The last days flew by when I was driving up to the far north. Going through the Waipoua Forest visiting the ancient kauri trees including Tane Mahuta, the god of the forest. Seeding up to 2000 years ago, theese trees are agmong the most impressiv in the world. Growing up to 60 m their trunks need many men to fully embrace them. Meeting Anika from the “Schwabenlaendle” there we decided to drive north together. The next stop was the famous Ninety Mile Beach. - Man, I wish I had a 4WD! - You can drive all along the beach almost up to Cape Reinga then. We had to take the road and counted 11 dead possums and rabbits on 4.5 km. Suicidal tendencies among them, I guess.
Anyway, we reached Cape Reinga on a perfect day and visited the place where, in Maori beliefs, the souls of the dead leave the earth.
Back south we found a place called Maitai Bay wich would be my first pick for a pirate movie set! An almost circular bay with a perfact beach, crystal blue water framed by jagged rocks overgrown with oysters… What do you think?
Hard enough to part from that place. Now I’m on the road again hoping to get to Coromandel before nightfall. So long, Peace out!
As the famous glowworms happen to be the larvae of a fly, that attract their prey using bioluminescense. Amazing what kind of life hides in the dark corners of our world.
And then there was another chapter: Wellington. Loads of bars, restaurants, museums and cars… Cars and carparks, and I needed one for the night. Well, I didn’t know how small and hidden traffic-signs can be. And so, when I went out to my car in the morning it was already on the hook. No parking from 7-9 was the answer. Didn’t you see the sign? Up there on the corner. A postcard would have been more obvious. Grrrrmbl… And the result: 112$. I expected Wellington to be expensive, but not this way. That somehow spoiled the rest of my stay in Wellington. But the famous Te Papa Museum did everything to make up for it. That one is a real cracker!