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Published: August 20th 2009
So having picked up my Starlet and Steve we headed north on the N1 towards the Bay of Islands on the North East coast.
Thankfully they drive on the left hand side of the road so it was relatively easy for me however having spent 6 1/2 months of this year in right hand drive countries I have had to occasionally do a double check to make sure I am on the correct side of the road (I have been before anyone starts to worry!).
The Starlet reminds me of my very first car a Vauxhall Corsa that by the end of its life with me earned the nickname “Shed on Wheels”. The Starlet is very different from my 1.9 GT Tdi Golf as it is only a 1.3 engine and only has 4 gears not the 6 I am used to. That said she is proving very economical I just have to hope she can cope with the Southern Alps....
On our way out of Auckland the heavens opened and it continued on and off all day although it was more on than off. Steve and I occasionally jumped out of the car to take photos however
the majority of the time was spent looking grimly of the car window. We took the scenic coastal route to Pahia which I am sure on a nice sunny day would prove beautiful and very busy however the seas were raging, the clouds grey and we were the only people to be seen!
A quick supermarket stop and we found ourselves at Whangarei Falls that my Lonely Planet guide described as the Paris Hilton of waterfalls not too pretty but most photographed. To be fair this description to me seems a little harsh and both Steve and I were impressed with it and bearing in mind we have both been to Iguassu it takes a lot to impress us when it comes to waterfalls! Also for the 30 minutes we were walking around the park the rain held off so that cheered us up a little,
We soon arrived in Pahia and settled into our hostel for the night and got chatting to a few others staying there.....
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Bartoni
Sharon Barton
You replaced me pretty quickly!
Chica, glad you are having such a good time and being sooo brave in not pinning for me....looks like Steve is a much better model as a travel buddie - for a start he is male!! Take care you and look out for the Ls and Is and Perkins :)