Waiheke Island and Auckalnd Again

Trip Start Jun 26, 2007
1
55
60
Trip End Ongoing


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
Hekoura hostel
(Waiheke Island hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Friday, February 8, 2008

After my 4 weeks working in Kerikeri, I was ready to hit the road again and made the 3 ½ hr drive back to Auckland. Since I had already spent 3 week in Auckland when I first arrived in New Zealand I didn't plan to stay any longer than a couple of days. However that plan went out the window after I heard England were playing New Zealand in a 20 over game of cricket and despite the terrible organisation at Eden Park I did manage to get into the ground despite missing the first six overs to see England convincingly win. Wasn't the most exciting game with the exception of one English batsmen hitting 4 sixes in a row and the Mexican Wave with people throwing their rubbish in the air. Typically some fans (most probably English) threw their plastic beer bottles into the air covering fans behind them in any remaining alcohol. Luckily I was right at the front of the stand so I avoided most of the bombardment but that didn't prevent me from joining in with the Mexican wave where I accidentally knocked off the baseball cap from the kiwi guy next to me onto the canopy 4metres below.

Another day was spent at the New Zealand War Museum, learning about the battle between the Maoris and the British, the Kiwi's involvement in the World Wars, problems associated with New Zealand's volcanic activity, seeing lots of stuffed animals in its wildlife section before finally discovering more about the Maori culture.
By my third day in Auckland, I was ready to move on again. So I made the short ferry journey to Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Only 20km east of Auckland this island is renowned for its sandy beaches and its vineyards and is very popular with Aucklanders, so during summer weekends getting accommodation can prove problematic. Luckily I was there on a weekday and managed to pitch my tent up at the laid back Hekoura hostel with its hippy-like vibe. Initially I had planned to do some cycling and walking but after seeing the forested hills upon arrival under the sweltering heat I quickly changed my mind, so the walks ended up being a lot shorter than planned and always ended up at the beach. This was how I stumbled across my first nudist beach in New Zealand (Palm Beach). So taking this opportunity to rid myself of my white bottom I stripped off and spent the rest of the day reading and swimming. Stupidly I didn't put enough sun cream on and by the next day I was struggling to sit down after burning my buttocks, annoying but at least my backside now has a bit more colour.

My stupidity didn't stop there, heading back to the port I realised I had left my wallet with my remaining beer in a black bag in the fridge. But thankfully one of the owners of the hostel brought the wallet minus the beers down during their lunch break.

So back in Auckland where I spent the next two days doing nothing with the exception of watching England lose the first one day game to New Zealand on Sky TV and finally finishing the Lord of the Ring book.
By Sunday I had two fellow passengers to join me back up north to Paihia where I planned to finish the rest of my sightseeing in Northlands before heading south again.

(If you are wondering why I headed south first of all. It was because I gave two German girls who were working in Kerikeri a lift to Auckland and more importantly to the airport for their flights home.)
Print this entry