We’d made it to Kerikeri, but had to backtrack a wee bit to Waitangi. As the place where NZ became a part of the British Empire, it’s a pretty important place to visit for any Kiwi.
We continued further north, until there was nowhere else to go but turn back. Unfortunately, Cape Reinga was particularly stormy – during the night, we had to re-park the ‘van to try and stop the rolling motion. Imagine being in an earthquake for 14 hours! We also discovered the small windows above the cab were leaking. Right on to our bed! Still, how often do you come across 100 kph winds in New Zealand?
Oh, right.
Thankfully, we made it through the night. Another small van used our beast as shelter, so at least we had van buddies if anything had gone wrong!
During our reading up about Northland, I got the impression that all the interesting stuff was on the east coast, and the west was quite dull. I couldn’t have disagreed more! If you’re at all interested in trees, birds then the west coast (and especially the forests) is the place to be. Through Waipoua, 26 km of windy roads that pass within centimetres of great native bush. Fantastic!
Awaking in Kerikeri, we detoured south slightly to the Waitangi Treaty grounds
There’s a lovely boardwalk explaining traditional uses of our native trees – Andy’s checking out the kahikatea
There were a number of tui singing in the trees
As well as a few fantails flitting about
After a short walk we made it: the Treaty of Waitangi was signed where this flag pole now stands
NZ’s human history has been pretty short
Such skill in this kind of carving!
And finally, before continuing on we checked out the massive war waka
The Mangonui fish and chip shop seemed to be recommended by every website out as ‘the best fish and chips in NZ”
Anna certainly agreed! (just excuse the third arm)
Our next stop: Ninety Mile Beach
Which is one of three ‘roads’ in NZ we were explicitly forbidden from driving on. We ventured all the way to Cape Reinga, but the weather was so bad that we battened down the hatches and resolved to try again the next day.
The next day was no better. After approximately 2 hours of sleep where we all thought our van would tip over, we were desperately keen for some peace!
Which we found in Ahipara
We looked for Shipwreck Cove, but it was down a road designed only for very small vehicles.
So we wandered around Ahipara beach – apparently a great left-hand break, for the surfers out there.
And on the road early the next morning to Opononi
We caught the vehicle ferry between Kohukohu and Rawene
And after a few hours with family, we found a good spot at the lookout near Omapere for the night.
Considering the atrocious weather we’d had, not too bad of a view! Our last day saw us drive from Hokianga to Auckland … and boy did we cut it fine!
But we had a few minutes to stop at Tane Mahuta – the tallest kauri tree in NZ. Photos really do lose perspective (and it doesn’t help when Andy & Anna have been stretched by the camera)
And we took a short detour to the Kai Iwi lakes. In this weather, the lakes were pretty dull, but we found this pond with probably 50 shags nesting
She’s seen us!
We made it to Auckland just in time to drop our (leaky) camper off, and then had a gorgeous sunset flight back to Wellington.
