So it’s three days into our journey across New Zealand. Already we have completed a circuit of the Northland and are now somewhere in between Paeroa (Home of the divine L&P) and Tauranga, hopefully amongst some mountains if Ollie has parked us in the correct spot. As it’s dark however we won’t know until the morning! Do I trust his sense of direction is the question!
Saying goodbye to everyone was painful. Well more than painful. From work colleagues to amazing friends and our wonderful family here, it was so hard to finally leave. In fact we ended up saying goodbye to Char and Nige three times! Once on Saturday morning when we ‘officially’ left and then twice in the space of about ten minutes this evening when we popped back in on our way past Auckland and then as we drove away, Ollie realised I had thrown away his old wallet that still had one of our credit cards in. So while Ollie spent a final few minutes saying goodbye (again), I waded my way through two bin liners to find the missing wallet. Thankfully I found it!
So what have we been up to? Well firstly Ollie had to play one last game of soccer, so before we could go anywhere he played his match. Luckily the team won 7-0 and Ollie was made honorary captain for the game and his team mates even let him keep the band which was so nice of them. Not sure he deserved it though seeing as he spent most of the match yelling at the referee and ordering him about!! Finally we were on the road though and headed for Dargaville and our campsite just beyond. Our first night in the van went without serious incident although the same can’t be said for my card playing skills. Lastcard/Pick up two is always hard when you’re trying to remember the rules from years ago!
The next morning we headed off early....ish! to visit the Kauri forests, in search of Tane Mahuta, the oldest and tallest tree in the Waipoua forest. The tree (also known as Lord of the forest) was sooooooo tall and wide and has stood in that forest for around 2000 years. So it might have even been there around the time Jesus was alive! That’s a crazy thought! Although on a side note, teachers were telling me that Jesus was alive 2000 years ago when I was at primary school and that was about twenty years ago so surely it’s longer than 2000 years ago now...just wondering how long it will be before someone ups the time difference!!
Sad that I couldn’t actually hug the oldest Kauri tree, we said goodbye (well I did, not sure Ollie talks to trees) and set off without much of a plan but headed across country anyway in the general direction of Paihia on the other side of the coast. As we pulled up to the little roundabout in front of the huge bay it felt like no time at all had past since Ollie and I last visited way back in February, or was it March?! The only difference was that this day was far more sunny and beautiful than the one back in the summer where the rain and wind had, to be completely cliche, ‘dampened’ the astounding impact of the Bay of Islands. In fact as we ate some lunch on the balcony of an upstairs cafe I actually felt as if I was being slightly burned. Oh how I’ve missed that feeling these past winter months!!
As we were there again I really wanted to visit the Waitangi treaty grounds as I felt it was important to learn more about how this country came to be governed, especially as the country that had rocked up and claimed ownership back in 1840 was my very own! And as we entered and paid the wincing fee of $25 per person we really wished we were New Zealand residents. Apparently they get in for free!! But it was definitely worth the money. Set in amazing woodland and wonderfully cut lawns, the treaty house, Maori meeting house and actual spot where the treaty was signed on 6th February 1840 can be found. There is also a huge Waka that’s in the Guinness Book of Records for being so long. I think it takes over 80 people to row it! Sadly the real treaty can’t be viewed but we did get to see a replica and although that was obviously not as good, at least we saw what it said. As for my opinions on the treaty, well, I won’t go into those here!
For one last treat before we live off pasta and beans, we visited the Thai restaurant we had been to last time for dinner. Unfortunately for me the scary Jim Carrey lookalike waiter was working but I coped! Back at the van we played a few intense rounds of Black Jack that I didn’t enjoy too much. I had made the rule that the person who went bust had to eat a sherbet Banana (you know the ones everyone leaves in a packet of lollies?). Of course I went bust nearly every time and each banana went down worse than the last until I simply refused to continue!
The next morning was sunny and again surprisingly hot...shorts hot! We tidied up the van and took the car ferry over to Russell (Or Wussell as I apparently call it). Along the way we saw a sea gull with only one foot and some early morning boaties. The sea gull with only one foot was pretty sad...especially when it tried to scratch itself! Unfortunately Russell was just as disappointing as the first time we visited, even though it wasn’t raining this time. There literally is nothing to do there! Back in the van we headed off for an awesome journey along the coast, winding our way gradually back towards the south. One of the best things about New Zealand is that you never know what’s going to be around the next bend. Whether it’s a huge mountain, giant forest or a magnificent view of the sea. We found an amazing beach where the grassy hills literally rolled into the sand and the water was a wonderful bright blue. A group of bulls were living on the sand and it has to be the first time I’ve ever said the phrase ‘mind the cow pats’ whilst walking along a beach! We spent a while playing ‘chase the waves’ and enjoying a winter paddle in the surprisingly not freezing water. It was such a lovely beach and I could have stayed there all day just taking in the scenery and enjoying the crashing waves.
We continued our journey south and were soon back in Whangarei and fast approaching Auckland for the last time. Stopping off to say goodbye to our favourite Indian family we found it hard to finally leave. Leaving Nirvisha has to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but with promises to see each other soon, Ollie finally tugged me away. We were now starting our real travels and filled with a huge mixture of excitement and sadness we set off down the motorway...
9/7/12
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