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[morgueatlarge] North Island in January
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morgue
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Mar 31, 2008 05:00 PST
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Malc has posted some lovely photos from our trip north:
http://malcstravelogue.livejournal.com/5457.html#cutid1
So I'm going to tap out an accompaniment.
(This is the short version - a sign of how busy I've become, I guess,
it's April and I still haven't written up the trip I did in January.
Madness.)
We set off Jan 11, stopping at the Army Museum in Waiouru before
circling Mt Ruapehu and setting up camp in its shadow. It was a rare
clear day, offering unfettered views of Ruapehu and its companion
mountain, Tongariro. (See Malc's photos for more.)
Next day we pushed up to Whangamata in the Coromandel Peninsula, east
of Auckland. Had a lovely swim at the beach there, a wonderful
golden-sand curve. Didn't see any sharks, although apparently they
were abundant in the northern waters around then. (No-one got bit all
season, I think, but there were lots and lots of sightings.)
The Dept of Conservation campground near Whangamata was great, with a
walk to the top of a waterfall - if we'd known, we'd have brought our
swimming gears to relax in the pool at the very top, overlooking the
falls. Amazing spot.
Then we drove across and north, heading into Northland proper, the
pointy bit at the top of NZ. Another DoC campsite, this one in a
reserve of the ancient kauri trees, where you could guide yourself on
a night-time walk and look for kiwi. I've never seen a kiwi in the
wild, and didn't change that despite long periods of silent watching,
but I heard several of them scuffling about nearby and heard their
distinctive call. An incredible attraction to have as a free bonus at
a cheap well-equipped campground. (And we do not mention how we did
the kauri walk at sunset, and were chased through the trees by
gigantic flying beetles that out of confusion or aggression kept
smashing into our faces. It was like someone throwing a weta at you
when they hit. Very disturbing. But we don't talk about that.)
Next day, 14 Jan, more incredible kauri trees, including the two
ancients that Malc speaks of in the photo page. Then we made it north
to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point in NZ, a place I'd never
previously been. It was a special moment for me. (The previous Jan I'd
been down on the southern extremity with Aaron - twelve months on, I
was at the other end. All good.)
The rest of the trip we eased our way down the eastern coast of
Northland, stopping at many beaches for wonderful swims in warm,
cresting waves and checking out numerous historical sites. Finally we
ended up in Auckland, where we enjoyed the Big Day Out concert,
featuring Billy Bragg, Battles, Dizzee Rascal, Dr Octagon, Bjork,
Shihad and Rage Against the Machine. That was a heck of a day.
And then we came home. And life kept going at the same top speed it always does.
Anyway, that's all just a list of interesting stuff to make you look
at the photos. They're worth your time.
Hope everyone out there is ticking over smoothly,
morgue
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