Rapaura Water Gardens North Island

... Die Tunnel, durch die wir auch laufen konnten (zum Glueck hatten wir eine Taschenlampe dabei), waren extrem dunkel und kalt - es muss echt ein ziemlich harter Job gewesen sein dort zu arbeiten.

Nach 2 Stunden gings dann weiter Richtung Thames. Auf dem Campingplatz dort konnten wir Minigolf spielen, was wir netuerlich auch sofort ausgenuzt haben. Allerdings auf selbstgebauten Bahnen (Basti hat nur deswegen gewonnen!)...

We checked out of our hotel and spent the morning wandering around Auckland awaiting Lauren’s arrival. After lunch we met her off the airbus at the harbor and got straight on the train to Otahuhu where we were to collect our camper-van from. We spent the 25 minutes on the train catching up and almost missed our stop!

When we got to the camper-van depot there was no ...

... storage in the van in readiness for returning it the next day. I cooked lamb for tea with a lemon, kelp and macadamia nut crust and then, because it seemed daft not to take advantage of it I headed for the pool.

The lights were on and the little waterfall at the back splashed softly into the water. I waded in, settled down and watched my tension just float away. It was heavenly and I could have gone to sleep right there and then. It started to rain again a little ...

... 8220;We might be billed as pure and clean but we’re like any other country, we have our problems and our crime”. She repeated her warnings although stopping short of scaring me.

I said my goodbyes and hurried down the street with her words ringing in my ears. I wanted to get back to the van as quickly as possible and check it hadn’t been broken into or burnt out in my absence (I know, I know but I get paranoid about things…)!

Predictably it was ...

... does the steering. Unfortunately Naomi didn't quite pick it up immediately (she'd never done the steering before). The steering involved pushing pedals and the like with your feet. I don't think we were supposed to hit the other kayaks at right angles. Maybe that's why they all stayed behind us after a while. I thought it was just that we were of superior upper body strength and getting way ahead - all be it twsiting and turning ...

... late afternoon and as a tide timetable on the fridge indicated it should be low tide, we headed for Hot Water Beach (only around 5km away). There are two hot water streams that flow under the sand into the sea here and you can dig out holes to create a natural hot tub. The water really is very hot in places (up to 64ºc) and certainly too hot to leave your foot in if you find the right spot.

... try harder'. Then I got the ferry to the corromandal, crewed by a friendly and informative all girl crew. The journey was choppy but scenic. I stopped to eat lunch in Corromandal town, whilst trying again to get through the last 30pages of my book, I man on a bike came to quiz me on my bike, my trip , route etc, He was nice but very chatty and annoyingly believed helmets where a waste of time. I set off deciding to take the less scenic sealed road ...

We hired a car from Apex rentals and set off to Coromandel East side of the North Island, weather isn't so good again, it's raining and storms are forecast but we don't mind getting wet. We went though Thames some of the buildings were nice but they didn't appear to be much there so we kept going and set of on the Thames Scenic Drive which was a ...

... for us to pich a tent as the campsites want at least $15 per person - crazy prices! We got up in the morning to find Coromandel is a really picturesque but sleepy town, we walked around for a few minutes, got a brew on and ate some pot noodles before heading off on our enxt road trip - somewhere towards Rotarora.

... Wel erg grappig hoe behulpzaam iedereen dit keer hiermee is. Mensen hebben me de beste liftplekken gewezen en daarvoor zelfs omgereden om mij naar de andere kant van de stad te brengen. Zo aardig!

Maar goed, mijn eerste lift was een overjarige surfer-dude, die eigenlijk wel een beetje hash had willen roken in de auto, maar die ik toch wist te overtuigen dat ...