East coast of Northland – coasts with contrasts

Written by Nadine Zangerle on 30 June 2012. Posted in New Zealand

I have to get used to those funny names. So I have to recall and reread them several times that they get stuck somehow in my little brain.

Whangarei – In the city we enjoyed the Town Basin with its old houses and got a bit wet at the great waterfalls. At the information center we received plenty of material for our trip. What to see, there is so much?

Tutukaka and Matapouri – The vegetation is mind-blowing and indescribable. You have to see it for yourself. In Tutukaka – yes this is the name of this little village – we got some information about diving. The Poor Knights islands are rated as the tenth best dive sites of Jacques Cousteau. Water temperature 16 degree but visibility 20 m, have to convince Micha. Have to try on our way back again since the conditions are not good right now.

Let’s get up to the wild coast line of Matapouri and do some hiking. It is so beautiful.

The Kawiti Glowworm caves had been fascinating. For 11 months the glowworms are attached to the wall and fish for insects with long, sticky lines, afterwards they become a fly. Three days of reproduction and this is it. Gogh, I am happy not to be a glowworm.

Kia Ora New Zealand

Written by Nadine Zangerle on 29 June 2012. Posted in New Zealand

We arrived finally in Auckland after a little delay. Hello New Zealand. In Auckland we had booked a room in the centre close to a couple of clubs. Good that we had the ear plugs.

The next morning we were heading to Jucy, to get our campervan. Already in September last year we have made a booking for a condo (4 people) for an incredible price – for $ 42 for 40 days – means $1 per day. Amazing.

The Jucy Staff was also surprised and had to do some phone calls. Before we did the booking last year we double checked via email about the price and asked if there is a mistake on the Jucy homepage. After they confirmed that the prices are correct on the page we made the booking. And now they figured out that it was a mistake. But they gave us the car since we double checked before we booked.

Since the car was green and the license plate is FRG969 we call him Frog. We even have a full insurance otherwise Jucy wouldn’t have given us the car for this price. Well now we can actually crash down a cliff. Just kidding.

And Frog is pretty comfortable. A nice kitchen inside, we can stand up in the car, have a dining table inside and even a flat screen with USB. What a luxurious camper if we compare it with Mighty Boy (we still miss him).

After a little shopping tour and orientation we left the big city and went to explore a bit the Northland.

Our Roadtrip in New Zealand

Written by Michael Zangerle on 29 June 2012. Posted in New Zealand

This is the map of our trip in New Zealand. We did start in Auckland on 27. June and finished in Christchurch on 08. August 7791 km and many beautiful moments later. If you click the pins you can see where we have been. On the right hand side you can find all reports in order of our trip.

More Articles...