My third visit to New Zealand. This country is a magnet for me!! I love so much about it. Very very few places on the planet can compete with it. Now…if it was just a bit warmer.
This time my visit is around Summer in New Zealand. So; at least I’m not shivering cold. But even their summers are not tropic warm…just pleasant. More like Colorado in the summers.
My adventure here didn’t start well. I had a horrible car rental experience with a cheap cut-rate company; holding me up at the airport for hours. I eventually returned the crap car and rented with another company (Avis) … finally headed to the Northland of NZ. Destination – Tukutaka Coast and diving Poor Knights.
And WOW!!! After a rest day - (and a day hike up Manaia Track and its panoramic views of McLoad Bay); I dive Poor Knights islands with the dive operator Yukon. It was fabulous. Cool water diving – I haven’t done that in forever!! 19C. I had a full 6m suit; and a 3m shorty overtop. Hood, gloves and it was just enough.
The boat ride out to the Poor Knight Island reserve alone was amazing. Incredible beauty that you need too check-out on my web-pictures. The islands are the tips of ancient volcanos and have numerous arch’s cut-thru its volcanic rock. The best diving is in these arch’s. The current is swift there, but its packed with sea life. Cool Kelp everywhere, colorful nudibranch. Many of the fish I don’t recognize…mostly these are not tropical fish (although a few tropical fish survive here in the cool). I’ll dive these waters again one day. A day to remember. TukuTaka is worth the time. Diving and the coast here are gorgeous. The nearby Bay-of-Islands gets all the attention; and is crazy beautiful – but the entire region is wild and interesting.
I spent a week in the Northland; wandering all the way the northern most point in New Zealand – Cape Reinga. Stopping at 90-mile beach, touring magnificent Bay-of-Islands by boat and going boogie boarding at the Te Paki Giant Dunes. The boogie boarding experience was amazing. Holding on, pointing straight down … go!!! The climb to the top of the dunes was exhausting in shifting sands… but worth the effort. Too cool.
With one last night on Doubtless bay at a tiny fishing village – lost in another time. Old time NZ. Its time to push south.
I am forced to return my rental car at the Auckland Airport, and pick up another(Apex). So I just booked a overnight hotel by the airport – losing a day – but it couldn’t be avoided with the first-day car rental fiasco! Use Apex next time!! (Like I did on my last trip)
Now; onto Tongariro. My favorite place in NZ. Hiking the tracks, really getting to know the region. I stay in Turangi – not very interesting (with lousy food); but put together an epic adventure – Hiking the Tongariro Crossing – 19.4km; Never to be forgotten. It took 6.5 hours to pass by the volcanos and incredible alpine views. So many pictures. I barely survive the 10k downhill portion. I’ll make sure to have hiking poles if I ever do this again!! I add a short stop at the hot pools near town – natural hot tub’s - just what my body needed for recovery!!
I then moved to Ohakune – the other side of the Tongariro Park. 100x better town – great food and coffee. And some very pleasant easy hikes. Stay here unless you doing the Crossing and need the early start!!
I finish my week in Tongariro at the classic Grand Hotel – Chateau Tongariro. Snooker, gourmet food, luxury bed, sauna. And more hiking out the door. This is true opulence – I crazy love this place. My second stay here. I’ll always include this on ever visit to NZ.
Pushing on I take a swing by the wine region of New Zealand – Hawks Bay. Plenty of vineyards and orchards everywhere. The bay was cool too. I didn’t stay long but it looked like a low-key relax and do nothing type of vacation-land.
I spend the next week in Wellington with some wonderful and generous friends. Staying in their downtown flat, right on the wharf. My visit was packed with entertainment. Wellington is the most livable city in the world. In just a week here; A play, Dragon Boat races, a fishing contest, a skate board contest, a 5k, a outdoor concert, a Cricket match(my first), visits to their wonderful museums, a Rainbow (gay pride) history walk, tons of great restaurants and coffee houses, a visit to the NZ War Memorials, and the best-of-all a Hurricanes Rugby match. I leave Wellington with a Hurricanes Rugby shirt – I’m lovin it. This place is crazy great!
I add another first for me. I rented Uber scooters several times to move about the downtown area. Kinda fun, but definitely not for everyone – make sure you don’t run down the tourists!
Of-coarse; this particular time (March 2020) on the planet is full of panic. Corona Virus news and fear is everywhere. The world has shut down and as I push onto my next destination; I find myself concerned I’ll get trapped somewhere as travel policies are changing daily. Returning my rental car here in Wellington and taking a short flight back to Auckland simplified travel here this-time. Onto more diving and warm weather.
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