Shortly after our last post made on that rainy day in Kerikeri we retrieved our van from the mechanic (at a cost of over $400) and headed to Matauri bay at the north end of the bay of islands. The rain was still coming down. After a night of again heavy rain we were starting to assume that this was the norm for New Zealand! We awoke to the news that all routes out of the bay were flooded until further notice and that we were caught up in an anti cyclone which resulted in the rain being forcast for a couple of days! Great! The van was leaking and had refused to start and everything within the van, included us, was getting more and more soggy! As it turned out this was a 1 in 150 year storm and in over 36 hours there was half a meter of rainfall! Wow!! Anyway, as it turned out there was a couple whom we got chatting to that had tried to leave and got turned back due to the flooding. They had a boat with them and offered to take us out fishing in the bay of islands! Sweet!
Hamish and Kelly were really friendly and looked after us (plied us with beer) and let us stay in a caravan that they had hired out which was a very welcome break from our very damp van!
We got plenty of good tips from them on where to go and what to see on our way up North. The fishing the next day was good fun and we even managed to spot a few penguins and a hammer head shark!
We then headed towards the far north and ended up staying in Cape Reinga for a couple of days. This is where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea meet and sometimes the waves there can get up to 10m in height!!
The area was very wild, lots of mosquitos and sand flies (we got mullered!!) but the weather, scenery and fishing was fantastic! I even managed to get a shark to the shore along with other hard fighting fish species. Lots of fun.
After a short tourist stop to the light house (where you can see the two oceans meet) we headed south again to visit the giant sand dunes and then onto somewhere to stay.
The highlight of the west coast (and the best beach so far) was Baylys beach which was quite simply stunning and wild!
You could see the fish within the big waves like dolphins playing and stingrays flapping around and feeding when the waves washed out on the incoming tide.... cool stuff!
We have visited the forests with the biggest known Kauri tree (trunk is something like 14m round and its 51m high!).........
Soaked ouselves in natural mineral hot mud springs (great for the many bites we had at the time!)......
Surfed......
Fished....
And stayed at some wicked little spots.....
Its difficult to remember all the spots we have stayed at and what has gone on and when, so we have just written up on the times and places that have stood out for some reason or another......
As i write this we are staying (and have been for a couple of days) with Tony and Anna in Aukland and have prepared the wagon (proper pit stop, battery change, clean down etc etc) to head south around the Coromandel, the East Cape, Hawkes Bay (great vineyards) and then down towards the southern point of the north island so that we can cross to the south, which is bigger and more stunning from what we have been told. Its also where all the really crazy fun stuff is........... its taken us three weeks to just do the northern part of the north island! So as we say at the top of this post, we may be some time!!!
12 comments:
Sounds like the rain we had on hols in Oz in Jan/Feb - heaviest rain they'd had at that time of year for a long time, which resulted in roads being flooded and us nearly getting stranded at a tiny airport overnight....but we got lucky and were put up in a hotel for 2 nights while the water subsided. Oz summer eh?! ;-)
aye blossom!!
did you tell ali about the pheesh tattoo?
sounds and looks like fun you two.
keep em coming!
dont rush back etc etc
Think I forgot to email Ali about the tattoo! I have just emailed him now with the link so he can check it out...
Helloooo!
I am so pleased to see how much fun you guys are having! All the of the places you have visited look incredible. I do think it might take you a hell of a long time to get back though. I don't fancy paying the cab fare home!
Keep up the photos. I particularly like the silhouette of you sitting on the tree facing the ocean. It would look fantastic framed on the wall if / when you decide to come back to our boring side of the world.
How is Matt's tattoo healing? I think you definitely picked a great place to have it done, I'm not sure it classes as a tattoo parlour though. If it took ten hours to do the first bit I do hope you remembered to go to the loo first! I want to see another photo of it now that it has settled in. You, Dipi, are looking as gorgeous as ever. Although, Matt's tan doesn't seem to be keeping up with yours!
xXxXx
Ello u guys,its pete matts cousin!
Wow that rain sounds awesome!
Great to see you both having a fantastic time,im really jealous!
Love the tattoo matt, wicked.If youre gonna have one have a big one!! Is it healed up yet?
Mum and dad say ello!
Keep having a top time,speak soon!!!!!!!
Have just seen 1st set of South Island pics. Awesome! Waiting for commentary, as you have time and access.
Love Dad W.
Ali has now seen the MASSIVE pheeeeesh tattoo and he was suitably impressed! ;-)
Hello you two
You still look like you are having a great time, hope the weather has improved for you and you are keeping the bites well looked after, the hot spring looked good.
Michaela,Lee and the girls came up for the May bank holiday and it was great to see them took the girls to fly kites and lots of fun stuff.
Hope you got the email with the new address and a postcard is on its way!!!
Look after yourselves and keep in touch when you can
Love and missing you
Mum & Dad xxxxxx
Hello everyone!
Post cards have been sent but from what i gather not all are getting through which is a pain! So its a bit of a lottery with regards to whether they are received or not.
Pete, great to see you on here mate! Its uncanny but was thinking about you yesterday and hey presto you are on here today! Nice one. Glad you like the tat :o) It all healed now.
Vik - Squawk! We are a bit jealous about the big chill and glasto as we will be missing out! But we got plenty of stuff to keep us busy anyway, we just miss you lot. (crazy i know)
Right i gotta update this blog thingy and got loads to do so better get on with it!
Miss you all loads.
xx
rhi! darling! how are you? happy belated birthday. hope you had a wonderful day! great to hear from you. we're in queenstown and have stopped for a while to spend the big dollar on the adrenalin experiences and boy are they GREAT!
yeah, the pic of me in the tree is good. my man makes me proud! he's a bit arty farty did you know?!
matts' tatt has healed well but the same can't be said for mine. i decided to go scuba diving on the poor knights islands (north island and one of the top diving spots in the world - very very cold. brrr) and even tho it had been a month it didn't like it and some of the ink came off with the surrounding skin. nice! REALLY not looking forward to having it touched up.
the tan is slowly fading as we are out in the sun less as it gets more brrr (thermal underwear and tights under trousers!) but it won't be TOO long before we're in some blazing hot country sipping beers at sunset. woo hoo.
hope youre well babe. love to your boys and big hug and kiss to you xxx
hi dad!
thanks for your email. sorry to have taken so long to get back but we finally now have access to the internet and my reply will be with you soon!
we are just uploading the next lot of photos and they are just as awesome. you can actually use that word about this country because it truly is.
watch this space (matt is ready and waiting at the computer to update the blog. what a good man)
love you lots xxx
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