yes!
First stop, Orewa, a small coastal town about an hour north of Auckland and rumored to have kite beaches. After searching for the right wind direction in a few spots in the area, I decided to give up on chasing the wind for the day and do some sightseeing instead. After checking into a small home-style hostel, I set off for Shakespeare Regional Park, a beautiful area recommended to me by a friend in Australia that’s on
a peninsula not far away. While driving over a skinny piece of land that lead to the park, I could see bright blue water and beaches on both sides and scenic (supposed South African) communities. It was a pretty cloudy day, but I was thankful for no rain. Upon arriving, I was immediately greeted by tons of cute sheep and cows in large green rolling pastures that filled the park in every direction. I parked the car and journeyed on a trail that wrapped around the peninsula along the beach. There were beautiful peacocks all around just going about their days and heaps of families having picnics. As I rounded the first corner, low and behold... what is that?! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no... it’s a kite!! Not just any kite, a large kite, my kind of kite, with a kiter attached. Hooray! I found the most unexpected beach with the right wind direction! Lucky me! After talking to the kiter’s dad on the beach and seeing that the wind was just picking up, I ran for my kite gear and quickly set up. A few other kiters showed up in the meantime and we all kited for
Weeeeeeeeeee eeee eeee
Sandboarding in Cape Reinga about two hours. It was perfect! Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Plus, as I put away my gear, the clouds cleared and left only the sun and blue skies in their place. I decided to take a short version of the hike and climb to the highest point of the peninsula to catch 360 degree panoramic views of some of the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen. Bright blue surrounded by views, dramatic cliff edges, green rolling hills looking like a perfect golf course, an island with a volcano in one direction and Auckland city in the other, large pastures of sheep lazying around and the best of it, I could see two kiters still riding where I just kited in the distance. I roamed among the sheep and snapped a million photos (of course). I can still see them in my mind 😊. It was exactly what I remembered New Zealand to being like after visiting for a week in 1994. What a day & its not over... I headed back to Orewa and ate Thai on the beach while the sun set, then went to some nearby thermal hot pools for some
Shakespear National Park
This is where I stumbled upon a kite!
(stock photo) relaxation and muscle therapy. I love freedom 😊
The next day, I continued on my freedom journey and drove a little more north to Goat Island Marine Reserve where crystal clear water awaited me and loads of colorful fish greeted my feet the second I entered the chilly water. I only had about an hour there, but it was well worth the detour during a drive north to Paihia (aka The Bay of Islands). I arrived in Paihia just in time to board the overnight cruise I signed up for the night before. Luckily two very sweet new friends of mine (Hailey & Claire from Manchester, England) provided me with loads of pix from this so you get to see the beauty and action-packed 24 hours we encountered. The boat fittingly name “The Rock” was refit a few years back from an old small car ferry. A huge wood bar filled most of the main deck, bunk rooms and suites occupied the top floor and the crew were nothing short of amazing as we cruised around the beautiful Bay of Islands (144 to be exact). Some of the many activities included plastic duck shooting, fishing for snapper, a steak bbq
Two oceans collide!
Tasman on the left & Pacific on the right dinner, snorkeling, hiking and exploring islands that are only accessible by boat. My favorite activity was night kayaking. The water is so clear and perfect in New Zealand that as you brush your paddles along with water, fosferescents, glow like sparkle confetti on new years eve. A full moon glimmered overhead and the stars had me constantly looking up in total awe. It was a moment to never forget.
The next day, Hailey, Claire and I took a one-day road trip (7 hours RT in all) to Cape Reinga, the most northern point to visit in New Zealand and the meeting place of two oceans... the Tasman Sea and The Pacific. It’s a very spiritual place of upmost importance to the Maori people. Legend has it the two seas represent male and female and the creation of life. As you stand at the point with a cute lighthouse looming overhead, you can easily see the different colored oceans colliding. The Tasman is more green and the Pacific more blue... the sight had me speechless, it was so beautiful.
On the way back, we hit up some giant sand dunes for exciting sandboarding. I’ve never had so much sand stuck to
More Shakespear...
Also a stock photo, but very similar to what I experienced for two glorious hours! me in places I didn’t know sand could go including my teeth and ears but it was so much fun zooming down very steep hills as your mates cheered you on. A beautiful drive back and dinner hosted by Claire and Hailey topped off a wonderful day. (unfortunately this was the night I lost my camera, so I’ll spare ya the meltdown I had over the next day or so.. no fun, but life goes on. Se la vi...)
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