2020 – New projects!
We celebrate Christmas and New Year's Day in front of Paihia beach and are in the front row for the fireworks. Shortly after we leave by Van to explore the center of the North Island.
08 January 2020
And let's go for a few days of "vacation". We load on our phones the application "Camper mate" indispensable tool that lists campsites, Hiking, Parks, tourist places, shops and restaurants in New Zealand.
1) Reserve de Keeley- Waikato River
The Keeley Recreational Reserve which is located on the shores of Lake Kapiro is a protected area and New Zealand has about one 10.000 (32% of the national territory). The DOC (Department of Conservation ) created in 1987 manages the maintenance and protection of all these places (Forests, reserves, national parks ) in partnership with many associations and volunteers.
The campers' area faces the lake and when we arrive we are alone.
In no time we install the carpet in rafia, chairs, the mini-table and the bottle of wine to celebrate our first night "on land"
with the sunset in perspective.
The next day we are awakened by the song of the birds and the roar of the first jet skis. We were far from imagining that the place was also frequented by families who come to picnic or practice their favorite sport!
2) Huka Waterfall – Waikato River
Huka Falls northeast of Lake Taupo are very touristy and the walk along the shores is worth it. When the river narrows it forms a canyon
whose volume of water flowing is close to 220000 liters per second... and it's noisy!
We have lunch in Taupo the city center is just a succession of souvenir shop restaurants and agencies that offer sightseeing tours and water activities on Lake Taupo.
3) Tongariro National Park
We arrive in tongariro park volcanic and mountainous region with the three largest volcanoes in New Zealand : Mt Tongariro (1978m), the Ngaurhoé (2291m) and Ruapehu (2797m). The park has been classified since 1993 on the UNESCO heritage list it is the most visited and offers unique landscapes, exceptional hikes especially the "Alpine Crossing" which consists of crossing from one point to another the three volcanoes for about 19kms.
We spend a night at the Mangahuia campsite (Manawatu National Park) a few kilometers from Tongariro Park. The path that starts from the campsite joins the shelter of Whakapapaiti at 9kms but it is a little late to go to the end so we turn back before night.
The next day we go to the tourist office of Whakapapa (in the heart of Tongariro Park ) find out about the different hikes in the region. We go to Tawhai waterfall less than an hour from the village with the idea of returning soon to walk to the Tamas Lakes.
4) Forgotten Highway – Bushland Campground
The "Forgotten Highway" 150kms long ( without a petrol station) is a journey through agricultural landscapes, former mining facilities, tunnel tracks and "ghost" villages.
It is by a dusty track of 6kms that we reach the Camping de Bushland located along the Tangarakau River. Camping is a family business far from everything without internet or telephone. There are 2 buildings one reserved for sanitary facilities the other with a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor barbecue and a sheltered terrace that we particularly appreciate seen the bad weather. Despite the drizzle we walk along the Tangarakau River to the semicircular rocky cirque where horses live in complete freedom!
5) Whangamomona
The next day we take the track to the village of Whangamomona became independent in 1989. At the time the government wanted to change the borders from the Taranaki region to the Manawatu region.. To challenge the inhabitants proclaimed their independence as a Republic. To celebrate their victory the villagers organize every two years a party where everyone is invited on condition of buying their passport stamped for 3 NZD (1,80 Euros)... We continue our journey to Stratford which marks the end of the Forgotten Highway.
We go up by the northwest coast where long beaches of black sand follow one another. The campsite of Port d'Albret (North Auckland) east
our last stop before arriving on Paihia where
we put back in "working" order the house of our friends Vaughan and Lesley who remained in Polynesia.
After spending the karcher on the terrace for a good two hours
Philippe relaxes zzz... zzz... zzz! I have not finished "asticing" the interior, rest will be for later!