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Whangamata Beach 🏝 🏄‍♀️

A surf hotspot with several small islands in front of the beach to please the eyes. Again the playground was huge and also entertaining for the bigger ones. We come across climbing and parcour elements, flying fox and shady trees (amongst these the iconic and beloved Norfolk Pine). All we could wish for.
Long beach walks, sand hole digging and collecting mussel shells 🐚, a visit in town for burger and fries and in the evening a perfect freedom campground made this stop a memorable one.

How to eat a burger 🍔 with style! 😍

22. März 2020 0

Hot Water Beach 💧 🏖

By far the most famous attraction on Coromandel Peninsula is the Hot Water Beach!
Thermal water from an old volcano is flowing into the sea and at low tide you can experience a hot bath directly at the beach. All you have to do is bring a spate, dig at the right spot and find the comfortable mixture of hot and cold water to enjoy the beautiful view onto the sea out of your private bathtub. Sounds quite easy, right? Well, you better make sure you really find the right mixture of hot and cold water because otherwise you turn lobster red in just a few minutes. So to find the right spot in the right section (just 20-30 meter zone in total) with the perfect mixture you need every trick of the book.
And for sure you are not alone (pictures where made prior to COVID-19 time).

We met Kathrin and Tobi, also German travelers, with their son Lias and spontaneously spend 2 days together. Nice and long conversation for the parents and perfect playmates for the little ones.

21. März 2020 0

Cathedral Cove and Birthday 🎂 Kajak Tour

For Amélies 6th birthday we had something special on the list. A Sea-Kajak tour to the the spectacular Cathedral Cove, a stone formation directly at a remote beach area.
New Zealand gave us the full weather experience from clear blue sky and sunshine to rain and back again.

And for sure…at the campground a huge bouncy bounce was the best attraction! What a day…

20. März 2020 0

Coromandel – Driving Creek

Sundowner near Coromandel Town – our campground close to the beach provided us with a top spot for our yummy dinner (salmon, potatoes, sweet corn) with a view!

Next day we enjoyed the fun ride with The Driving Creek Railway, a narrow gauge railway up the hill with a stunning view over Coromandel Town and it’s surrounding.

Afterwards the hungry traveller found excellent food at Luke’s Kitchen in Kuaotunu. Pizza, fantastic Greenlipmussels and Craft Beer 🍻…Heaven!

19. März 2020 1

Rapaura Watergardens

The next stop required a bit of driving. We passed Auckland, coming from the North, and drove around the Fith of Thames (sea arm) to Coromandel Peninsula, known for beautiful beaches and interesting hikes in the inland.
We had a night rest in Thames, the gateway and biggest town (8000 inhabitants) on the peninsula.

Again it’s time to mention that freedom camping is the most fun in NZ, be it in remote nature or even in cities. It simply is the best way of traveling with a campervan. Freedom, flexibility, independence…and cheap!

And we have to praise the always excellent equipped and big playgrounds and usually sparkling clean public facilities (restrooms). A blessing not just for the kids! Theses places commonly come along with barbecue stations and sitting areas, clean & save and a hang out for young and old!

A gorgeous botanical treasure at bit inland, the Rapaura Watergardens, is a photographer’s and nature lover’s paradise. A heaven of tranquility!

18. März 2020 0

Tāwharanui National Park

In the mid of the Tāwharanui Regional Park we spend 2 days on a D.O.C. (Department of Conservation) camp ground. Your vehicle has to be self-contained to be allowed on this campground and beside long drops (pit toilets) there are no facilities.

But you have lots of space and there’s nothing but nature surrounding you! 🌿

Besides swimming and boogie boarding in the beautiful Pacific Ocean we enjoyed gorgeous sunsets as well as excellent walks for bird watching. 🐧🐦🐤🐥

Actually the natural reserve is famous with ornithologist. You can easily spend some more days on the peninsula…

16. März 2020 0

Kai Iwi Lakes

The 3 sweet water lakes with smooth white sand are a place to be for kiwis at the weekend and likely more an insider tipp for ordinary foreign tourists.
We enjoyed great swims, romantic sundowner walks and simply had a nice and relaxing time…

16. März 2020 0

Tāne Mahuta – God of the Forest 🌳

The most famous tree in New Zealand, approximately 2500 years old, was laying on our way back southwards.
The biggest living kauri tree is situated in the Waipoua forest and nearby you can find other giant species, like the Te Matua Ngahere – the Lord of the Forest.

It’s hard to transport the dimension and size of these trees via pictures…but in one word…they are HUGE 👀😲

And just imagine how many birds must have nested in their crowns over the 2500 years!

How many empires, kingdoms, revolutions, inventions and times of peace have past. The God of the Forest was a child when our common era began! Unthinkable…and it made us feel humble…

16. März 2020 0

Ninety Mile Beach

One of the longest beaches in the world, not really 90 miles, but almost 90 kilometers in length and a great motorway for any off road vehicle. That’s the Ninety Mile Beach, forming the west coast down from Cape Reinga.

Birds, lots of mussels and wild horses accompanied us on the drive back to Awanui. Not to forget the endless views in both directions…