Week 8 was the first week in New Zealand. We’ve fallen deeply in love with the green countryside combined with the cooler temperature and the beautiful clouds up in the sky. It is more like Switzerland!
We also took the advantages of our modern campervan. No more searchings for a covered restroom during a long road trip as well as the possibility to have a shower after a great fun in the sand dunes. To have a self-contained van with a little toilet is a great benefit.
This week was also the start of my little project: foto of the week – Foto der Woche, which took place at the Cape Reinga. This location is one of the most northern points of New Zealand. Out of the lighthouse, you can see the “mixture” from the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It’s a gorgeous place.
Route
Day 53: Stay in Auckland
Day 54: Stay in Auckland
Day 55: Auckland – HiHi Beach
Day 56: HiHi Beach – Campground near Cape Reinga
Day 57: Campground near Cape Reinga – Matakohe
Day 58: Matakohe – Manurewa (close to Auckland Airport)
Day 59: Manurewa – Waitomo
special recommendations
Mount Eden in Auckland
New Zealand is home for some volcanos – most are silence, and only three are still active. Mount Eden is an old volcano located very close to the main city. From the crater, you have a superb outlook of the city and the surrounding countryside. You can reach the top in less than 30 minutes with the public transport and a very short walk.
Maori Village
Opposite to the Aborigines in Australia, the Maori population in New Zealand is more visible. As well the culture (or some part of it) is still practiced, and it is an important tourist attraction. The Maori culture is more respected than the cultures from other native populations in the world are. For example is Maori an official language (not as English) and there are some governmental services like a Maori TV or special educational programs. Furthermore, the official welcoming ceremony of Rugby Play includes a native dance of the Maori. Rugby is like a religion for the Kiwis here!
On the way up far north, we dropped by a Maori Village close the main highway. The Maori center includes a modern building with cafe and some new facilities and a traditional Maori Village. We did a very personal tour with an experienced Maori tour guide. He gave us a good inside in his culture. It was fascinating how different a community could be organized.
By the way, we also met a cute cat – like my Murri Burri! 😉
Sandunes
In the past, I saw several photographs of people who ride a board in the dessert. I was wondering how it does it work. As soon as I saw a sign with the words “rent sandboards” I asked Maggi to stop.
We reached the Sundunes twenty minutes after we had left the rental station (a private farmhouse).Unfortunately, it had begun to rain a little bit and because this reason, Maggi decided to stay in the campervan. I enjoyed the steep walk up the sandunes and the three runs down to the Campervan. It was a very sandy pleasure. I was lucky to have a short shower in our motorhome.
Waitpoua Kauri Forest
To visit this lovely forest was a unique tip from our housemother in Brisbane. And yes, it was a very impressive trip. Seeing a big tree which has the same age as Jesus Christ is not an everyday experience. We took pleasure walking in the refreshing forest, and we were astonished by watching the epic trees.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
The magic of caves was something I didn’t value before this journey through Australia and New Zealand. Firstly, it’s an excellent opportunity to escape from the summer heat (also in New Zealand the temperature can reach more than 30 degrees); secondly, caves could be fantastic and beautiful as the Waitomo caves.
We booked “the most popular combo” which includes a walking trip to one cave and a boat trip to another cave. Because of a power cut, the first trip had to be postponed to the next morning.
We started with the walking trip – we listened to some general information about the geological building process of the cave, the story of the stalactite and stalagmite and some history background info.
The next day at half past 9, we stood in the group for the boat adventure. After a short walk, we reached the an underground river and a classic boat. The boat moved slowly along the waterway. During this calm journey, we were be amazed by watching the blue-green shining glowworms on the top. It was another magnificent daytrip!
Schwiizerdütschi Zämefassig
Glüehwürmli si super!
Immer eis meh :-) 
@Jönu: Merci fürd übersetzig uf Dütsch vo “foto of the week”, das hätti susch nid gmerkt, was das chönnti si 😀
hihihi wobis “Foto” im English nid git, entweder picture oder photo 🙂 es grüsst das FCE us Olte
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no comment mi Besserwüsser.
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Aber ds photo of the week gset cool us (fasch mystisch) es stimmt, mi chönnti meine ir siget in Europa vor Vegetation her. und PS: vor drü Mönet hani ouno im Gras vorem Huus Glüehwürmli gse, aber nume vereinzelti, natürlech nid so vil wie dir…
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Ds Foto vo der Wuche (oder the picutre of the week) isch no gar nid veröffentlicht. Das wird äuä bis Endi Wuche dr Fall si, aber merci scho mal für Vorschusslorbeere vo sich ufnes anders Foti (ig nime a uf Facebbok) bezieht.
Gruss ads Bodevolk.
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