To the Northlands and Beyond!

Hi all, So get out your maps and let's look at the Northlands.... We left Cambridge for points north last Friday. The first thing you realize about car camping is the packing. We spend a lot of time packing up and unpacking the car at each location - not to mention looking for stuff when we make unexpected stops along the way.

Our first unexpected but fun stop was at the Waiwera Infinity Thermal Spa Resort. Don't get fooled by the fancy name - I expect it has been there since the 60s. Despite its wear and tear, it was great entertainment. The thermal waters keep all the slides and numerous pools toasty warm and fun to dip into, even on a cool day. Mira and Kate had hours of sliding fun.

Mira and Kate soaking in the hot pools.

The slide complex.

Mira and Kate racing down the straight shot slides - the only one that mom was brave enough to try. Let's just say, the kids had way more fun than me.

While Paul hit the hilly, open road on his bike, Mira, Kate and I hiked around Martin's Bay and a heritage farm that had been in one family for 4 generations. Mira looks like she isn't impressed with the traffic on the trail.

We spent the next night at a campsite with ducks and Pukekos - Purple Swamp Hens.

You should know that all roads are really, really 'lumpy' as Kate says. They dodge and weave through impossible curves, up and down and around. The end result is a long, slow, spectacular drive along the coast, through forests and up and down mountains. All the travel maps come with handy distance charts that also include the time it takes to travel - this is a far more valuable tool. For example, Kaitaia to Dargaville is only 116 kms but takes an estimated 3 hours and 10 minutes - give or take to travel the distance. We did some long days.

One spectacular coffee stop on the coast.

Russell, one of many places to have vied for capital of NZ at one time is no longer a busy whaling station but a sleepy tourist town. Kate is piggy backing Paul down the street here.

Paul and Mira...

We made a detour up the Karikari Pennisula along Doubtless Bay (Cook passed this spot and wrote that 'doubtless there is a bay' hence the name). Despite the weather, which was 'bloody custard,' Kate and Mira enjoyed a dip in a tidal pool along a deserted coast. Kids had fun finding hermit crabs and critters in the water too.

Mira in a pool.

The drive went on and on and on... we continued up the coast of ninety mile beach (which is actually 63 miles or 103 kms) to Cape Reinga - the almost tippy top of NZ. Kate is pointing to a marker celebrating the spot. A lighthouse is at the top and a sign post that notes distances to far off cities - Vancouver was on there too at 11 222 km away.

On our way back down the penninsula, we stopped at Te Paki Sand Dunes for a sledding adventure. You just can't see how high these dunes are in a photo. Paul is on the top, Mira half way and Kate a third. They had a few good rides down - at break neck speed - literally and physically! The rain was closing in and Kate got a complete 'sand wash' so we packed it in. The travel gods must have been with us though because as a result, we made it to the only gas station within hours of the park and with only minutes to spare.

Walking the Hundred Mile Beach near Baylys Beach.

Kate gets some ammunition - dead fish bones with head intact and takes off after Mira. Ha!

West Coast near Ruawai.

The girls.

There were many great memories on this wee trip. Personal favourite has to be when we were heading for a Park Visitors' Centre. We had to drive down a one lane two direction road. We made it half way along a bridge when another car met us. Paul had to back up, watching for rocks and slide debris - this task was made that much more difficult considering I was holding a bag of vomit out the side view mirror (it was leaking) and thereby obscured his view out the passenger window. Are we having fun yet?

The coastal road on the west side is Kauri Land. The forests were once full of these Kauri Tree giants - used for their wood and gum they were eventually all but cut down. There are a few protected pockets of these trees and they are amazing. We saw one, 1200 years old that had a girth of 8m and a height of 51 m. Amazing.

Well we are back in Cambridge for the big clean up and move out. We will be leaving for the South Island next week.

Cheers til then,

Sharon