I’m wrapping up my eventful third week and nearing the end of my exploration of the north island. Hence, I’m going to tell you about my experiences and my aspirations.
Table of Contents
Hamilton
After a long drive from Waipoua Forest camp to Raglan Holiday Park, I headed to Hamilton the following day. I used the opportunity to visit Hamilton Gardens and was pleasantly surprised to find out it didn’t cost anything. You have the opportunity to choose from a selection of small special themed gardens. Experience a Japanese, modern, Fantasy garden and more, all for free. I had a really cool time during the 2 hours I stayed there. Yet, this was merely a teaser for what was to follow.
Italian baroque garden
In my blog post titled “Hobbiton” , I described a major highlight of my journey. The experience was so memorable that I couldn’t believe there was more to come. In the evening, I explored the Waitomo Caves, known for their enchanting glowworms. Photography is prohibited, meaning I can only point you to this website .
New Plymouth & Rotorua
I was confronted with my first challenging routing options. Coromandel is a must-see tourist attraction in New Zealand that always draws a crowd. Despite being near Waitomo Caves and wanting to see Mount Egmont in New Plymouth, I had to make a decision about my north island expedition ending in Wellington. Driving to New Plymouth will save me many kilometers, but I’ll have to travel 400 km to Coromandel.
If I drive to Coromandel and continue along the east coast until Napier/Hastings, I’ll have to cover more than 400 km to reach New Plymouth. After that, I’ll be driving on roads I’m already familiar with as I head towards Wellington. Therefore, I took my travel guide and did a bit of research about Coromandel and came to the conclusion, that another beach and some stone structure called “Cathedral Cove” interests me non. I decided not to visit Coromandel anymore. If my journey brings me back to Auckland, I might consider staying there for a day or two.
Consequently, I carried on with my journey to New Plymouth. Upon arrival at my destination, I was let down to find Mount Egmont obscured by willow clouds... What a wasted detour as the roads led me to Taupo.
Mount Egmont hiding behind clouds
Instead of taking the direct routes, I opted to drive along the 148 km roads of the “Forgotten Worlds Highway”; which turned out to be a big mistake. After looking up a brochure and finding points of interest, I thought it would be a great experience. The road from New Plymouth until “Morgan’s Grave” is absolutely horrible. The street tarmac is in poor condition, and the narrow, slow-curving road (some areas requiring 15 km/h) makes it an unpleasant experience until after the 3rd saddle. Hence, after exploring “Mount Damper Falls” and the burial site, I sought out a camping spot because I was exhausted.
Mt. Damper Falls
While the second half is slightly better, I still cannot recommend just because of an old hotel, waterfall, and other aspects. In a relaxed state, I proceeded with my adventure to Taupo. I went on a boat tour to see the “Maori Rock Carvings” and then drove to my overnight destination.
Rotorua & Gisborne
During my trip to Rotorua, I explored the “Thermal Wonderland” and witnessed diverse thermal craters and pools with poisonous colors. The price of 32.5 NZD is reasonable, but be aware of the occasional unpleasant odor that made me feel sick.
Champagne Pool
In Rotorua, I photographed the old bathhouse, which is undergoing mandatory earthquake safety renovations and will reopen as a museum in 2025. I went for a stroll around “Hamurana Springs” on the second day, a serene spot where you might spot black swans. I spent the remainder of the day applying for jobs and planning my route. Since I crossed off Coromandel and Tauranga, I can now move on to Gisborne, the first city to see the sunrise. But I never take the fastest routes, therefore I drove along the shores of “Bay of Plenty”. Again you will see many beautiful beaches and landscapes, but there aren’t on par with the Northlands .
The bathhouse in Rotorua
The next morning, I reached Gisborne and strolled along the “Our Strand, Our Story” path, discovering new things. Captain James Cook reached Gisborne on October 8th, 1769, but left without rations after disputes with the indigenous people, leading to the creation of the “Bay of Poverty”. Besides the first rays of sunlight, the city isn’t really that special, therefore I will continue my journey onto Napier and Hastings.
How I want to continue?
The eventful third week is ending with a double night in the yet unknown Hastings. On Monday the 23rd of October the national holiday will end the “labour weekend” and hopefully I will’ve more information depending on my job situation. That will finally solve my biggest question mark so far. How long and when I will explore the south island. Initially, I planned to spend 6-8 weeks traveling on the south island and then sell my car in late January. The outcome rests on my job fortune.
Thus I will venture on my second half in complete unknown, only time will tell how long I stayed in New Zealand.
In the Gallery you can explore more pictures.
