Very Delayed Update!

Well I could spell out a long list of excuses but basically the lack of pictures and news is just me being me and not getting on with my blog, when I’ve had so many evenings relaxing by the sea!

So here is a quick summary of our adventures over the last month: 

We had a luxury few days with friends of friends Jim and Beth at their farm in Matahuru, where we saw the true extent of kiwi hospitality. We were shown the 360 degree panorama from the top of their farm with views out over the Coromandel. The steepness of the terrain was incredible, yet they had cleared the thick native bush and fenced even the steepest ridges. We saw the mobs of horses which they rescue from the knackers yard, running as nature intended and farmed as blood donors for pharmaceuticals. Their son-in-law Frances took us fishing on his boat in the Thames estuary, a really fun day although it was only Paul who got hooked on the fishing! The highlight was that a baby hammerhead shark came to investigate the boat.

We collected our camper van, and although some problems with it kept us stuck in Auckland for a while longer, we managed to get into our surfing, mountain biking, climbing and hiking regime as we explored the Coromandel peninsular.

Hot water beach on the Coromandal, appearences are deceptive! A normal looking beach until low tide when tourists flock to a small area digging pools where the hot springs are rising.

The freedom with the camper has been fantastic, and the coastlines so stunning – think of Cornwall with 30 degree heat, 100 times less people and double the number of sandy coves and surf beaches. The native bush with tree ferns and the endless white noise of the cicadas is full of mountain bike tracts and walking paths.

We entered the thermal wonderland of central north island with hot springs, gysers, mud pools and volcanos. In smelly Rotorua we spent an evening relaxing in the thermal waters of the Polynesian spa on the lakeside in the rain, a perfect contrast.

Famous Lady Knox Gyser

Colourful Champaign Pool of boiling springs

Boiling mud!

Following a weather bomb - 48 hours of torrential monsoon style rain, when we couldn't even see lake Taupo a few meters from the edge - we desided white water rafting was in order! When a grade 3 rapid turn to a grade 5 and throws your instuctor over board, the adrenalin is certainly flowing!

Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings had to be climbed, despite its lethal scree run for 600m on the descent! So we trekked the Tongariro crossing through the desolate volcanic landscape of larva flows and colourful sulphur pools, so completely different from anything we have ever experienced.

Sadly I thought after 2 months off I should actually do some work again, so we headed back to Auckland for a two week locum position in a busy small animal practice ( I thought I’d ease back in to this work thing slowly!!). We caught up with my old college friend Sarah and her fiancé who are doctors in Hamilton for the year, Paul got himself a fishing rod and became a hunter gatherer; and I am converted to smoked snapper on a bbq at Claire and Carl’s (cousin Lucy’s sister in law).

For my birthday I was treated to a weekend sailing in the bay of islands – truly fantastic! With dolphins jumping a foot away beside the boat, and rafts of little blue penguins bobbing in the waves!

So with the Auckland job finished we are now heading south, via surfing beaches of course! Headed for the south island while they still have some warmth, before I commit to another job.

Hopefully my next update won’t be so delayed, but when there is so much fun to be had, the computer screen is not so attractive!! However, I’m still thinking of you all back home and missing the ease of long term friendships. I hope that life is going on well for you all and you’ll keep me updated on your news. Love Taraxx

Bay of Islands

Initially we had an afternoon visit to Piha. Beautiful surfing beach tucked down in deep bush lined valley. Truly beautiful, all flowering plants in bloom and not spoilt by development. Houses are built tucked in to the bush with verandas rising out of the trees. The surf was messy but we had a picnic in the shade of the rocky promontory on the black sand. A walk along the surf showed us the strong rips that are notorious down the west coast. We’ll have to go back on a better day to surf.

A drive north took us Paihia on the bay of Islands. More of a tacky sea side resort but with amazing views across the inlet to Russel and numerous uninhabited islands. We camped out in the beach under the stars, listening for kiwis in the bush. The next day we hired kayaks and paddled up the estuary past mangrove forests where pied shags were nesting, to a waterfall. We headed back to the inlet and ate lunch on a deserted island beach. A choppy sea didn’t stop us from paddling across the bay to Russell where we stopped at another deserted beach for a swim. Exhausted from our day on the water we headed round to Russell on the ferry to view the rest of the bay from the headland. Enjoying fish and chips we watched the rain approach and were very relieved to be able to stay with an friendly English couple in their cottage hostel for the night.

 

On thursday we travelled south down the coast past some beautiful little bays and potential surfing spots. We stopped at a beautiful gallery in Helena, where they sold amazing beautiful local craft work and had a veranda looking out over the bush covered valley. We travelled south to Matahura to a very warm welcome from friends of friends beth and jim.

Auckland

Paul and I safely arrived in Auckland 26 hours after leaving wintery london minus our two mountain bikes. With too much baggage to carry it was a bonus to have them delivered to the hostel the following day! We saw new year in with thousands of polynesians in Auckland city centre, watching the fireworks from the top of the sky tower.

On New Years Day we took a boat trip to the deserted volcanic island of Rangitoto. We spent a beautiful day exploring the old larva flows that have formed caves and the Pohutakawa forest with crazy plants and birdlife, on route to the crater. The cooler reward was swimming from deserted beaches on our walk back.

Today we have found a van! A mitubishi delicia thats been converted to a camper in good condition and with a much better engine than alot of the mini campers over here. So by the end of the week we'll have our own wheels!