Cape Reinga to Muriwai Beach via Waipoua - Day 252

Trip Start Jan 31, 2008
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251
Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
In my car somewhere
(Auckland hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  , North Island,
Friday, October 31, 2008

A rainy night, so the dust on the car from yesterday's dirt track drive to the cape has now turned to mud. This morning I visited the massive Te Paki sand dunes, just west of Cape Reinga. The dunes are huge and are the biggest I've ever seen. I felt like Lawrence of Arabia, just needed a couple of camels. Had a stroll on the dunes in the stiff morning breeze which was kicking up the fine sand into the air. Then disaster, my camera broke! Not to sure if the sand is the culprit but the lens doesn't focus and when I power the camera down the lens doesn't contract, shit!!! The camera has been through a lot this year, it's experienced temperatures of minus 15 to plus 40 and has been completely reliable until today. Luckily I'd taken all the shots I wanted of the dunes before it packed up. Will need to head back to Auckland tomorrow to buy another one. An unneeded expense and hassle. I do have a tiny compact camera which I bought in Singapore as a Christmas present for a family member which I'll use for the rest of the day. Lucky I had this handy but it's not really ideal for my needs. Anyway shit happens, did put a bit of a downer on the morning.

Then to Kaitaia for breakfast. The waitress told me to be careful up here  in the far north because quite a few tourists get ripped off by the locals apparently. I better watch my back.

Drove west to the beautiful undeveloped Kauri coast via Hokianga Harbour which again has some huge sand dunes across the bay framed with beautiful pale blue waters and blue skies. I really beautiful coastal landscape.

Next for today was a visit to Waipoua Forest. New Zealand's largest Kauri tree sits in this ancient forest. The Tane Mahuta (God of the forest) tree is estimated to be over 2000 year old and is certainly a big unit. A couple of kilometres up the road is the Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the forest) tree which is the widest tree in New Zealand with a girth of 16.5 metres! Still compared to the Giant Sequoia's in California these Kauri trees are like Bonsai's, although pretty massive in their own right.

Continued south towards Auckland which is now only 40km away after parking up in Muriwai Beach for a sleep. Just hope I can get the camera I want tomorrow at a reasonable price but I'm still going to have to spend hundreds of pounds, doh!!

The Kiwi's remind me a little of the northern English with their broad accents, gritty mannerisms and their love of rugby. Certainly a lot of similarities.
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