DISTANT DIVERS

Back on the road and now following the train route that we had travelled in the opposite direction ten days ago.  Back through the farming plains around Palmerston North and along the southern west coast and back into Wellington a few hours later.  We spent the night in Wellington in one of the main carparks in the town along with a number of other campervans all waiting for the early morning ferry the next day.

After a reasonable nights sleep underneath a bright street light (!) we checked in to the ferry, boarded first and managed to find a comfy seat in the childrens lounge up on the seventh deck.  The wind was blowing a gale outside so for the first part of the journey we holed up inside but as we left the shelter of Wellington the waves picked up and started gently rocking the boat so I went outside to make the most of the fresh air and take photos.

As the ferry approaches the South Island the speed slows and you take in the amazing scenery of the Marlborough Sounds.  I looked out for Dolphins all the way over and Whales, but couldn't see any at all!  Maybe next time :)

We managed to find a campsite to stop for some lunch and a walk on the flanks of Mount Ruapehu.  It was one of the first days of full sunshine so we made the most of it.

We had parked up next to a camper that had already been there for a couple of days and the guy told us to take a drive up to the road to have a look at a huge waterfall.  Well we didn't find the waterfall until the next morning but what we did find, was the road went all the way to the ski lifts at the top of the mountain and there was a carpark with another couple of camper waiting to spend the night.

We arrive at Muriwai Beach mid afternoon and after finding a good spot on the campsite nearest to the beach we set off again to explore the beach area and the Gannet colony.  The beach is unique because of its black sand, caused by the iron content derived from the ancient volcanoes in the area. The majority of the black mineral sand is carried up the west coast from Mt Taranaki through the process of longshore drift. This sand is igneous material that was eroded from the volcanic area.

Muriwai is home to a wide range of birds but it is the gannets (takapu) that most visitors come to see. There are two viewing platforms provide great vantage points to take in the spectacular location and watch the gannets. We went to up to watch the sunset from the highest platform and watch the Gannets nesting.  Apparently the birds return here between July and October to re-establish contact with their life-long mates. After mating, one egg is laid and incubated in shifts by both birds until the gannet chick is born, naked and blind, 45 days later.

So we arrived in Auckland a little later than scheduled and managed to find our way to our lodge for the night in Parnell, only ten minutes from the train station.

After a good nights sleep we met up with Sigit from our campervan rental company who drove us to his house for the collection of our vehicle.

Slightly shocked when we saw it... I'm not really sure what we were expecting but perhaps something a little bigger, but hey it's only the two of us and there's nothing like snuggling up to keep warm at night!

Paperwork out of the way and a brief shopping trip to stock up on fruit, veggies, cereals and drinks and we were on our way north.

Not being too sure of our campervan's capabilities, we decided on a short trip for the first day.  After stopping for lunch on the road side just north of Auckland by the waterside we carried on up the east coast to Pakiri Beach.

We had been warned against stopping in non-camping areas but the only official campsite was a bucket and spade holiday park to one side of the beach.  Instead we parked up on the grass next to another couple of campers and asked them what they were doing for the night. General consensus being that they had stayed there a few nights earlier on the grass and no one had said anything or moved them on.  Bonus!

Pakiri Beach was really nice.  Long white sand and a small amount of surf, enough to keep the holiday park families content at least.

The campervan was surpringly warm and comfortable for the first night.  We went to bed as the stars came out and woke up to the sunrise. Now I know that beats waking up the sound of an alarm clock.

After breakfast of weetabix and hot milk and a cup of tea, and the van had it's oil and water checked we were back on the road and heading further north for the Bay of Islands.

The Bay of Islands is renowned for being a really beautiful spot for sailing and sightseeing but unfortunately the sky was overcast which made the sea grey and pretty unappealing.  On a clear day with the sun high in the sky you could see that it would be a lovely place but for us it was merely a chance to find a campsite for the coming night and have another food break.

We booked into a Holiday Park site at Matauri Bay about an hours further drive from The Bay of Islands and the nearest land to the site of the Rainbow Warrior. 

The Rainbow Warrior was the flagship of the international environmental organisation, Greenpeace. It was visiting Auckland for a while before leading a fleet of vessels to Muroroa Atoll to protest against the French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.  Just before midnight on 10 July, 1985, two explosions rocked the harbour, sinking the 40-metre Rainbow Warrior. Underwater charges had been placed by frogmen on her hull, blowing two holes in the ship.  She sank almost immediately. All the crew managed to escape, apart from the photographer, Fernando Pereira, who drowned.

After another good nights sleep and a bacon and egg breakfast for Geoff we walked up to the memorial for the Rainbow Warrior before heading further north to the tip of the North Island, Cape Reinga.