World Trip: New Zealand - North Island April 2012

Got to New Zealand a week early. We were meant to be flying out to Fji for a week but had our flight cancelled when we arrived at the airport due to the bad weather Fiji are having, they could not get us another flight for at least a week with the backlog or passengers. So New Zealand it is...........

Going to stay near Auckland, village of Howick, at one of Steve's mates from Everton, Jubba, for a week before doing another road trip....Had a great week here, chilling, drinking, chilling and more drinking.......Oh and a couple of hangovers he he!!!!

I've got wooden legs!!!!

Jubba & Skip, what a nice couple.....

Clarke...

Took the ferry into the Auckland city, went up the Sky Tower, awesome views over the city, you can walk the tower or throw yourself off it if you really want to.....Had a few beers and nice lunch in a bar in the Viaduct Harbour, little bit of shopping and sorting another camper van out, but this time a real camper that you can stand up in, not a car with a bed....

Coming into the city on the ferry

Auckland Viaduct

Hope this glass does not break....

Glass bottom view of Auckland

Let me out!!!

Collecting our camper van today, its a Jucy Lucy Van...Time for another road trip around the North Island....

Check our van out...

Heading up to the Bay of Islands, Northland. Town of Russell, has the country's oldest church (1836), which is scared with musket holes from a battle in 1845. Russell is most famous for being the site of NZ's first permanent English settlement, it is the birth place of European colonisation.

Russell Church

Musket Hole

After here we went over to the Kauri Coast, stopping at the Haruru Falls and Ngawha Springs on the way. The volcanic springs were over 300 years old, with over 3 generations of ownership, very quirky indeed and only $4 to get in, what a bargain. Hottest pool, 48degrees OUCH!!!! We smelt of sulfur for days.....

Ngawha Springs

We then got to Waipoua Forest to see the Big Kauri Trees. First we saw the mighty Tane Mahuta tree and at 51m high was the largest Kauri Tree alive, what a big boy!!!

Tane Mahuta

Next was the Four Sisters, a graceful stand of four tall trees that have fused together at the base.

Four Sisters

After the big trees its time to move South of Auckland and visit Steve's cousin and family who live in Te Kauwhata. Was really good to meet Richard, Ali, Ellis and Freya.

The Pike Family

Then to meet a friend of Andrea's, Lisa and family who live in Hamilton. Was good to see Lisa again.

Lisa & family

After visiting family and friends we headed to the Bay of Plenty Region, town of Rotorua. NZ's most thermal area, steaming hot springs and exploding mud pools, only down side is that it smells real bad of sulphur... In the centre of the town is Kuirau Park, a volcanic area which we walked around for free, yeah!! The last eruption in 2003 covered most of the park in mud.

Kuirau Park

While here we did the Skyline Gondola, Luge and Skyline Swing....WOW what fun we had, even though Andrea was real scared at first when she saw the Skyline swing and did not want to go on, only that we had paid for it she did and loved it.....

Skyline Gondola

Getting ready to Luge...

Sky swing

After the adrenaline fix of the sky swing, time to head to Lake Taupo to do the Huckafalls Jet Boat Ride for more excitement....

Don't we look sexy......

Get ready.....

Huckafalls

Lake Taupo is NZ's largest lake, it was the scene of one of the worlds most violent eruptions 26,500 years ago.

After Lake Taupo we went further South to the village of Whakapapa at the foot of Mount Ruapehu, the highest peak in NZ's North Island, standing 2797m. Here we went to the top via a 2 ski lifts and had coffee and croissants while taking in the lovely vistas.....

Mt Ruapehu Ski Lift

Mt Ruapehu

Stayed in this area freedom camping for the night. The next morning we went for a walk to Waitonga Falls which was 120mins return. Then onto Mangawhero Falls where a scene in Lord of the Rings was filmed...

Waitonga Falls Walk

Waitonga Falls

Drove to Paraparaumu Beach for fish and chips, yum yum!!!! Then to Wellington for a couple of nights ready to get the ferry to the South Island. While here we had lovely day out sight seeing and shopping, then finished the day with a movie and a few beers, great......