New Zealand, North Island

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December 2nd 2007

Published: December 8th 2007

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Insearchofsun

Whangarei Falls

Eventually we touched down in Auckland airport (after a 5 our delay in Santiago) and we picked up our camper van from Jucy rentals. We didn't know what to think of our new home but we've become quite attached to it over the past few weeks and we wouldn't swap it for a room in a 5 star hotel!

Anyway after meeting up with Carol's parents in Auckland we headed north. We stopped in Whangarei (half way between Auckland and the Bay of Islands) for the night and then visited the waterfall the following day before continuing north. Driving in convoy with Pat and Carmel wasn't exactly the easiest thing in the world because they kept taking the "scenic route".

We eventually made it to Kaitaia where we booked a tour to Cape Reinga and 90 mile beach for the following day. The tour was great fun thanks to our Maori bus driver who if he wasn't cracking jokes was singing some Maori tunes.

That evening we headed south to Paihaia where we booked a Dolphin tour. We hoped to get the opportunity to swim with them but the silly buggers brought their kids along. Ah well it

Cape Reinga

was great experience just seeing them.

After the tour we headed back to Auckland for the weekend. We met up with some New Zealand friends of ours from the Inca Trail who showed us around and hosted a great BBQ. Thanks for the hospitality guys.

We then headed for Coromandel on the east coast where we stopped off at some great beaches. Cathedral cove was definitely the highlight. That night we stayed in Mount Maunganui before climbing it the following morning.

It was then off to Rotorua where we met up with Pat and Carmel again who had mysteriously disappeared during our time in Auckland!! We went to see some kiwi's in Rainbow Springs park and then headed next door to the Sky Centre where we tried our hand at the luge and did a sky swing. I pulled the short straw and had to go up the sky swing with Carmel whose commentary and absolute fear was hillarious, should have bought the video! That night we headed for the Polynesian Spa, for some rest and relaxation. (It was bloody stinkin though!) The next day Pat and Carmel left to go to the South Island while we

Cape Reinga

Mother and daughter

rafted down the Kaituna river which has a 7 metre waterfall. It was great fun but it probably wasn't as good as the rafting in Peru.

From Rotorua to Waitomo, where we explored the caves and did some blackwater rafting. The glowworms and the cave tour were cool.

We then headed Tongariro National Park were we did the infamous Tongariro Crossing. It was an 18.5 KM trek and the scenery was amazing - Lord of the Rings territory. After finishing that afternoon we went to Wellington a little stiff and sore to say the least!

Wellington itself is a small enough City. Had Beckham and LA Galaxy not been in town to play Wellington Phoenix there probably wouldn't have been much to hold our attention (apart from the tons of shoe shops which kept Carol busy for a while).

We headed for the South Island a few days later .....

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