Blogs from Hahei, Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

We left Hamilton early to drive the Cormandel. It was some pretty crazy thin roads with logging trucks ripping down them. Right along the side of the ocean. One small wrong turn and over you would go. We drove all the way thru and stayed in Hahei the night. It is just down from Hotwater beach. Good thing we went there because I was still burnt from being in Raglan and the water was so hot I didn't get more then my feet in.It was also crowded so we didn't try to stay for long. It poured with rain just as we were halfway down the beach. You forgot to mention that that part of New Zealand gets the most rain out of any part Mom!!... read more

Shortly after we get up we move to the family cottage. It is absolutely huge compared to what we have had with the kids each getting their own room. Joshua makes friends with a traveling Swiss boy and after playing for some hours they find a baby hedgehog which they adopt as their own, trying to find it the best food. These things seem to have no fear. Joshua is worried about it being on the lawn, and moves it to the forest but it comes right back onto the lawn again. It truly seems undisturbed by all the attention that it generates. After lunch we pack and do an hour hike to a place called Cathedral cove. The hike takes us along the beach (just a hundred metres from our cottage on the other side ... read more

I spoke with a couple in the hostel yesterday who are also selling their car. The stress of trying to sell a vehicle on a tight time line is horrible. In their case, they brought their car in to the backpacker's car market a few days after us and they have a flight to Australia on Saturday. With all that has happened, I fully expect to get a call from the buyer telling me that he has backed out. Fortunately, no such call comes and we arrive at the car market about 15 minutes early. The buyer is already there and the van is across the street at the garage. My heart sinks as I imagine that there might be something wrong with the van. Fortunately, it turns out it is only there to create some ... read more

...and we're on the road! Nachdem ihr nun wieder einige Tage nichts von uns gehoert habt, gibt es nun einen Rueckblick auf unsere letzten Tage. Damit bei unsere Reise auch ja nichts schief gehen kann, warf ein Mechanikerkumpel von Stuart noch einen Blick auf unseren Van. Dave war gleich hin und weg, bestaetigte, dass der Motor liefe wie ne Eins und versicherte uns, dass wir mit ihr ein Schnaeppchen gemacht haetten, das uns um beide Inseln braechte. Wir sollten nur regelmaessig nach Oel und Wasser sehen. Er beanstandete noch den Oeldeckel, der nur eine zusammengeferchte Mischung aus Deckel und Papier war. Fuer dieses Unternehmen wurden wir von Shop zu Shop geschickt, bis wir bei einem Schrotthaendler ankamen, der einen Deckel fuer uns hatte der zumindest erst einmal passte. Folgende Details koennen wir nun preisgeben: - ... read more

Around half way through the month on the North Island I jumped back on the Stray bus. I'd already paid for the ticket and it allowed me to do the Tongariro crossing. Amy jumped on too, and we met up with Wendy which was cool as it had been a good while since we'd seen each other, let alone travelled together. For some reason, when I publish this blog is resets all the photo labels and order so apologies for things that do not match. Auckland to Hahei Shortly after jumping aboard the substantially smaller bus we went up to the volcanic crater that overlooks the city. Such a dramatic contrast to the rest of the views in NZ. Big city below, dominated by the sky tower and surrounding sea. Brief stop in Thames for food/beer ... read more