Far North and more

So far the North Island of New Zealand has been full of winding roads, lots of sheep and cow, tons of islands, and incredible views around every corner.  We have been on the go.  From Raglan we went to the Far North on a long journey to the tip, Cape Regina.  Along the way we saw some ancient giant Kauri trees that were anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 years old!!!  They are huge!!  At Trunson Kauri Park we went on a night hike and spotted two endangered kiwi birds with our low beam lights. We also saw glow worms, a three foot long freshwater eel and an invasive possum that Eugene threw rocks at and it yelled at him from up a tree for few hours.  

After we stopped at a healing natural Hot Spring called Ngawha.  We were told not to rinse off after for three days to allow the minerals to soak in for healing purposes, and we did it!!  We smelt like sulphur all three days and Eugene still kinda smells like it.

 At the cape we experienced a great wind  and rain storm, little Frenchy was cozy.  In the Bay of Islands we left our van lights on over breakfast and had to get a jump by a guy named Smity, who reminded us of Sherlock Holmes.   After, we went to Whangaruru Headlands and hiked and then saw some more glow worms at the Abbey Caves.  The last stop in the North Land was Goat Island Marine Reserve where we snorkeled and saw a few sting rays and big snapper.

We zipped through Auckland and headed to Thames, the first town on the west side of the Cormandel Pennisula.  We stayed at a Funky motor camp where you check in with Bruce at the bar across the street.  There we walked the beach and found chunks of agate.  We later went to the final cape of the Cormandel  Peninsula  and picked up a hitchhiker. We dropped him off at Fantail Bay and drove to the end of Jackson Bay Road and camped at Fletcher’s Bay. The next day we hiked around the North Eastern side of the Peninsula to Stony Bay and back. 

After hiking we drove Frenchy to the other side of the Pennisula to hit up the famous Hot Water Beach.  You have to time it with the low tide in order to get the hot water because you have to dig your own hole.  We hired a spade and got to work.  We could have used the Gohegan gang from the Beach to dig.  But we managed to dig out a pretty good sandy hot tub by the end of the tide. The next day we walked to Cathedral Cove Beach, where the sand has a rosy hue.   We left the Cormandel peninsula and now we are figuring out which way to go.  Back to the beach or to the mountains and the hot springs?  Stay tuned...