Advertisement
C.O.W. Crew
Compound on Wheels,
Ohope, New Zealand In mid-May, we were fortunate to have three very close friends from California, Jackie, Shekels and Eryn, join us for some New Zealand adventure…Our chosen mode of transportation was a Winnebago/campervan that we aptly nicknamed the C.O.W. (Compound On Wheels). To bystanders, any confusion about just how important the C.O.W. was to our ultimate adventure could quickly be convinced by the crew’s (and Cricket’s!) matching C.O.W. t-shirts (thank you Shekels!), our hand-sewn C.O.W. banner (compliments of Shekels!), our colorful C.O.W. poster, and our endless banter about the C.O.W., the pros & cons of the C.O.W., suggestions for improving the C.O.W., the so-called “house-rules” of the C.O.W., etc.
As most of you know, New Zealand is a country known for its outdoor adventure - - we tried our best over two weeks to support this theory - - tubing in caves, biking up hills, zorbing in spheres, hiking through snow, you name it - - we probably tried it.
Our journey began in Auckland. After registering and picking up the C.O.W. (which was about as fast as getting through the lunch time rush at the DMV!), we headed off - heading north stopping
Sailing in the Islands
Bay of Islands, New Zealand en route at wineries in Matakana Coast area, simply enjoying beautiful weather and wine. After a restful night at the camping holiday park (a first, one among many in New Zealand, for Eryn!) we ventured further north to the Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is made up of over 150+ islands. As expected, it’s a pretty, tropical area with scenic bays, beaches & coastline which lends itself to endless water activities. We opted for a cruise of the islands (one of the many advantages of traveling off season was that we were on a 250 person boat with only 10 others!). Although it had rained nonstop for weeks before the crew’s arrival, we were being blessed with great weather. They must have brought the sunshine from California! Our cruise included visits to Hole in the Rock (unique rock formation), Cape Brett Lighthouse, deserted island beaches, and historic Russell. Russell used to be called the “Hell-hole of the Pacific” because of its reputation of debauchery and lawlessness - - now “Romantic Russell” as it’s called is a quaint, charming little town. During part of the cruise, we were lucky enough to be accompanied by playful bottlenose dolphins and a
Gearing up for Waitomo Caves
One of many "outfits" the C.O.W. crew wore on their adventure,
Waitomo, New Zealand myriad of rainbows over the water. While in the Bay of Islands, we toured the Waitangi Treaty Reserve (the sight of the treaty signing between Maori chiefs and Britain) where we discovered Maori history and culture and enjoyed beautiful Maori carvings including a Maori waka (canoe). The north is also home to an artsy town, Kerikeri, where we toured galleries and studios along their arts and crafts trail (our favorite being a kaleidoscope studio with an eclectic woman as proprietor). Kerikeri is also home to a handful of wineries and cheese shops. One of the wineries, Cottle Hill Winery, was actually started by a couple from San Diego who sailed to New Zealand and never left! We bought multiple bottles of wine there as a gesture and reminder to always follow your dreams. Next, our travels took us to the west coast of the North Island, Opononi Beach. In Opononi Beach we had a lesson that New Zealanders truly are optimists. The woman at the holiday park had us park (more like “wedge in”) our huge C.O.W. in a space about one foot from an even bigger campervan (the only other RV at the park). She told us “it was
Opononi Beach Lookout
North Island, New Zealand in case we have ten other RVs come in tonight we’ll have room for them.” Since May is their slowest month…surprise! surprise! We woke up and there were still only the two of us. One highlight of the Opononi Beach spot was their resident mini goats that absolutely loved people (and the leaves we brought for them to eat!). The following day we enjoyed Eryn’s amazing Nutella crepes, which gave us the much needed energy for our day of hiking at Waipoua Kauri Forest. Waipoua is a forest preserve of the remnants of the once extensive northern Kauri trees; these are massive trees - some dating back 2000 years. That night, Jason (driver #1) had a treacherous seven hour drive (think PCH near Big Sur) to Raglan for the night. Raglan is one of NZ’s famous surf spots boasting Whale Bay, Ngarunui Beach, and Manu Bay, the longest left hand break in the world. As they say, “When in Rome…do as the Romans” so we surfed and boogey boarded in Raglan all day before heading on to Waitomo. En route to Waitomo we stopped to see the nocturnal national bird, the kiwi. Also Eryn, hesitantly, got to try her hand
Surf's Up in Raglan!
Ngarunui Beach in New Zealand at feeding ducks!
Our next few days would have us wearing special clothing gear - - thick wetsuits and helmets with headlamps for Waitomo Caves, glacier hiking gear for Tongariro National Park, waders for fly fishing. One of the things we loved about the trip was the endless wacky “outfits” we got to sport for our various activities. Our first stop - the caves! Over 300 caves are mapped at Waitomo. After donning our cold water gear, traveling down into a cave, getting prepped on all the crazy things that can “visit” you in the cave like eels, giant spiders and the NZ “weta” (a giant cricket-like insect that we were advised, should it leap on our face, to gently remove slowly leg by leg), we finally inner tubed through the caves gazing at stalactites, stalagmites and constellations of glow worms. Glow worms are larvae with luminescent properties. They weave sticky threads and trap unsuspecting insects attracted by their light. Beware - as you gaze up you may be, unwittingly, approaching a tumbling waterfall!
This time of year, cold weather hiking gear is needed at Tongariro National Park. We had to purchase opossum/wool mix (yes, opossum!) gloves for warmth. Tongariro
Mt. Ngauruhoe
Tongariro National Park, New Zealand is a beautiful national park with multiple volcanic peaks, lakes & valleys (Tongariro played the role of “Mordor” in Lord of the Rings). Our ten-mile tramp, Whakapapa Valley, was a day of gorgeous vistas, canopies of ferns, glacial peaks, and rushing rivers. Unfortunately, Jason fell into one of those rivers while trying to help the rest of us across!!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkk!! After Jason scrambled out of the freezing cold water, his only concern was where Cwickie was and if she had fallen out of the backpack! (Now, that’s a nice guy!). Our favorite gear was that for fly fishing…waders. In fact, Shekels has since been offered a lucrative gig as a Telletubby (hehe). Lake Taupo and the surrounding rivers are world famous for trout. We had a ball trying our hand at the lasso-throwing movement of fly fishing with two great guides. Also in Lake Taupo, we enjoyed wine tasting (we leave no winery stone unturned! hehe), visits to the Huka Waterfalls and honey tasting at the extravagant Honey Hive Center. You know you have arrived in Rotorua, our next stop, not by your sense of sight but by your sense of smell. Rotorua is nicknamed “Sulphur City” because of its
Fly fishing for trout
Lake Taupo, New Zealand energetic thermal activity of hot springs, mud pools, geysers, and its distinctive sulphuric, eggy smell. We explored some of this geothermal activity on a walk at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland including such sights as Inferno Crater and Devil’s Bath. One of our absolute favorite activities in NZ was zorbing (rolling down a hill in an inflatable, sphere filled with water - some describe it as being a sock in a washing machine!). It was anything but ordinary. Before we departed Rotorua, we attended a Maori concert & hangi (Maori cultural dinner presentation) to learn more about the native Maori people. Fortunately, we had the time and were able to spend a few days around Ohope & Whakatane, showing the crew our NZ stomping grounds. We took a day trip to White Island, NZ’s most active volcano, located 30 miles off the coast of Whakatane. We knew it was going to be a great activity when we had to don gas masks and a hard hat for the tour (yet another “gear” shot for our photo album!). We also showed the crew some local, scenic spots then followed up by munching on Ohope’s favorite local fare, fish n’ chips.
The last stop
Toxic waste dump?! No...an active volcano!!
Tour of White Island (New Zealand's most active marine volcano) on our C.O.W. journey was to Napier/Hawke’s Bay. When much of the city of Napier was destroyed in an earthquake & fire in 1931, the city was rebuilt in the Art Deco style. We enjoyed a two-hour, guided Art Deco walk around town. No trip to Hawke’s Bay, known for its chardonnays, merlots & cabernets, is complete without some wine tasting. We pedaled our way around the Havelock North area tasting wines and cheeses. The recommended scenic “shortcut” was indeed quite scenic (the leaves are beautiful, autumn colors) but not so short (or flat!). I have a tradition of celebrating Fridays with Champagne…so whether home or on the road, we had to carry on the tradition and celebrate “Champagne Friday” (it’s a tough job but we had to do it! hehe)
As the C.O.W. crew drove off leaving Ohope to Auckland - - I was so sad to see my good friends leaving but incredibly thankful that I was able to share such an incredible country with such incredible friends! Thank you for all the memories!
Some things we learned: You truly can live off cheese, salami, crackers, chocolate & wine for extended periods of time 😊 😊
Anything & everything (yes, everything!) needs to be secured while driving a C.O.W. - - otherwise it will fly through the air - - targeting your head as its end location.
NZ does not have proper “ketchup” nor “nachos” (when was honey dijonnaise or sweet chili sauce ever an appropriate topping for nachos?!) and these should be avoided at all cost.
Just because it is possible to make a chutney consisting of every potential combination of bizarre ingredients does not mean that it is acceptable.
The C.O.W. is a heavy vehicle - - if you drive over someone’s wet lawn, you will sink several inches and tear up their lawn (aka “lawn job”).
Adventures in NZ frequently rate high on both scales of “wonder” and “excitement.”
Tables are interchangeable with beds.
“Dump Stations” are not for the fainthearted—generally this chore is best reserved for the male gender, and requires appropriate clothing such as gloves, or in some cases, simply a plastic Target bag.
All’s fair in love and UNO, the ultimate “Battle of Wits.”
Advertisement
Tot: 0.052s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 8; qc: 19; dbt: 0.0201s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
chris stein
non-member comment
not enough herb
Dear Shekels and Erin and friends, This looks like a real great vacation, I am not sure there was enough drinking for the irish, and how was the local herb? Y'all look like you belong in sheep country....... Chris Stein a.ka. Shekels personal assistant( anesthetist)