New Zealand - Week 1

This is the first chance I have had to update the blog since we arrived last wednesday. Probably will do weekly updates from now on depending upon availability of internet etc.

We've been pretty busy so far. We've been travelling around the far north of NZ. Going from Auckland to Whangerai for our first day and staying at the Blue Heron holiday park again which has been upgraded since last time. There are lovely views from the peninsular across the water. We've also visited a Kauri forest and seen some enormous trees.

Just north of here is Ngunguru which those of you may remember the photograph from the previous trip - blue seas, sandy beaches etc - it's still the same - as pretty as ever. We're still trying to find places that beat it.

We visited Wairere Boulders - a surreal place where you climb in and out of large basalt boulders in a valley. The only place of its kind in the world.  There are videos on their website.

Driving north again we arrived at the bottom of 90 mile beach and stayed in a campsite nearby. We paddled in the water. Lovely views across the massive sand dunes. Lots of people driving on the beach (not allowed in rental cars/vans). Lots of classic cars came in - they've been doing a 1000km round trip of NZ.
Fantastic starry skies at night. There's very little light pollution so it's very clear and they come down really low. The milky way is easily visible. Orion is upside down which seems a little strange.

Continued north to Cape Reinga which is pretty much as far as you can go. Camped overnight on the beach and went for an early morning swim in the river and had a cold water shower afterwards.

Te Paki sand dunes are massive. People were sliding down them either on boards or just on their fronts. A little oasis in front where a river goes down to join the ocean.

Turned south and stopped to look at some white silica sand dunes - completely different colour to any of the others. Continued down to Matauri Bay and the campsite we stayed in previously overlooking the Cavalli Islands. They call the road to it Million Dollar View Road. Fantastic stars again. Chris even saw one shooting star.

South again back to Whangerai where we're staying for a couple of days.

We need to review our photos and will upload some soon.