Kiwi hunters

Success! :-) we went out again looking for kiwi in the forest, and Stuart saw two kiwi! Unfortunately though I wasn't with him, the torch had ran out of batteries so he went back to the van to get more and saw them right next to the path. I couldn't believe I'd missed them so we stayed another night and went on the hunt again. We could hear them, the really loud screaming noise, and it seemed so close. Just as we gave up and were heading back to the van we saw two of them beside the path. One looked like it was about to walk out infront of us. They are really bizarre birds with their long beaks. It wasn't too fussed by our torch, just gave a grunting noise then wandered back into the bush. I was so chuffed. I can't believe we have seen wild kiwi :-) totally worth the late nights creeping through the forest!

Kauri Coast

We are now out again on the West coast of Northland. On driving to the Kauri coast we passed through a beautiful wee place called Hokianga Harbour. The massive sand dunes can be seen for km after km along the harbour shore. While out on a little jetty we noticed a holiday resort right on the beach....very fancy. It was a bit windy while there so we didn't spend any time at the beach, but still pretty to look at.

The reason we are out on this coast is to visit the massive Kauri forest. It has the largest living Kauri trees in the world. I knew they were going to be big......but when we got there I was not prepared for just how MASSIVE they were.
This is Tane Mahuta, named for the Maori Forest God. It stands at 51m and has a 13.8m girth. They say he is nearly 2000 years old. This is the largest living Kauri in the world.

Then there is Te Matua Ngahere, meaning the Father of the Forest. He is 30m shorter than Tane Mahuta but has a girth of 16.4m. He is the widest living Kauri. And I couldn't resist just giving him a hug! lol

In the forest there are also the Four Sisters. Four tall Kauri that has fused to each other at the base.

Just walking through the forest is fantastic. It is so different to anything I've seen back home. It is so dense and thick, everything is all growing on top of each other, fighting to survive. Purpose built paths have been made, some of them elevated above the forest floor. Apparently Kauri roots are so fragile and close to the surface, that walking on them can kill the trees. They have a problem just now with a disease called Kauri Dieback, that is killing off the large Kauri. So on entry and exit to all these forests you have to wash and wipe your feet with disinfectant. It reminded me of foot and mouth back home when you had to dip your feet and car tyres into the red disinfectant.

We stayed in a DOC campsite nearby and at night took a wander through the forest in the dark on a Kiwi hunt! We had to cover our torch with red cellophane, kindly donated to us by another camper, because where on earth do you buy red cellophane?! lol We heard the kiwis calling to each other. Sounds like someone screaming, which is a pretty spooky sound when you are in a forest in the pitch black. We could hear them scurrying around so close to us, but just couldn't reach them with the torch light to see them. But we haven't quit, we are going for a second try tonight. Hopefully we get to see one, fingers crossed!!

Cape Reinga

We have finally made it to the most northerly tip of New Zealand, Cape Reinga. It is marked by a lighthouse, which seems to be a common theme, as well as a yellow road sign. We are now only 18029km from London!

This site is very significant for the Maori. They believe that this is the place where all souls visit before leaving for the underworld. There is a rocky outcrop on which grows a single tree. This is where they believe the soul descends into the underworld using the tree roots as steps. Since this is such a sacred site, no one is allowed down onto the outcrop.

Up at the Cape is also where the two seas collide. The Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. They create breakers and whirlpools just off the cape. Watching it you can see why Maori would find this a spiritual place, like the end of the world.

It is weird to think that we have now been to the four corners of New Zealand. Most Southerly in Bluff, Most Westerly in Puponga, most Easterly at the East Cape and now most Northerly at Cape Reinga.

And how would you celebrate such a fete? Sand surfing at the Te Paki Sand Dunes of course. It was such a hard climb to the top, especially since it only took seconds to get back down. You just push yourself down onto your boogie board, and go face first down the dune. They tell you to steer by digging your feet into the sand, but it doesn't work like that. You just aim and pray!

It was a lot of fun, a bit hot on the soles of the feet, and I'm still finding sand on me and in my clothes, but a great day.

Summer is here!

After a beautiful stay at my Great Aunt Janette's in Whangarei for a week, we are back on the road. Exploring the Far North. We got off to a bit of a shaky start where it rained for 3 days. Not much to do here in the rain, but we did take a look at the Rainbow Falls in Keri Keri.

While here we also visited the Stone Store and Mission House. The store is New Zealand's oldest stone building built in 1832. Old!! We would think that young in the UK!! It is amazing to think that Europeans have only been in this country less than 200 years. And the Maori have only been here less than 1000 years. A very young country.

When the sun finally shone, it really did shine. The past week we have been beach hopping. The smell of suncream, sand between your toes and the warmth of the sun on your skin, you wouldn't think it will be Christmas in a few weeks. Stuart has been snorkeling in the sea. With a wetsuit though. While Shona has been in with just a bikini......very bracing!! :-)

The beaches are still deserted, we were lucky enough to be the only two at Rarawa. A wild dolphin came to the shallows and jumped in the breaks of the waves. After a few jumps it just then turned around and swam back out to sea. Such a special thing for us to witness, a wild dolphin just having a laugh and a bit of a splash.

Auckland

Auckland is HUGE!!! The roads are way to complex and fast for being in an old camper van. People totally bully you off the road! It's definitely a case of spaghetti junction here.

What always sticks out about Auckland? The Sky Tower of course. Back at work in Scotland I had the Auckland skyline as my PC desktop background and just had to see it for myself. What better way to soak in Auckland than viewing it from the observation deck of the Sky Tower! It is the highest man-made structure in the southern hemisphere. The way up is in a glass bottom elevator. Very cool! Although it makes you feel a bet queasy since it travels so fast (18km/hr I was told). 

From the top you get to see just how vast Auckland is. It stretches for miles and miles. And there are some glass panels that you can play about on, like Blackpool Tower when you are younger, and it feels so scary to walk over them! :-)

You can do a sky jump from the tower. It's a controlled base jump, and it looked very very tempting. But we just couldn't justify the cost. Everything is so expensive here, even the cost to park your car can make you cry! Auckland is just a fleeting visit, too crazy and expensive for us travellers lol

The Coromandel

Being in the Coromandel is like being on holiday in Spain. The weather has been unbelievable the past week or so. Hitting 20oC most days with beautiful sunshine everyday. I've been living in shorts and summer dresses this week, someone which I don't think I've ever managed to do back in Scotland!

The Coromandel has so many beautiful sandy beaches and coves. The roads are pretty winding but beautiful views to make up for it. We stayed in Whitianga and visited Cathedral Cove. It was a 40 minute walk in and pretty steep in places, but it was totally worth it when we got there. A fantastic domed cove roof, which gives it its name. 

We sat in the sand and had lunch, it was so like being on holiday we didn't want to leave and do the walk back up. If it was a bit warmer we would have ventured into the sea, but we might just wait another month or so before braving that!

We also went out to Hot Water Beach. So called because when the tide goes out there is hot water beneath the sand. A natural thermal pool. Stuart went out with spade in hand and dug himself in a little hot tub.

The water was way too hot for me so I stood in the cooler waters of the sea. It was sooooo busy. I couldn't believe the amount of people on such a small stretch of beach.

There was a group of friends there that had the right idea. There was about 10 of them, all with spades, and they dug out a massive pool to sit in. They even had food and beers to enjoy while taking a soak.

Stuart spotted a ray out in the water and managed to take a picture. I think it must like the warm waters too.

Stuart has been going on about this Hot Water Beach for ages, so I think he's pretty chuffed now that he's been.

We have also been working while out here! The Bird Sanctuary we were camping at asked if we were willing to do some jobs for them. He paid us $100 a day plus free accommodation so it seemed a really good deal. We spent two days on a quad and trailer pulling out dead trees, tons of leaves and hedge cuttings, and then burning it all on massive fires. It was easy work but labour intensive work, but definitely worth the money we were paid. Plus we got to see the animals on the farm and in the park as much as we liked. I loved the horses, and donkeys, and little rabbits, and a 'chook' that kept following us around, it was like a dog.

Further on up the coast we stayed the night at another farm on the way to Stony Bay. I got up early and helped the woman on the farm feed the animals. She had two lambs, two calves and two baby kids that all needed bottle fed. I loved doing it, I've been wanting to get close to a lamb since being here. And you can't getting any closer! :-)

In Coromandel we went to the Driving Creek Railway. A few people had told us about it and said it was a must do. It is a completely hand built railway that goes 3km up the side of a steep hill. It was all built by one guy. He originally built it to bring clay down from the hill to use in his pottery, but that was only about 500m up. The rest he built for fun! Because he liked railways!

The carriages are so small because the track with its tunnels and bridges is so narrow.

It's a very cute little train journey to the top where there is a lookout.

And then the return journey back down. It took an hour and was well worth the small charge. The guy who built it is now 77 and still making pottery on site. He takes no money made from the train. The staff are paid and then the rest goes to conservation. The land surrounding the track has been planted as native forest, including 9000 Kauri trees. He's a very passionate guy!