Archive for October, 2006
Friday, October 27th, 2006
Napier: City of Disappointment
The race for the South Island is on. We finally pull ourselves away from the thermal bath zone and speed towards Napier, a town famed for its art deco architecture. It’s got a very southern California look with low buildings, 1930’s style buildings and vintage art on all the interiors.
But Art Deco Napier quickly becomes [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Thursday, October 26th, 2006
BIKES!
It’s a perfect day for a bike ride. We found a rental place that charges only $5 an hour and went there to trade our diesel-powered van for some leg-powered mountain bikes. In Taupo, there’s a massive river with gushing Huka Falls (New Zealand’s Niagara Falls, if you will) with a lovely walking path along [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island, Photos by urs
Saturday, October 21st, 2006
Cathedral Cove
Angela thought she saw blue through our little skylight. I struggled to undo a curtain button, only to see that she couldn’t be more wrong. There’s a solid gray cloud covering everything in sight. We’re done complaining about the weather (complaining about it now doesn’t count), and decide to stick with what we planned to [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Thursday, October 19th, 2006
Whitiangi: Angela’s new home
Angela loves it here. It’s a shore town with a bustling main street and a dock full of boats. Lots of great little restaurants and shops. But we’re still so hungover from last night’s party bonanza that our first day in town was spent almost entirely in a hotel. Great view though.
Friday we were a [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
The Locals of Cormandel
We have about 15 maps and brochures* to show us the way. But after spending most of yesterday completely lost, we’re happy to finally be in the Cormandel peninsula. It’s just east of Auckland and it’s a stunning stretch where the mountains dive straight into the ocean. It’s a very popular vacation spot for the [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Tuesday, October 17th, 2006
Lots of driving, not a lot to do
Long drive from Sheep World, through Auckland, along Pacific Coastal Highway
Lunch on side of highway – because our dining room is always right behind us.
Rapaura Gardens and falls – A very peaceful garden nestled downstream from a great series of waterfalls. The kind with several where the water gathers into pools along the descent.
Watched [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Sunday, October 15th, 2006
October 15: To the Bay of Islands!
Blue sky in the morning, possibly for the first time while on the road. I tried to convince Angela last night that they turn off the waterfall on Sunday nights to clean it. This morning, we roll-up our rear curtain and notice that our once river-side space is now more like a mud-side space. The [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island, Photos by urs
Sunday, October 15th, 2006
Power outage on the way to Bay of Islands
They weren’t kidding, all the power really is out. It’s not that big of a deal and people take it in stride. I couldn’t imagine that in the states. Just think of how Brooklyn would react if Con Ed said they’d have to shut down power for a day.
Just across the road from the camp [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Saturday, October 14th, 2006
Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga is the most northerly point of New Zealand. Standing on the left side of the tip, we watch the Tasman Sea hammer the coast. The water is an amazing tint of blue not too far off from a toilet with a fresh TidyBowl disk in it. The cliff-strewn shoreline is dramatic, the waves [...]
No Comments » - Posted in North Island by urs
Friday, October 13th, 2006
Climbing to the top of NZ
When you all make it out for your own New Zealand road trips, we highly recommend the “Top 10 Holiday Park” chain. At least the Kauri Coast one. Perfectly manicured areas with great views, tons of exotic birds calling out (i.e. the Morepork, named after the sound of its call), and super fancy facilities. $24NZ [...]
