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South Pacific Solo Travel
  • Greg Clayton
  • Greg Clayton

South Pacific Solo Travel

A 112-day adventure by Greg. Read more
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  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Tairua Beach

    February 16, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 22 °C

    Despite Tairua being only a stone throw across the river from Pauanui, it was a half an hour drive since there was no bridge or tunnel!

    After checking into my hostel I thought I'd go and explore the area so first of all set off to have a quick look at the beach where I practised some Spanish on Duolingo.Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Sunset at Mt Paku Summit

    February 16, 2024 in New Zealand ☀️ 22 °C

    Towering over the town of Tairua is Mt Paku. This looked like it might be a great place to watch the sunset!

    So I drove most of my way up the hill and then followed the footpath for 15 minutes up to the summit.

    I met a couple here from Warwick who had just arrived in New Zealand so I was happy to share my NZ travel tips with them whilst we watched the sunset.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Hot Water Beach

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☀️ 17 °C

    The clue is in the name of this one! Today can only be described as an east coast of Coromandel tour, starting off with Hot Water Beach.

    I shared a dorm last night with a girl from LA and a girl from Santiago (Chile). We made a plan to go to Hot Water Beach the next day, which had to be for low tide so a 7am departure it was!

    This place can only be described as an adult sandcastle building site. As you dig into the sand, water immediately fills any holes dug. The water varies in temperature depending on which spot you dig, with some of the water being almost boiling! We dug ourselves a pool that was half boiling water and half cooler water, which made a good mix, but the boiling half was totally unusable.

    We spent a few hours here and I absolutely loved this unique place!    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Hahei Beach and Cathedral Cove

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☀️ 22 °C

    Next up was a trip to Hahei to take the track to Cathedral Cove! The path is officially closed due to landslides damaging the track but unofficially you can apparently still get to Cathedral Cove. I was told this by a retired British couple who'd been there a few days prior.

    I started the walk but was soon greeted by many toppled trees blocking the path. If I wasn't due to leave New Zealand tomorrow (and keen to do so in one piece) I'd have carried on but decided I would not take the risk on this occasion. So instead I enjoyed some time overlooking the beach.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Cooks Beach

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ⛅ 25 °C

    A general theme for today is definitely beaches! A quick stop off this time at Cooks Beach. Beautiful but nothing particularly special at this point!

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Whitianga

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 25 °C

    My journey they ventured through Whitianga, a place I'd seen signposted when I first set off towards the Coromandel peninsula. Not loads going on here, seems like a place for older people to come for a quiet weekend break by the seaside.Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Whangapoua Beach

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 24 °C

    My final stop for the day before heading to my hostel was in Whangapoua. First of all I ventured onto the (first) beach of which the sand was incredibly white! But this was not the main event as I ventured around the rocks at the head of the bay.

    I also saw a woman comedically fall when trying to jump over the stream that dissected the beach.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    New Chums Lookout & Beach

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 24 °C

    After a short walk and steep, scrambling ascent I reached New Chums Lookout which had to be one of the best views of the trip do far, and that's saying something!

    I spent a while up here enjoying the views and reading some Harry Potter (Dumbledore had just died :( ) before heading back down and to the car.Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Dinner in Coromandel - Last Night in NZ!

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 23 °C

    Tonight I am staying in the town of Coromandel, on the west coast of its namesake peninsula. As my last night in New Zealand I treated myself to ribs at a popular nearby restaurant and they were amazing!

    You ordered your food and drinks, and paid your bill all via a tablet with no involvement of the waiters/waitresses at all which was new to me. I feel like I'm falling behind the times.

    The restaurant also had quiet music playing, which I didn't pay much attention to, that is until 'In My Life' by The Beatles started playing. The opening line being "There are places I'll remember all my life". This couldn't be any truer of New Zealand which I'll remember forever for all of the right reasons!    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Sunset at Coromandel Wharf

    February 17, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 22 °C

    After dinner I headed down to the wharf jetty to enjoy the setting sun for one last time before moving on to pastures new.

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Thames

    February 18, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 20 °C

    After packing up for the final time in New Zealand I headed down the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula to complete my circuit. I was somewhat slowed down by some total slow coaches in camper vans, but I did sympathise with them having to take on the extremely winding and narrow roads in their wobbly vehicles.

    I took a pit stop in the coastal town of Thames at the base of the peninsula which had a miniature railway!    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Returning thr Car

    February 18, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 25 °C

    Alas the time had come to return the hire car, with around 800km more on the clock than when I picked it up! The trusty Toyota Aqua did me very well on the winding and hilly roads of the Coromandel Peninsula. Fair well trusted friend.Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Auckland Airport

    February 18, 2024 in New Zealand ☁️ 19 °C

    The time has come to leave New Zealand and head to Hawaii! A bittersweet moment as I've loved New Zealand but I know that more adventures lie ahead!

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Heading to the Supermarket

    February 18, 2024 in the United States 🌬 23 °C

    After a few hours at the beach, I thought I should head to the supermarket so that I was prepared for the days ahead.

    To help keep costs down, I took a little walk deeper into the city to head to the big supermarket, Safeway.

    I knew the US was expensive, but holey moley the prices in this supermarket were absolutely mindblowing. I bought food for two breakfasts and two lunches (croissants, oat bars, fruit, crackers, ham, chocolate) and this set me back £28.39!!! Best of all, the prices on the supermarket shelves don't even include tax, which is added at the till.

    As it turns out, Hawaii is suffering especially from the cost of living crises since it is so isolated and is unable to produce its own food. How anyone who isn't a millionaire can afford to live here I've no idea.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Sunset

    February 18, 2024 in the United States 🌬 22 °C

    This sunset caught me a little offguard. I'd forgotten I'd changed hemispheres so when I stepped outside to see the sun almost down at 6:10pm, I was initially a little shocked, as I had in my head that sunset wouldn't be for another 2 hours.

    Still, it was very pretty, and the beachfront had a lovely vibe with lots of different people going about their Sunday evening. I had dinner at a highly commended beachfront restaurant with live music, catching the last of the sunset.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Honolulu by Night

    February 18, 2024 in the United States 🌬 22 °C

    I intended to find a bar of some sort. But as I wandered around the city, there was something to see around every corner! So I just kept walking, taking it all in. I got lost a few times in huge shopping centres and hotels but I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the city at night.Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Koko Crater Stairs

    February 19, 2024 in the United States 🌬 23 °C

    This morning bought a day pass for the bus and headed east. Today is 'President's Day' in the US, a Bank Holiday to celebrate the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln so the buses were somewhat infrequent but hey we'll make do!

    My first stop of the day was at the foot of Koko Crater, a dormant volcano formed thousands of years ago.

    Once upon a time there was a functioning railway line all the way to the top. This has now been converted into a straight stairway to the top of the volcano.

    The 1,048 steps seemed daunting at first, but then I remembered the Mueller Hut hike I did a few weeks ago had 2,200 vertical steps and that only got you halfway up. I therefore attacked the stair case with a positive mindset but did stop for a few breaks on the way, especially with the sun beating down.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler
    1

    Koko Crater Summit

    February 19, 2024 in the United States ☀️ 23 °C

    Once at the top of the crater I was treated to stunning panoramic views over the city, suburbs, vegetation and out to sea! I took shelter under the viewing platform to catch my breath and enjoy an oat bar and banana that had cost me an arm and a leg on my shopping spree yesterday.

    I was taking photos of the view over the city, but there were two men stood in the way of the view from the upper platform! I was semi-cursing them in my head before I took a look at the guy being photographed and realised, holey moley, that's internationally renowned DJ Steve Aoki, who'd played a gig in Honolulu 2 days ago. I bumped into him at the bottom of the staircase and asked for a picture to which he more than happily obliged.    Read more

  • Greg ClaytonSouth Pacific Solo TravelTraveler

    Diamond Head

    February 19, 2024 in the United States ☀️ 23 °C

    My second stop of the day was another dormant volcano, this time a little closer to the city. There were physical and virtusl signs all the way up the pathway to the entrance saying 'reservations required for entry', which I did not have and were sold out online.

    So I strolled up to the ticket booth, said I didn't have a reservation, the guy didn't care, and I just paid $5 like everyone else. Woo hoo!

    This time the ascent was gentler and windy but the views at the end were superb all the same!

    There was also a military bunker built into the summit as part of the defence of Hawaii during WWII.    Read more