After our brief stay in Auckland we picked up our Jucy Caravan. Small and compact, but suprisingly roomy on the inside and decorated garishly (easy to spot from afar!). We’ll be touring just the north island this time around and depending on how well it goes, we might do the south island when we come back late August.
Our first stop to get accustomed to with the van and unpack properly was Managawhai Heads beach, a small powered holiday park. Eleanor cooked our first meal and we were all ready to sleep when suddenly what sounded like an air raid siren went off. Completely alarmed we thought it was a tsunami warning but was later told it was for the alarm for the volunteer firefighters. Now we know!
The next morning we drove up to see the Piroa Falls, with lunch later at the Waipu caves. I’m really enjoying the novelty of going from one place to another, not having to unpack our stuff and having a kitchen everywhere we go! Let’s hope this doesn’t wear off! Afterwards we drove to the Whangarei Falls Scenic Reserve, featuring another waterfall (Eleanor tells me there will be lots of them). The site we’re on is not powered but the engine charges up the battery providing lights, electricity for the fridge and enough to charge our phones. Quite impressive really!
Instead of writing “we drove here, it was nice” endlessly below I’ll put a few photos and where they were. If anything out of the ordinary occurs I’ll write in more detail 🙂
Paihia
A holiday resort town, much like Cornwall near to wear the Waitangi treaty was signed. It costs $50 each to get in to see the treaty, so we were happy with the replica we saw at Te Papa!
Haruru Falls and Karikari Peninsula
Cape Reinga
The top of New Zealand.
Giant Sand Dunes
Kauri Park
A very very wet day…
Baylys Beach & Matakohe
That’s the end of Week 1. We’ve learnt how to empty the toilet tank and I managed to break a seat in the campervan: progress!
