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We started off what we thought would be our last day with a nice complimentary breakfast at our hotel in Auckland. After filling our stomachs and filling our bags we headed downstairs to the included shuttle service to Auckland international airport. We had no issues boarding our three and a half hour flight from AucklandContinue reading “Day 39 – Auckland to Sydney.”

Today we had the intention of sightseeing within the Auckland CBD. Our first challenge was to find an appropriate place to park in order to catch some form of public transport to the city. Our first attempt at doing this failed as we found ourselves, thanks to Google maps, at a train station in anContinue reading “Day 38 – Auckland”

Today, efficiency was meant to be the name of the game but alas it was not meant to be. We planned on making an early ish departure from Taupo Bay and this, we managed to do, but here on out things went a little awry. We decided on taking a rather direct route to AucklandContinue reading “Day 37 Taupo Bay to Auckland”

This was a day trip from our base here at Taupo Bay. Cape Reinga is the northernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island which means it is the northernmost point of New Zealand. So having previously visited Slope Point on the South Island we have now been to both the northernmost point in New ZealandContinue reading “Day 35 Cape Reinga”

This morning we headed for the Bay of Islands, stopping at Paihia where we were hoping to book a yacht cruise for tomorrow. Once again we were unable to get out on the water as all of the yachts were either fully booked or not worth the money. So we walked up to the lookout,Continue reading “Day 34 Tutukaka to Taupo Bay”

We didn’t have a clear destination in mind today so after what could well be our last shop of the trip, we set off heading north. Mangawhai Heads Beach. The water temperature here was 19 degrees Celsius and the air temperature was probably similar without the wind chill factor. Nevertheless there were a few hardyContinue reading “Day 33 Stillwater to Tutukaka”

We had the morning to do what each of wanted. For Keiran it was revisiting Hot Water Beach at low tide And for me, walking to Cathedral Cove

Today we explored the Coromandel Peninsula. We began by contemplating the walk to Cathedral Cove but decided against it at least for today when we discovered that there is no parking anywhere near the beginning of the walk. Our next stop was Hot Water Beach where if you wish to park there is a chargeContinue reading “Day 31 Coromandel Peninsula”

I started the day with a lovely rainforest walk to McLaren Falls Then off to Whangamata for some sunbaking on the beach, but no swimming due to the unacceptable water temperature Then more winding roads and hills to Hahei where we may stay for two nights while we explore the Coromandel Peninsula

This morning started off with a shock, BLUE SKY! having driven through torrential rain yesterday this was a great relief as our Spellbound Glowworm Tour was coming up this morning. After checking in at the tour office we headed off to the Waitomo General Store to meet our group for the tour. At 10 sharpContinue reading “Day 29 Waitomo Caves to McLaren Falls Park”