We lost almost a full day on our 5 1/2 hour flight from Tahiti as we crossed the international date line. I don’t think I even noticed it since the overnight flight already made me a zombie. We really only had one full day to explore Auckland and it just so happened, it was the day of the Santa Parade. Streets were closed and people were everywhere!
On our way to the parade we decided we had to try out the Best Ugly Bagel since it is a Montreal style bagel place. You could watch them making the hand rolled bagels as you waited for your order.
After Auckland we headed north, driving on the left for the first time. It was an exercise in retraining the brain since the automatic actions we take for granted at home did not have the desired response here. I don’t know how many times we hit the wipers instead of the turn signal!
Our tour into Northland somehow morphed into a toilet themed day. We had to stop at the famous Hundertwasser public toilets, which are considered a work of art.
Then while checking out an info centre, I ran across this. It seems the Kiwis have a cheeky sense of humour.
Cape Reinga was one of the highlights. It is as far north as you can drive in New Zealand where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. It is significant because it is the place the Maori people believe the spirits of the dead enter the afterworld. It is absolutely stunning.
This next picture is of the sand dunes at the top end of 90 mile beach. Buses take people out on the beach and then stop to do some sand boarding down the big hills. Not my kinda thing but thought we should at least stop since the landscape is so different from everywhere else.
The other main draw to this area was the Kauri trees. Tane Mahuta is the largest known living Kauri tree and it is impossible to get a scale for it in pictures. The sign says it all – total height 51.5 metres, total girth 13.8 metres.
There is a person at the base of the tree to give some scale. Wow!
The second largest Kauri was also nearby. This tree was wider but not as tall.
The best way to save money on this journey is to watch what we eat. Here is a sample of our roadside lunches.
Hey, it works for me and really, how can you not have a roarsome lunch with these plates?
Next up – the South Island (which we are almost done but I haven’t had access to great internet and, well, I’m too busy enjoying it.)
WOW!!!! that’s about it, enjoy! Love AT