Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Monday 6th February

Rotorua to Whangarei (Waitangi Day)

Drove out of Caravan Site to outskirts of Rotorua to visit more 'Hot Springs', before driving on to Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, to see even more larger & more impressive hot pools. Lady Knox Geyser was due to erupt at 10:15am, so a very quick walk around the hot pools was necessary before viewing the geyser.

Hot Spring by Whakarewarewa Thermal Area
 on Highway 30

Hot Spring, 'Devil's Home' in
Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Hot Spring Sign at Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Hot Springs in Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Board Walk in Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Hot Spring in Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Rang Chris to say I was in a hurry and to asked him to get the minibus running so we could drive the short distance to the geyser. At the geyser the attendant waited for all to arrive before explaining that the geyser could be artificially encouraged to erupt by using a soap compound. The geyser erupted for about half an hour, plenty of time to take photos. I rang Chris again and asked him to join me. After plenty of photos we drove back to Rotorua and continued on Highway 5 to Leamington, near Cambridge. We stopped for a coffee and more photos. I was itching to tell everyone I was from Leamington Spa in the UK.

Lady Knox Geyser near
Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Derek at Lady Knox Geyser near
Wai-O- Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Derek in Leamington Centre near Cambridge

Short detour from Leamington to Matamata, along Highway 29, to see where the film 'The Hobbit' and associated movies were shot.

Hobbiton Sign in Matamata on Highway 24

Soon on Highway 27 to Firth of Thames for a view of Coromandel, where we continued on an unclassified road to Howick, via Clevedon & Whitford. Chris showed me his old stopping grounds in Auckland. As we approached Auckland we must have driven almost 2000 miles, and would you believe it, I en counted my first traffic jam in New Zealand. Drove through the centre of Howick to Stockade Hill for panoramic views of City, then continued to Musick Point for panoramic views of Tomaki Strait and surrounding islands.

First Traffic Jam in NZ on Whitmore Road
Approaching Howick

Towards Coramandel from Stockade Hill, Howick

Rangitoto Island from Bucklands Beach, near Howick

Browns Island from Musick Point

Drove into City on Highway 1, along motorways to Harbour Bridge and onto North Shore Highway. After a while we were approaching Orewa and signs explained there would be toll charges if we continued. But no pay booths were found for us to pay the appropriate charges. It eventually be came apparent that payments should be by telephone or the Internet. I made notes and we agreed to worry about the charges later, when time was less pressing.

Auckland City Centre from State Highway 1

Auckland Harbour Bridge on State Highway 1

Bream Head from Uretiti Beach, Bream Bay

Lots of traffic going into Auckland of returning holiday goers  after the bank holiday weekend. Luckily we were going the other direction. More twists and turns with steep gradients all the way to Uretiti Beach, where we stopped at a campsite. Quick visit to the beach before supper.

24 degrees C, 100% Cloud

No rain

Still, no wind