New Zealand - February / March 2018

On request, the pictures below will be ordered most recent first and going back in time.

We arrived in Auckland February 4th, 2018. Fist nights we stay with Rob, an old colleague of Gy. So our fist counter with Kiwi hospitality is already unbeatable! We picked up our campervan in Palmerston. Next day we crossed to the south island. After Abel Tasman National Park, we went to Punakaki (the pancake rocks). Bad weather was predicted in the West, so we changed the plan and crossed over to the east. A nice two day stop to relax in the thermal bath in Hanmer Springs. A short stop in Christchurch and then amazing beautiful Akaroa. After the 'wet' Moeraki Boulders, we went for a farm visit with our warm friends Jan and Donaround Dunedin. The Sinclair Wetlands are stunning. Curio Bay and her petrified forrest treated us with some rain. From Lake Manapouri we took a trip to Doubtful Sound. Driving to Queenstown you pass through stunning sceneries. And then Queenstown treats you on some 'city'  life where Mirin did her first gondola ride. Next stop is Lake Wanaka for some cycling.  Also some daddy time in the form of Jetboating in Wanaka. 

A beautiful ride to Lake Pukaki, where a view of the camper shows Mount Cook. Here we did a helicopter flight arount Mount Cook and over Fox and Franz Josef glacier. We even landed on the glacier where Mirin touched her first snow!

Some relaxation in Lake Tekapo Springs after all the excitement.

In amazing Kaikoura, we spontaneously did a whale watching flight. On our first attempt nog whales, but we got invited to do another flight next day, which brought us several sightings!

A goodbye to the amazing beautiful south island. North, here we come!

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The North island started with Wellington, Te Papa museum. Then to Whanganui National Park in Hawera. 

After that a visit ro our friends Mirte and Thijs in Taumarunui. What a warm welcome. Mirin had her last shits there.

Our next stop were the Waitomo caves. We did a 100 meter free abseil into Lost World. What an amazing experience. OK, Mirin could not join us ofcourse, so Gy did the morning tour and Jurgen the afternoon one.

Then a visit to the Hobitton movie set. A little touristy, but well worth it. So nice to see where Lord of the Rings was filmed.

At a gas station we saw a 50s car and caravan. The owner told us there was an upcoming 50s event in Whangamata, so we drove by. A huge event with more than 1000 old vintage cars.

The Coromandel gave us it's hot water beach. Just dig a hole in the sand and you have your own hot tub. But with so many people it felt more being part of a  Penguin colony. After that we did a beautiful hike to Cathedral Cove.

On our route to Rotorua, we passed by Whakatane, the Kiwi capital of the world. Now we know how a kiwi grows. 

Then it was time for some steamy business in Rotorua region. Bathing in 'Kerosene creek' and walking through the devilish Wai-o-tapu.

We spent the Easter weekend with our sweet friends Mirte and Thijs and their kids. First in Ohope on a very, very busy campsite. Then we left for a nature night in Lake Whakamaru, close to Taupo. 

After celebrating Lucas birthday in Taumarouni, we said goodbye and took the 'forgotten highway'. No mobile, nor internet,. But a slice of paradise still left! What a stunning place. We even got our passports stamped in the smallest Republic in the world, with 15 inhabitants.

Now our last nights in New Zealand. Packing and handing in our beloved motorhome. Saturday we fly out to Fiji and new adventures!

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Morre pictures come as we move on ...