An Englishman Abroad

Well another few days off and yet again another camping trip. This time I went to Waitomo with my new tent and stayed at the top 10 camp site.
This is not the first time I have been here but I find it a nice place to relax and it is not far from Auckland (2 and a half hours).

It rained a lot and the wind was pretty strong, but my new tent survived just. It was a bit like a lifeboat which rights its self when it sinks. First of all the rain came and then the wind, which sounded like a train comming. Next the sides of the tent would compact in and then blow back out. Anyway it survived but when I woke up on the first morning someones tent had just collapsed.
I did something quiet adventurous for me, I went black water rafting, which as follows. You are given a wet suit cold because it has been used a million times before, then you go in a mini van to a local river and are given a big rubber tube. You learn how to throw yourself into the river backwards landing in the water with your arse wedged in the rubber tube. Once this has been acheived it's back into the van and down to one of the local caves.
Over the next hour you scramble and float through this cave in water which is fairly cold (and it has eels and wetas in there with you). It was knackering but great to do and once finished it is back for a shower and soup.
Apparently it is great when the rivers are really high! Oh and believe me if you don't know what a weta is - best not to know.
Anyway the weekend was great.

In this part of my blog which will be the longest I am going to list the 101 MUST - DO'S FOR KIWIS. This is compiled by the AA but I am going to attempt all of them so will list them and all the ones I do will be highlighted in bold.

NORTH ISLAND
NORTHLAND
Cape Reinga - Sand, Surf and Spirits
Here, under the watchful gaze of the wind-whipped Cape Reinga lighthouse, the Tasman and Pacific meet, colliding in a fit of fury and spitting salty spray high as they battle for dominance.

Ahipara and Shipwreck Bay - Surf's up
An iconic seaside village and surfie's paradise, it's home to architecturally designed houses and salty old baches that sit side by side on its windswept coast.

Tutukaka/The Poor Knights - Underwater Utopia
To the visitor, Tutukaka is a nautical town with great views. For the marine adventurer, it is a gateway to Poor Knights Islands and some of the best diving and fishing in the world.

One of my favourite pieces of New Zealand is just on the doorstep of Auckland, the Pacific Coast Highway down through Miranda.
Living in Howick is ideal for this journey as within 10 minutes I'm out of the city and in beautiful country side.

Tuesday 27th February 2007
I had 2 days off but as it was nice weather I decided to head for one of my favourite camping spots, Miranda Hot Springs. The drive takes approx 1 and half hours through Cleveland and then along what is called the Seabird Coast to Miranda. The coast is lovely with views across to the Coromandel especially at sunset.
The campsite is absolutely brilliant with a small outdoor mineral pool which is nice to sit and soak in at night and first thing in the morning.
Next to the campsite is the larger pools with a takeaway place which is ideal if you don't want to cook your own food.

I think you need to experience this place for yourself instead of me trying to describe it.

Hi all,
This is my new blog and will detail all the nice places I have been to and hopefully make you all jealous.
I will start with my latest journey which was last week. For those of you who know me I live in New Zealand (Auckland) and in my spare time I travel about the country in my trusty little car which has a tent in the back.

Sunday 18th February 2007
I set off from Auckland last Sunday 18th and drove to the Kauri Coast top 10 holiday camp site which is just north of Dargaville and took me approx 4hrs from Auckland via Helensville.
The campsite is located in a wooded area near the Kai Iwi lakes. I had a barbecue when I arrived and a bottle of Jacobs Creek to wash it all down with.

Monday 19th February 2007
Well I woke up with a splitting headache this morning but will blame that on the fact I don't have a good pillow. Did not do anything today apart from soak up the sun and read.

Tuesday 20th February 2007
I was up early today about 7am (thing is with a tent you tend to wakeup when the birds start singing). I drove to Dargaville and visited the museum which showed things from Dargavilles past. I then stopped off for my daily latte before driving back to Auckland.