View from where we camped on night 9. 
The town of Russell, near the Bay of Islands.
The massive sand dunes near Cape Reinga. 
R. on the sand dunes.
The Shire meets Arrakis. 
Cape Reinga lighthouse.More updates on the way.
-N.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
PIctures from Day 10-11
View from where we camped on night 9. The town of Russell, near the Bay of Islands. The massive sand dunes near Cape Reinga. R. on the sand dunes. The Shire meets Arrakis. Cape Reinga lighthouse.More updates on the way.
-N.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Pictures from Day 6-9
Here are the pictures from the days 6-9.
The Shire!
Cathedral Cove.
Lookout point from the walk down to Cathedral Cove. Looking out toward Hahei.
Our cute room at the hostel in Coromandel.
Me in the rental car at the wharf in Tutukaka.
Us on the boat on before scuba diving and snorkeling.
Me on the boat. Self-portrait.
Our first dive/snorkel spot.
My best photo from my bad underwater photography.
Sunset on the eastern coast of the north island overlooking fields.
more soon
-n.
The Shire!
Cathedral Cove. 
Lookout point from the walk down to Cathedral Cove. Looking out toward Hahei.
Our cute room at the hostel in Coromandel.
Me in the rental car at the wharf in Tutukaka. 
Us on the boat on before scuba diving and snorkeling. 
Me on the boat. Self-portrait. 
Our first dive/snorkel spot. 
My best photo from my bad underwater photography. 
Sunset on the eastern coast of the north island overlooking fields. more soon
-n.
New Zealand Day 10 & 11 (dec 4-5th)
We had a leisurely morning on the beach, and then it was back on the road. We were headed for Cape Reinga, the most northern point (minus an island) in New Zealand. We planned to camp in that area for 2 days. We drove north, more along the coast, and went by the bay of islands. I remember the guidebook saying “pictures of this place made you want to come to New Zealand in the first place”. And it was gorgeous. White sandy beaches, beautiful blue/green water, boats everywhere. We stopped in Russell, check our email, had lunch, and got some ice cream. It was quite a picturesque town on the water. Tons of old houses that had a british feel to it. Lots of yummy looking restaurants, quaint B & Bs. It would a place I'd like to stay if I had more money. We had to listen to some sleezy American in his 50s/60s try and pick up a young American woman in her early 20s. It was one of the most disgusting things I've witnessed in a while. It didn't totally ruin the ice cream sundae, as it was a yummy ice cream sundae, but man, that guy was nasty.
From, there, we continued on along the water and then north. We hit some rain and got nervous we'd be screwed by the weather, and unable to camp, but amazingly, but by the time we arrived at the campground (about 40-50 kilometers south of Cape Reinga, up on the pennisula, but not quite at the top yet), it had stopped raining. So, we were able to set up camp and eat before the downpour started. It was a wet night and R's allergies had gone crazy.
The next day, the rain cleared and we headed up to the Cape. We firs stopped at these massive sand dunes. Seriously massive. Huge. And it was weird b/c driving down the road we were driving through the Shire, green, rolling hills. And suddenly, we are in Dune. It was The Shire meets Arrakis. Seriously. We went from Lord of the Rings to Dune. Wait until you see the pictures. Anyway – the dunes were crazy huge and walked all over them and it was really neat. You could rent boards to slide down them, but the guy renting them was a HUGE asshole so, we did not.
After we left there, we drove down the very bumpy road to Cape Reinga and the lighthouse there. We wandered out to the lighthouse and looked around for a bit, then made our way back to a beach, ate lunch, then laid around for a few hours. The beach was very interesting, as it mainly appeared to made from broken down seashells. We finally hit relaxation on this day, after all the months of stress and hecticness. It was a nice change. We eventually had dinner and slept.
****
I found my camera cord, so there shall be a picture post soon!
-N.
From, there, we continued on along the water and then north. We hit some rain and got nervous we'd be screwed by the weather, and unable to camp, but amazingly, but by the time we arrived at the campground (about 40-50 kilometers south of Cape Reinga, up on the pennisula, but not quite at the top yet), it had stopped raining. So, we were able to set up camp and eat before the downpour started. It was a wet night and R's allergies had gone crazy.
The next day, the rain cleared and we headed up to the Cape. We firs stopped at these massive sand dunes. Seriously massive. Huge. And it was weird b/c driving down the road we were driving through the Shire, green, rolling hills. And suddenly, we are in Dune. It was The Shire meets Arrakis. Seriously. We went from Lord of the Rings to Dune. Wait until you see the pictures. Anyway – the dunes were crazy huge and walked all over them and it was really neat. You could rent boards to slide down them, but the guy renting them was a HUGE asshole so, we did not.
After we left there, we drove down the very bumpy road to Cape Reinga and the lighthouse there. We wandered out to the lighthouse and looked around for a bit, then made our way back to a beach, ate lunch, then laid around for a few hours. The beach was very interesting, as it mainly appeared to made from broken down seashells. We finally hit relaxation on this day, after all the months of stress and hecticness. It was a nice change. We eventually had dinner and slept.
****
I found my camera cord, so there shall be a picture post soon!
-N.
Friday, December 12, 2008
New Zealand, Day 8 & 9 (dec 2nd & 3rd)
We got up at a deent hour and got going. We headed back through Auckland and northward. We headed up to Whangarei. We arrived at the information center, and were able to book scuba diving for Ross and snorkeling for me the next day. We were going to be heading out from Tutukaka, on the eastern coast, so we some an early dinner at Hell Pizza (a New Zealand chain) and then headed out to Tutukaka. We camped about 5 minutes from where we would leave in the morning, so it was very easy for us to get in the morning.
We got up the morning in plenty of time, and made our way over the dive company's office. We got our wet suits, and set up for the dive. We had to wait a while on the boat for some of the other people who were going out with us. There was about 20 people or so on the boat. A few of us were snorkeling, most everyone was scuba diving. It was a perfect weather day, probably about 70 and sunny. We eventually got going, and headed out to our first spot of the day.
It was my first time getting into a wet suit. My calves are not meant for wet suits. So... it was a bitch to get into it. But, I eventually did. The water was cold, but not too bad. The wet suit was very warm. The first spot, was pretty cool. I got comfortable in the wet suit and using fins. I spent a lot of time scooting around and saw a lot of cool fish.
Then, it was back in the boat, and we had our lunch. It was warm and we sat up on the deck. We moved to another spot, and so it was back into the wet suit with me. It went easier. The 2nd spot was awesome. I went all along this island's wall, and there was the most amazing kelp and fish. I went into a cave and through an archway and i had 100s of fish all around me. It was quite the experience. R. really enjoyed his scuba diving and got some awesome stuff as well. He also felt the 2nd spot was better. The crew on the boat was great, always feeding us hot drinks, and were super personable. I am very glad I got to do that.
Once we were back on shore, we headed out of town to camp further up the coast. We totally busted and the campground we wanted to stay was closed. So, we decided to poach a spot instead. We drove down some country roads, and found this piece of public land that some other girls were camping on. They'd talk to a person in one of the houses nearby and were told it was OK. So R. talked to the woman as well, found out it was cool and we had free camping for the night. It was getting dark, so we quickly got our tent set up, ate dinner, and passed out. It was a great spot, up on a hill, looking out at the beach.
-N.
We got up the morning in plenty of time, and made our way over the dive company's office. We got our wet suits, and set up for the dive. We had to wait a while on the boat for some of the other people who were going out with us. There was about 20 people or so on the boat. A few of us were snorkeling, most everyone was scuba diving. It was a perfect weather day, probably about 70 and sunny. We eventually got going, and headed out to our first spot of the day.
It was my first time getting into a wet suit. My calves are not meant for wet suits. So... it was a bitch to get into it. But, I eventually did. The water was cold, but not too bad. The wet suit was very warm. The first spot, was pretty cool. I got comfortable in the wet suit and using fins. I spent a lot of time scooting around and saw a lot of cool fish.
Then, it was back in the boat, and we had our lunch. It was warm and we sat up on the deck. We moved to another spot, and so it was back into the wet suit with me. It went easier. The 2nd spot was awesome. I went all along this island's wall, and there was the most amazing kelp and fish. I went into a cave and through an archway and i had 100s of fish all around me. It was quite the experience. R. really enjoyed his scuba diving and got some awesome stuff as well. He also felt the 2nd spot was better. The crew on the boat was great, always feeding us hot drinks, and were super personable. I am very glad I got to do that.
Once we were back on shore, we headed out of town to camp further up the coast. We totally busted and the campground we wanted to stay was closed. So, we decided to poach a spot instead. We drove down some country roads, and found this piece of public land that some other girls were camping on. They'd talk to a person in one of the houses nearby and were told it was OK. So R. talked to the woman as well, found out it was cool and we had free camping for the night. It was getting dark, so we quickly got our tent set up, ate dinner, and passed out. It was a great spot, up on a hill, looking out at the beach.
-N.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Day 6 & 7 in New Zealand (Nov 30-Dec 1st)
A few of the upcoming posts won't have pictures, because I have temporarily (I hope) misplaced my camera cord, so I can't load the pictures from my camera to my computer. I hope to find it very very soon. But, at least details of what we've been doing and pictures can always come later.
****
Day 6:
We are totally driving though the Shire. I wanted to see Hobbiton and the Shire, but it is $50 a person to take tour, so screw that. The area we camped in last night was a farm area, and today we are in a very-shire like territory. There is actually a lot of shire like territory around here. Ok. I wrote that part actually in the car. Now for the rest.
So, we finished our drive north, and made it to the campervan place in plenty of time. We dropped that off and then picked up our rental car. They were on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. We went from very big brand new VW campervan to small, 2 door hatchback old, beat up rental car. But, it was cheap, so no complaints from us.
We got out of Auckland, and drove the coastline. The coast road was amazing, so many twists and turns. According to R., very good motorcycle roads. In and out from the coastline constantly. We passed tons of bays and inlets, lots of turquoise/aquamarine water. We ended up in Hahei for the night. The Hahei is a beachtown on the Coromandel pennisula. We made it over there just with enough light to get our tent set up and to eat. That was that for the night.
Day 7: In Hahei, we spent the day slowly getting going, hanging out on the beach, doing laundry, and then going on a hike to Cathedral Cove. It was a lovely 30 minute hike down to the beach, and it was a totally amazing spot. There is this a big archway through a cove. There are beaches on either side. We hung out for a bit then made the hike back through the jungly/field terrain. There was crazy huge ferns everywhere. But yet, cattle farms. It is stange. How 2 terrains will closely mix and closely meet each other. You see it everywhere here. Terrains going from one to another, merging, flowing toward and apart.
After we got back, we got back on the road, and drove northward around the Coromandel pennisula. It had been raining off and on all day. Our camping gear was totally wet still, so we drove and found a very adorable backpackers in Coromandel. We got a private room, and it was this adorable attic room. We made a nice dinner, in the kitchen, got our tent dried out, and had a good night sleep. The people were so nice, and we didn't have cash, but they let us pay in the morning.
***
Finally made it through the first week! So far behind, but will hopefully catch up here one of these days!
-N.
****
Day 6:
We are totally driving though the Shire. I wanted to see Hobbiton and the Shire, but it is $50 a person to take tour, so screw that. The area we camped in last night was a farm area, and today we are in a very-shire like territory. There is actually a lot of shire like territory around here. Ok. I wrote that part actually in the car. Now for the rest.
So, we finished our drive north, and made it to the campervan place in plenty of time. We dropped that off and then picked up our rental car. They were on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. We went from very big brand new VW campervan to small, 2 door hatchback old, beat up rental car. But, it was cheap, so no complaints from us.
We got out of Auckland, and drove the coastline. The coast road was amazing, so many twists and turns. According to R., very good motorcycle roads. In and out from the coastline constantly. We passed tons of bays and inlets, lots of turquoise/aquamarine water. We ended up in Hahei for the night. The Hahei is a beachtown on the Coromandel pennisula. We made it over there just with enough light to get our tent set up and to eat. That was that for the night.
Day 7: In Hahei, we spent the day slowly getting going, hanging out on the beach, doing laundry, and then going on a hike to Cathedral Cove. It was a lovely 30 minute hike down to the beach, and it was a totally amazing spot. There is this a big archway through a cove. There are beaches on either side. We hung out for a bit then made the hike back through the jungly/field terrain. There was crazy huge ferns everywhere. But yet, cattle farms. It is stange. How 2 terrains will closely mix and closely meet each other. You see it everywhere here. Terrains going from one to another, merging, flowing toward and apart.
After we got back, we got back on the road, and drove northward around the Coromandel pennisula. It had been raining off and on all day. Our camping gear was totally wet still, so we drove and found a very adorable backpackers in Coromandel. We got a private room, and it was this adorable attic room. We made a nice dinner, in the kitchen, got our tent dried out, and had a good night sleep. The people were so nice, and we didn't have cash, but they let us pay in the morning.
***
Finally made it through the first week! So far behind, but will hopefully catch up here one of these days!
-N.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
More pictures from day 5
I forgot some pictures earlier of Mountain Doom and a cool waterfall. So here they are:
Mount Doom!!!!
A further away shot of Mount Doom! (MOUNT DOOM!. I was SO happy driving by it)
A cool waterfall we stopped at near Taupo.
More waterfall.
Mount Doom!!!!
A further away shot of Mount Doom! (MOUNT DOOM!. I was SO happy driving by it)
A cool waterfall we stopped at near Taupo. 
More waterfall.
New Zealand Day 4 & 5 (Nov. 28th and 29th)
We spent the day wandering around Wellington. It was Friday for us, but in the U.S it was actually Thanksgiving, so we had an impromptu Thanksgiving lunch. R. made himself a steak that wasn't apparently very good, and I had some portobello mushrooms, and some sauted onions and wine. We ate out on the waterfront, and it was about 75 degrees. It felt weird, being Thanksgiving and so warm. We got out of Wellington around 5, and headed north toward Auckland. R. met a nice woman at a gas station who let us come back to her house and use her internet to check his email. It was amazing. We'd never had an experience like that. He had asked her where an internet cafe was, and she said it would be closed, but we could come to her place and check it. So we did. Then we sat and chatted with her for a bit and finally got back on the road.
We didn't drive that much further, and then we headed down a small road and out to a beach. We pulled the camper van into the beachy-parking area and just stayed there for the night. It was lovely.
In the morning, we spent some time wandering around the beach, then headed out of town. We needed to drive a good distance, because we had to have the campervan back to Auckland the following day. So, most of the day was spent driving. We did see Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings! Mount Doom!!!! It made me very happy. We saw it when we were driving on what was called the Desert Road. It isn't really what North Americans would think of as a desert, but it is as deserty as New Zealand gets. We hit some stressful annoying driving in Taupo because there was a bike race going on. But, we eventually got through that and pulled over for the campervan over for the night on the side of a country road. The day was another day of beautiful driving and amazing scenery. New Zealand is a truly magnificent country.
Helicopters in Wellington.
Bridge in Wellington.
Us in Wellington.
Where we camped on van on night 4.
Ross enjoying the sand.
Random DC3 we saw while driving.
More updates, more regularly now.
-N.
We didn't drive that much further, and then we headed down a small road and out to a beach. We pulled the camper van into the beachy-parking area and just stayed there for the night. It was lovely.
In the morning, we spent some time wandering around the beach, then headed out of town. We needed to drive a good distance, because we had to have the campervan back to Auckland the following day. So, most of the day was spent driving. We did see Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings! Mount Doom!!!! It made me very happy. We saw it when we were driving on what was called the Desert Road. It isn't really what North Americans would think of as a desert, but it is as deserty as New Zealand gets. We hit some stressful annoying driving in Taupo because there was a bike race going on. But, we eventually got through that and pulled over for the campervan over for the night on the side of a country road. The day was another day of beautiful driving and amazing scenery. New Zealand is a truly magnificent country.
Helicopters in Wellington.
Bridge in Wellington.
Us in Wellington.
Where we camped on van on night 4.
Ross enjoying the sand.
Random DC3 we saw while driving.More updates, more regularly now.
-N.
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