Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tsunami Warning
Apparently a Tsunami has struck the Samoan Islands today. This was breaking news in New Zealand, and a Tsunami warning was issued for the large parts of the west coast. Paihia being a coastal town is protected by the bay and all of its islands. So in the end the biggest waves hit the East Cape and where less then a meter high, and the waves hitting Russel / Paihia were even less. So luckily nothing bad happened here.
This morning I had booked a trip out in the bay (of Islands) to visit the hole in the rock. The trip was not canceled but due to safety we could not go out to visit the hole. We did see quite a number of nice islands in the inner section of the bay. So if someone is considering to move to New Zealand this is by far the nicest place i have seen so far. On the return trip it allowed me to visit the Town of Russel as well. It's a nice town opposite of Paihia and one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand. It's more upmarket then Paihia and has some nice old wooden houses.
Yesterday evening i joined in at the local poker tournament at which i enjoyed a nice glas of Grolsch (yes they do have decent dutch beer over here!). Eventually I finished 3rd overall (12 participants) playing against some seasoned veterans (elderly couple). Poker was a lot better then watching a girl flic at the hostel. Anyway I have seen most things in and around Paihia which means that tomorrow i will be heading south to visit Whangarei and while traveling in that direction i will stop over at the most famous toilet (Hundertwasser) in New Zealand at Kawakawa.
This morning I had booked a trip out in the bay (of Islands) to visit the hole in the rock. The trip was not canceled but due to safety we could not go out to visit the hole. We did see quite a number of nice islands in the inner section of the bay. So if someone is considering to move to New Zealand this is by far the nicest place i have seen so far. On the return trip it allowed me to visit the Town of Russel as well. It's a nice town opposite of Paihia and one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand. It's more upmarket then Paihia and has some nice old wooden houses.
Yesterday evening i joined in at the local poker tournament at which i enjoyed a nice glas of Grolsch (yes they do have decent dutch beer over here!). Eventually I finished 3rd overall (12 participants) playing against some seasoned veterans (elderly couple). Poker was a lot better then watching a girl flic at the hostel. Anyway I have seen most things in and around Paihia which means that tomorrow i will be heading south to visit Whangarei and while traveling in that direction i will stop over at the most famous toilet (Hundertwasser) in New Zealand at Kawakawa.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
And onwards by Car
When we left on the 26th the weather in opononi was once again 'very nice'. However by the time we (a german girl Steffi joined) reached Kaitaia it looked a little better. Traveling together sounded like a good plan then the both of us could pay attention to drive on the left hand side of the road.
The plan was to stay at the Pukenui backpackers but before going there we had a nice meal at the fish and chips shop in Mangonui. This was my first time of Fish and Chips and to be honest it could not have been fresher.
The hostel in Pukenui also had a group of Germans. Actually i have not yet spend an evening at a hostel without germans so far. And I guess this will remain the same for the rest of the trip. Well what can I say, in europe you meet plenty of germans and apparantly they also really like New Zealand. Now i can brush up on my daily german ;-).
In New Zealand summer time started on the 27th so the night was one hour less. We left early for Cape Reinga and the weather looked promising. To be honest it was a nice drive up to the Cape. The weather could not have been better, compared to the rest of the week.
The hostel in Pukenui also had a group of Germans. Actually i have not yet spend an evening at a hostel without germans so far. And I guess this will remain the same for the rest of the trip. Well what can I say, in europe you meet plenty of germans and apparantly they also really like New Zealand. Now i can brush up on my daily german ;-).
In New Zealand summer time started on the 27th so the night was one hour less. We left early for Cape Reinga and the weather looked promising. To be honest it was a nice drive up to the Cape. The weather could not have been better, compared to the rest of the week.
The Cape offers you the most amazing view to see the joining of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. There are clifs and beaches and sanddunes. Walking up the Sand Dunes was quite a challenge but the view was rewarding as well.
From the Cape we travelled to the South heading for the Bay of Islands. Eventually we arrived at Keri Keri. This is where we split again, by this time I was really glad about that.
On Monday I visited all the sites in and around Keri Keri, The oldest house in New Zealand the Stone house. there is also a copy of a pre-european Maori village called Rewa's Village, and the most impressive site where the ... waterfalls.
In the afternoon It was a short trip to Paihia my next destination, which is 'the' beach resort in the bay of islands. Just before reaching Paihia you can visit the 'The Waitangi Treaty grounds' a historic site at which the treaty between the British and the Maori was signed. Over there you can visit a beautifull Maori meeting house, and the treaty house.
From the Cape we travelled to the South heading for the Bay of Islands. Eventually we arrived at Keri Keri. This is where we split again, by this time I was really glad about that.
On Monday I visited all the sites in and around Keri Keri, The oldest house in New Zealand the Stone house. there is also a copy of a pre-european Maori village called Rewa's Village, and the most impressive site where the ... waterfalls.
In the afternoon It was a short trip to Paihia my next destination, which is 'the' beach resort in the bay of islands. Just before reaching Paihia you can visit the 'The Waitangi Treaty grounds' a historic site at which the treaty between the British and the Maori was signed. Over there you can visit a beautifull Maori meeting house, and the treaty house.
I booked the full guided tour on tuesday morning, and luckily the weather was still ok. The tuesday afternoon however is really one more nice example of rainy new zealand.
I will upload some pictures if I have access to WIFI with an unlimited upload.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sinusitis
Apparantly the bad weather of the first 3 days is taking its toll. From thursday to friday I really had a bad night of sleep. Which resulted in a nice sinusitis. Yesterday I looked at all the options of continuing my journey. And continuing by bike is not the best option for the next few days.
Appart from the sinusitis, I also have to reconsider the travelling by bike in general. I honestly underestimated the New Zealand weather and countryside (steeper then expected). My travelling speed by bike is less then 60 km a day. During the cycling the main focus is to reach the nearest backpackers. Usually by the time i arrived at the backpackers I am exhausted. Now i know that this will improve over time. However my time in New Zealand is limited.
And when reviewing my priorities, then discovering New Zealand is the top one and travelling by bike is secondary to that. So taking the weather and the countryside into the equasion as well then the end result is that travellling by car is more suitable for discovering New Zealand.
Yesterday I could join Sue the owner of the Opononi backpackers for her grocery shopping trip to Kaihohe and Keri Keri. And while doing so i decided to rent a car for the next few days. Just to check out how the left hand driving is.
In all travelling by car will allow me to cover larger distances and save more time to see and do things.
Appart from the sinusitis, I also have to reconsider the travelling by bike in general. I honestly underestimated the New Zealand weather and countryside (steeper then expected). My travelling speed by bike is less then 60 km a day. During the cycling the main focus is to reach the nearest backpackers. Usually by the time i arrived at the backpackers I am exhausted. Now i know that this will improve over time. However my time in New Zealand is limited.
And when reviewing my priorities, then discovering New Zealand is the top one and travelling by bike is secondary to that. So taking the weather and the countryside into the equasion as well then the end result is that travellling by car is more suitable for discovering New Zealand.
Yesterday I could join Sue the owner of the Opononi backpackers for her grocery shopping trip to Kaihohe and Keri Keri. And while doing so i decided to rent a car for the next few days. Just to check out how the left hand driving is.
In all travelling by car will allow me to cover larger distances and save more time to see and do things.
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