Sun, Rain, Eggs, Rain, Art Deco and Sun!!

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February 26th 2008

Published: March 5th 2008

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Steve And Pea

Rodders and Pea

Rodders trembles with Pauline at the wheel!

At last we are getting some sunshine again! After a week of some rather dubious weather it is back on track... but only just!

After our successful carvings we headed back up north on the Coromandel Peninsula and went right up to the tip staying in a really nice and extremely remote campsite in Port Jackson. Our site was right on the beach and as the weather was being kind it was beautiful. The following day we drove the extra 3km to the end of the road to a place called Fletchers Bay. From here we walked round the end of the peninsula to Stoney Bay which is a 3 hour walk. After our Torres Del Paines training in Chile, this was a breeze - although the selection of large buzzing insects didn't help things! After our walk we were back in Rodders and heading south. Pauline had read about a famous fish and chip place that had to be visited in Whitianga, and, although the fish and chips were good they wern't quite UK standard. Still Pauline has taken it upon herself to try as many as possible, just in case they are as good as home!

Rotarua

Port Jackson from afar

was next on our hit list as this is an active geothermal area of New Zealand, which basically means it stinks of rotten eggs. Not put off we had a stroll around the lake (not terribly inspiring) and Pauline booked herself in for a haircut - the first in 5 months (exciting stuff apparently?). I had spotted the golf course and with Pauline being absent for a few hours the following day i was all lined up to get out on the course. The day started perfectly with a fry up from a cafe called Fat Dogs but then the rain moved in and dashed my hopes of golf... dissapointing. In the evening we went out to a Mauri cultural show which was really good. There is a meal cooked in the traditional Mauri 'Hangi' which is basically an oven in the ground. This was really tastey. Before this we had a show which is (although slightly touristy) made up of traditional dances and songs and was a good laugh. We followed this by a walk through a nature park trying to spot the illusive kiwi birds. But, alas, we only saw a backside and a beak... still, maybe we'll

Steve and guy ropes

The wind was strong, but Steve knew that just 1 more guy rope would hold it... just one more!!

catch a whole 1 soon!

The East Cape in New Zealand is supposed to be basking in sunshine for the majority of the year but as we rolled up it was p*%%&#g down - excellent. The views of the coast line are stunning, apparently, and the views stretch right across to White Island where you can catch the active volcano smoking away. This all sounded lovely but our views of the coast line were stunted by sheeting rain and grey cloud. In fact we could barely see further than the edge of the road! So we flew down the east coast and ended up in Napier which is really quite cool (yes even in the rain!). It was demolished by an earthquake in 1931 and then rebuilt in the Art Deco haze that followed. This means that all the buildings are brightly coloured and a real European 30's tribute. There is even a Mc Deco Mc Donalds which gives Mc Donalds an art deco twist! Napier was definitely the highlight of our east coast, and after this we headed to Taupo.

That brings me up to today, arriving in Taupo (centre of the north island) just as the

A stroll on the beach

The beach at Port Jackson was deserted and well deserved of a stroll

sun rolled in. The YHA place we are staying is not the best, in fact a car park would be a better description of it but nevermind as its sunny! Paulines nerves have now been reduced to a jibbering wreck as all that awaits us know is a sky dive which we have booked for tomorrow morning!

12,000ft out of a plane at 8 in the morning... its gonna be fun, fun, fun! Hopefully we'll be back to tell you all about it soon... hopefully!

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