Australia – New Zealand – Part 2

New Zealand

Our time in New Zealand was just one big highlight. We had decided (as many people do) to rent a campervan and get a relaxing taste of the North Island in the eight days we had. We rented the camper van from Lucky Rentals based on the recommendation of a friend who had used them a couple years ago. We were very pleased with their service and the van itself –– nothing fancy, but with a fridge, sink, small gas burner and the ability to transform into a bed each night that even Andrea could stretch out on AND fully stand up inside as well! It served us extremely well.

We decided not to go for quantity but rather quality and so we had chosen and booked all but one of our camp sites prior to arriving in NZ (the internet and an app called CamperMate being super helpful) and decided to spend two nights in each place which allowed us to relax and enjoy where we were instead of moving every day. We can't possibly describe every place but hopefully pictures do a little justice. Also check out our Trip Advisor reviews. 

Flying into New Zealand - almost right over our first camping spot - Piha and Karekare beaches

Though we just drove through Auckland, this was a good view as we came in to land.

Stop # 1 Piha Beach, on the black sand west coast, just an hour from Auckland, where we stayed at Piha Domain Camp with a visit to KareKare beach  (where The Piano was filmed) which was close by. We couldn't have picked a better place to begin our time in New Zealand. Andrea especially loved the black sand and the colors reflected off of it. Stunning!

Piha Beach

Karekare Falls

Stop # 2 Hahei on the Coramandel Peninsula where we stayed at Hahei Holiday Resort – and where we splurged a little and chose a beachfront camper site with direct sea views and beach access. The east coast is just as stunning and beautiful as Piha and KareKare but with white sand and a little less wild terrain. This is a large camp site with great facilities attracting families that have come for their holidays year after year. We just loved looking out at the water. We did walk down to the famous Cathedral Cove which was well worth it but passed on the over rated Hot Water Beach.

Food from a friendly farmer along the way

Moonrise - Hahei Beach

Early morning view from our camper - Hahei Beach

Walking to Cathedral Cove

Cathedral Cove

Stop # 3 South of Rotorua where we stayed at Waikete Valley Thermal Hot Pools where we experienced “the ‘Living Waters’ of the Te Manaroa Spring - the largest single source of 100% pure boiling water in New Zealand." This pure spring water flows into their six heated (hot!) pools of various sizes. Camping here gave us access to all the pools so we had multiple swims. It was a somewhat surreal experience to be in pastoral countryside surrounded by sheep and cows and steaming stream beds full of boiling water! It takes a unique farmer/shepherd to keep their livestock safe here!  We also visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and saw the amazing colors of this volcanic geothermal area. It's worth the admission fee but if you do go, feel free to skip the Lady Knox Geyser tourist trap and focus on the rest!

Waikete Valley Thermal Hot Pools

The pools are drained and cleaned every evening

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Stop # 4 was in Wellington where we stayed with Tim and Karen Kong and their kids. Tim is another friend and classmate from Chefoo/Faith days. Like our time with Jenny and Remo, we had such a good time just hanging out, catching up and talking. Tim and Karen were super hosts and their kids were a lot of fun. Tim showed us some of Wellington’s sights including Te Papa, the museum to see in NZ if you can only see one.

Stop #5 From Wellington it was about a 8-10 hour drive back up to Auckland which we broke into two days of driving with our final camp site on the shores of Lake Taupo. We also made a brief stop an hour north of Wellington to visit with Martine Lewis, a former teacher from Faith Academy who in addition to still teaching runs a retreat and spiritual direction center.

One of our favorite finds in New Zealand - Kapiti ice cream

Though we were only in Australia and New Zealand just over two weeks it felt so much longer, and so far away from our lives back in DC. We slept and relaxed well. We also missed the blizzard that dumped three feet of show on the East Coast. For all this we are very very grateful!

Duncan