Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter - 1 (english)

Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter – 1

Haere mai!

Finally - like I promised - News from the other side of the world. Took me a while but there was a LOT to do ;)

First of all: I´m doing great! I´m lucky with the weather (it didn´t rain too much so far) and as well the temperatures are ok. Most of the time between 16 and 20 degrees C. I feel really comfy here!

So, where shall I begin... actually just 3 weeks passed by but it seems I´m here for ages. Time is flying but at the same time everything goes slower. I just start with the beginning ;)

Day 1 – 3 / AUCKLAND

Had the nicest wether on my first day in Auckland - just mixed up my arrival time! I thought I would departure at 11pm but it was 11am instead :) 

I was a little bit disappointed by Auckland. Most of all from the Tourists. They were in a quite bad mood and not open minded at all. That wasn´t only me noticing. I guess it´s because most of the people leaving as it is end of Summer. But that´s why I couldn´t find a proper travel mate that easy and decided to not buy/rent a car now - I´m not in the mood for driving yet. So I booked a pass of one of those Tourist busses to just hop on and see what´s coming.

Day 4 / AUCKLAND >> PAIHIA

Take off to the Northland - Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Auckland said goodbye with rain and that´s why we already had to skip our 1. Activity (Glassboat cruise with snorkeling in Goat Island). Instead of that we visited a re-build Maori village. As it was a Monday not all "actors and actress" were available but it was quite interesting to see how they lived anyway.

2 hours later I already saw my first Kiwi (the Animal) - Sparky. He lost one leg in an accident and is not able to live out in the wild anymore. Therefore he became a famous ambassador at schools and kindergardens ;)

After arriving Paihia we did a little walk to a lookout and the beach (yes, I walked... and it should not be the last walk).

Day 5 / PAIHIA >> CAPE REINGA

Early on the next day (get up at 6, Bus supposed to leave at 7, left at 7:45 - SMILE) we drove up north and along the Ninety Mile Beach. It was really great till we got stuck. Lucky us that 2 other busses were around to help us. But the funniest thing were the tourists: instead of taking pictures of the "hole in the rock" or the stunning wide beach they took pictures of our bus! And as we finally managed to move the bus out... they posed beside the hole and took even more pictures! - priceless!

At the end of the beach were some dunes and we did Sandboarding - that was FUN!!!

Just after another short drive we arrived at Cape Reinga. Most spiritual point for the Maori and where Tasmansea and South Pacific meet. Here it really does feel like the end of the world! BEAUTIFUL!

We ended the day in Mangonui ("big shark") with the best fish ´n´chips (or should I say Fush ´n´chups?) I had so far... and with a cool beer at the beach, together with 2 Kiwis who were absolutely fascinated by "The Scorpions" :D

  

Day 6 / RUSSELL

After I recognised that the bus is more for people who rush through NZL in 4-6 weeks I just extended my stay in Paihia for 2 more days. Weather forecast was supposed to be good and so we did a nice day trip with the ferry to Russell. Nothing spectacular but really nice to chill and have a coffee.

Day 7 / PAIHIA (SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS)

The next big Activity was just about to start: swimming with dolphins. At 9am we started our 4 hour boat trip and 1 hour later the dolphin search began. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day but at least it didn´t rain. After 1,5 hours we finally found a group of bottle nose dolphins and followed them about 30 minutes. Usually after that amount of time you know if you are allowed to swim with them as there are some restrictions (baby dolphins, when they feed or when they are travelling). We already got our instructions and were ready to jump into the water as it seems they weren´t in the mood to swim with us - unfortunately :( What a pity but I definitely will try that again - and it was nice to see them anyway ;)

In the afternoon we headed back to Auckland.

Day 8 / WAIKEKE ISLAND (Auckland)

Blue sky - Sunshine: the perfect day for Waiheke Island! I was laying on the beach, eating fantastic food and had a great coast walk - again. Recommended!

Day 9 / AUCKLAND >> HAHEI (Coromandel Peninsula)

In the early afternoon we touched down in Hahei and I had another walk along the coast to Cathedral Cove. It was awesome and I can hardly decide what I like most... too many stunning places! Even the bus drive is always beautiful!

Later on we had BBQ and at 10pm we drove to Hot water beach (only possible at low tide). With flashlights and spades we made our way to the natural hot pools next to the beach. After burning my ass it was amazing to sit in the warm water watching an amazing clear sky, spotted with stars around the milky way - DAMN GOOD!

Actually I wanted to stay longer but the hostel wasn´t the nicest - and lucky me - the next day all was flooded and the bus couldn´t go there anymore.

Day 10 / HAHEI >> RAGLAN

Our next stop for coffee and snacks was in Paeroa, a little village which is famous for L&P - New Zealands "famous around the world" lemonade. Interesting taste... but not my favourite.

Next quick stopp at Bride Veil Falls - far too short. That´s the thing with this bus companies... they have to drop you off at a certain time at the next hostel and in this case they wanted to squeeze in a surf course. The waterfalls would have been just perfect for lunch - but then next time ;)

Finally we reached Raglan, New Zealands best surf spot (with the famous Manu Bay) and a nice little village. We were supposed to stay in a lodge right in the bush but I decided to stay in the village for longer.

Day 11 – 13 / RAGLAN

Unfortunately the weather wasn´t that good in Raglan but there were heaps of other things to do... setting up my IRD Number, a bank account and taking part in a bone carving course! That was great especially as no one else wanted to join so I had the artist on my own :)

The second and third day I went surfing which was FANTASTIC! Sunset surf in front of the best scenery ever and sufing with rain. Only the green waves were far too high for us beginners - but who cares - it was FUN!

Day 14 / RAGLAN >> WAITOMO >> MAKETU

After a 5 hour stop over in Waitomo I had bad luck again with my 2. Activity: Black Water Rafting. The caves were flooded so I had the possibility to do a shorter track with another company - which I did. It was good. Saw glowworms the first time in my life and as well this kind of cave was new to me. After 2,5 h I came out of the cave: wet allover with a bruise on my arm :)
Late afternoon we arrived in Maketu at "Uncle Boy´s" marea where we were supposed to spend a traditional Maori night. We got a big buffet and after that the girls got taught the "poi" (traditional maori dance) while the men got taught the "Haka". I was jelous as I REALLY want to learn the Haka - well, there is youtube ;) 

A Tattoo artist and friend of Uncle Boy was there as well to design Maori-tattoos or just artworks for the one who wanted to have one. No, I didn´t do a tattoo yet but I thought of it as a great option to get a personal piece of artwork back home so we had a 1,5 hour talk about my life and what is important to me. I´m simply inspired ;)

Day 15 / MAKETU >> ROTORUA >> TAUPO

Just after leaving Maketu it started smelling strange... Rotorua! Actually I planned a mud-bath in the morning but declined it on short notice as we would have a bath later anyway. There was not much to see in Rotorua either you would have paid a lot to see one of the geysirs... but we had too less time. So I had a coffee at the lake. And what shall I say - best things in life are FREE!!! I have surprisingly seen black swans for the first time in my life :)

You might say - ok, why does she get so excited about black swans??? - anyway - I loved them!

On the way to Taupo we jumped into some natural hot water pools and checked out a boiling mud pool.

Just before we headed into the city Taupo we dropped off the skydivers at the Limousine (NO, I didn´t jump - with being that lucky at my activities at the moment the parachute probably wouldn´t open up :)). I had a nice run at the lake instead. I want a volcano lake at home as well - like a huge hot water bottle! You just put your feet a little underneath the stones and it´s a fantastic feet warmer :)

Day 16 / TAUPO >> BLUE DUCK LODGE

PUH - the drive to the blue duck lodge somewhere nowhere was crazy. As someone told us later our bus driver (who became quite quiet) took the wrong way there and we had to drive 2 hours along an curvy edge within the bush - with a big bus! I was sitting on the edge - of course :D 

There we had the "Eco Warrior House" on our own. 6 people right in the bush. No Internet, no telephone and a lot of animals around us. Birds, Sheeps, Cows, Dogs, Horses, Alpakas and Rabbits (what I have seen). And the next walk was coming up... along the Waikato River (longest river of NZL) to some waterfalls. Ok. After 1 hour it started raining and after 3 hours we were completely wet. On the way back a Jeep from the bush safari luckily picked us up which was cool - to stand on the back of a Jeep, almost surfing ;) Woohoo! The waterfalls we missed... was just to slippery!

Day 17 / BLUE DUCK LODGE >> TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

WTF... 7am we headed further to the National park to do the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The weather was awful but as most of the people on the bus were under time pressure we tried to. But no way. It rained to badly and if you can´t see anything it is not worth it anyway. Pity for the others... I just extended 2 more nights :D

Day 18 – Day 20 / TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

The next day was better! Blue sky and just a few clouds on the sky. At half past 8 we were dropped of at the starting point and should be picked up 8 hours later on the other side. My longest walk so far. About 20km... I keep it short: I was speechless! To be that close to a volcano (and even Mount doom from the lord of the rings) - just stunning!!!

Highly excited and not able to move anymore we just watched all 3 parts of "The lord of the rings" the next day :)

Day 21 – Day 23 / WELLINGTON

The City welcomed us how it should be: cold, windy and cloudy. But after the national park everyone was up for internet, supermarket etc. anyway. I catched up with Philip and saw my first Karate lesson in the Dojo - wow! Have never seen something like that before.

The next days were just "not Welly like": Sun, ALMOST no wind and blue sky. So we did some Shopping in the city, had a nice dinner and went out for drinks and dancing. Really nice city and I have to say: more charming than Auckland (in my opinion).

Day 24 / WELLINGTON >> PICTON >> BLENHEIM

With the 6:30pm ferry I hopped to the South Island on Saturday. Unfortunately we couldn´t see the Sounds anymore because it was dark already - but my drive back will definitely be during the day. In Picton I got picked up from Jenny and we drove to Blenheim. And here I will stay for now - in a quiet little city with vineyards bordered by beige hills and the ozean :)

So... that was the quick report what happened in the first month - it was a lot! But I managed quite a long way already. More News will follow... hope you had fun reading through :)

Kia ora - Barbara

P.S.: Pls forward to whom I may have forgotton - Sweet as!