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North Island, New Zealand
  • Robert Chambers

North Island, New Zealand

A road trip from Wellington to Auckland. Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 26, 2023
    Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    1
    1

    Day 1, Wellington

    December 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    We arrived on time at Sydney airport for our flight. Unfortunately our plane did not. At the time we were due to board there was no plane. It arrived 10 minutes before departure so we started half an hour late. I declared our hiking gear (poles and boots) which meant a further hour to clear immigration. The border security were really nice and they had a job to do. We're on a holiday with no deadlines to meet.

    We picked up our car for the trip. A Corolla sedan, 2013 (I think). And arrived at the YHA with a couple of minutes to spare. We're across the road from a New World supermarket and less than five minutes walk to the Bay. Unfortunately there is no off-street parking so we'll be doing a car sucks for the next few days.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 2, Wellington, part 1

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    The first full day in Wellington. I asked Chat GPT to prepare an itinerary. It wasn't too bad, but could have been better. More in that later.

    Our first stop was Mount Victoria lookout. There is a great view of Wellington, showing how big (not very) and spread out it is. We even named a small walk around the lookout.

    Our second so was Te Papa, the national museum. This didn't open until 10am, hence the first stop at the lookout. There was an exhibition of the New Zealand ANZAC involvement in WW1 that I wish I had more time with, but we were running out of parking. There a very good Maori exhibition, but photos are limited out of respect (plus the signs days no photos in certain second).

    Chat GPT did not specify opening times, and we drive to an area it directed is to, but it was 4WD only. Not for my hire car.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Day 2, Wellington, part 2

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    In the afternoon we visited the Botanic Gardens. Wellington is a hilly city, more so than Sydney. So the Gardens had a lot of up and down walks. But the views we're great.

    Our first stop was the Rose Garden. It's in full bloom for summer. We then walk up and down (mostly up) through the Gardens for an hour before heading back to the Pavilion at the Rose Garden for coffee (and a raspberry and white chocolate slice).

    We had some time to kill after the Gardens so we followed one of the suggestions from Chat GPT and drive to the Red Rocks Reserve on the south coast. We made it to the entrance. After that you need a 4WD, and the hire car contact says no unsealed roads. Plus the sign at the entrance said 4WD only. There was a water crossing within 50m, and it looked sketchy.

    Tomorrow we're going to return and hike to the Red Rocks. It wasn't far, maybe 3km or so.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    11

    Day 3, Wellington

    December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    This morning we returned to Red Rocks to hike to 4WD track to the Red Rocks and hopefully find a seal or two. The beach we walked along was pebbly. There was no real sand to soak off and made walking hard going. So we mostly stuck to the track. The drivers were considerate apart from one red 4WD. There always has to be one.

    We found the Red Rocks at the end of a 4km hike. And yes, there was a seal. There a photo but you'll have trouble finding it. He want exactly close by, and I want going to climb the rocks to get a better photo.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    22

    Day 4, Wellington

    December 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Wellington is know as the Windy City and today it lived up to that name. It was wet and extremely windy all day. It was a day for not much but when there is no free parking you need to do something.

    In the morning we took a drive around the coast it's a section of Wellington that if you didn't know you would think it was some remote costal area with narrow, winding roads up against a rough sea. The drive was nice. There were a few brave (?) souls on bikes, taking in the wind.

    In the afternoon I took a drive into the Parliamentary sector. When in Wellington it would be remiss of me not to take a look. The building is unique. Nearby were the Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals. Unfortunately the Catholic Cathedral was damaged in an earthquake and is still closed.

    We also visited St Gerard's, originally owned by the Redemptorists but more recently ICPE Catholic Mission. It too was damaged by an earthquake and is currently abandoned. Mass is still held on Sundays, but enter at you own risk.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 5, roadtrip to National Park.

    December 30, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Woke to a very windy Wellington. The wind seemed stronger than yesterday. It wasn't raining so that's a plus. We packed out things and found the car before the parking inspectors. There's no free parking in Wellington during the day with the exception of supermarkets for 90 minutes, and street parking between 8pm and 8am. I was booked the first morning for parking in a clear way that started at 7am.

    We headed north to find cheaper petrol (so expensive in Wellington) and found it 20 cents cheaper at Porirua. We then drove to Palmerston North. Or Palmy as the street banners called it. We found a cafe that was open - most closed for New Year's, and walked the Square, with some lovely smelling roses, before heading to National Park.

    We arrived after 2:30pm and realised that the vigil Mass was at 4pm, half an hour away. It was a quaint little church with a very small attendance. We had a cup of tea with the parishioners after Mass.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    11

    Day 6, National Park

    December 31, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    As much as I wanted to hike Modor I have to be realistic. It's raining heavy with thunderstorms forecast this afternoon. Visibility is down to zero.

    As an alternative we visited Gollum's Pool (Tawhai Falls). It was a short walk off the road, and the rain eased long enough for us to see them. You could hear the falls and the rapids long before we saw them. The rain certainly helped with the volume of water flowing.

    Tomorrow we plan on returning when the weather is better to hike to another waterfall before another road trip to Taupō.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    11

    Day 7, Taranaki Falls

    January 1, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Happy New Year. And the sun was shining. There was still some cloud and rain about, but it didn't last long. We needed to drive to Taupō today so there would be no long hike. We elected to do one we missed yesterday did to the rain, Taranaki Falls. It's a short walk from the snow village. The sign says 2 hours, but it was really doable in 1.5 hours.

    Initially the surrounding volcanoes we're covered in cloud, and their was some drizzling rain about. The walk went through beech forests, then an open plain across which ran a number of small creeks. You could hear the waterfall looking before you saw it. Mostly because the route I took was to the top. It wasn't until I walked down a set of stairs the a rainforest that I was able to take in how powerful the waterfall is.

    You might sense a bit of a theme. I have a liking for waterfalls. They're beautiful, majestic and powerful.

    Sadly we left the volcanoes behind after the hike and headed to Lake Taupo. It's way larger than I thought. Like a mini-sea. Traffic in the city is chaos. There a story be the lake like Bondi. Crowded with cars and people there for the holidays. Or accommodation is one street of the lake, with views over the lake.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Day 8, Huka Falls

    January 2, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Another day, another waterfall. Well, it's water being channeled through a narrow gorge on the Waikato River, but there is a waterfall at the end.

    This is Huka Falls, and apparently you can't visit Taupō without a visit to the Falls. They are said to be the most photographed feature of the North Island. I didn't fact check that so don't quote me.Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 8, Craters of the Moon

    January 2, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Just a short the minute drive away is Craters of the Moon. A geothermal active area with a lot of steam vending through cracks in the earth.

    Original it didn't look that impressive at the entrance. Just a few bits of steam across a large field full of short shrubs. Then you walk through the field. There are reminders everywhere not to leave the track. The ground is fragile and you might fall into a stream vent or mud pool.

    There is an hour long loop around the field explaining the different features and the history. There used to be an active geyser in the field but a geothermal power plant changed the surrounding pressure under field and the geyser stopped.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 8, Wairakei Terraces

    January 2, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We were going to head to the Lava Glass Blowing Gallery, but stopped asking the way to see these terraces. There's an active geyser sitting on top of man made terraces. The terraces accumulate minerals from the geyser and are eventually covered in a build up of the minerals.

    The geyser was challenging to see. It produces a lot of steam and it could only be seen if the wind was blowing in the right direction. It rarely did today. Occasionally I could see a splash of water. It looked very hot so no getting to close without being boiled. Speaking of which, they had build a stream cooker over a much smaller geyser that was used to cook food.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 8, Lava Glass Blowing Studio

    January 2, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    The lava glass studio has resident glass blowers who are artists. They are very good at what they do. Their work is very intricate and takes inspiration from a variety of features seen in the natural beauty of New Zealand.

    Unfortunately we were unable to photograph inside the gallery. The gallery sells cards featuring the glass and the inspiration for the pieces, so I can understand that. We were allowed to take photos in the outdoor garden gallery. It was encouraged along with a "Please post this on Instagram with our hashtag."

    The glass was beautiful, but it of my league $$$$ I'd be to scared if break it.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Day 9, Rotorua

    January 3, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we drove to Rotorua on our way to Auckland. My son informed that Auckland had a strong aroma to it, so I was thinking maybe something quite outstanding. Turns out that yes it does, but it's not as bad as he made it out to be. There's definitely sulfur in the air, and it's strength depends on where you are.

    We visited two "tourist" sites. The first was village that was buried in mud in an eruption of the near by volcanoes (three of them) in 1886. The village was a place where European tourists in the 19th century would stay while visiting New Zealand's self proclaim 8th winner of the world - silca terraces on the side of the volcanoes. Half the village was in the style of European buildings . A hotel, general store, houses. The other half was Maori, as the guides to the terraces were Maori. In May 1886 all three volcanoes erupted, covering the nearby villages in ash and mud. Those nearby were covered in 30 metres of mud. The village was covered in 1.5 to 2 metres.

    The second was Te Puia. It's a cultural/thermal/school? It had the largest active geyaers in the southern hemisphere. It's also a cultural centre with a Maori village that holds Maori performances. We watched the Haka performed for the people who paid for the cultural experience. And there is a school to teach young Maori bone and stone carving, wood carving and weaving. They enter as apprentices with the hope that when they leave they return to their tribes and teach what they have learnt. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and very enthusiastic in what he does which made the visit very enjoyable.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 10, Auckland

    January 4, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Another day, another waterfall. New Zealand has a lot of very impressive waterfalls.

    Today we visited Hunua Falls. It's south west of Auckland in a regional park. The falls are right near the car park and there was a crowd for a nice, sunny day. Following the falls we did a small hike, 9km from the falls, across a suspension bridge, and up to Cossey's Dam. And I mean up. Even after the dam we still hiked upwards. It was only in the last 2km that we headed downwards.

    The path itself was well laid out. Well formed steps and blue metal paths. The path took us through tree ferns and other native that mostly blocked out the sky. Apart from the almost neverending upwards it was a very nice walk.    Read more

  • Robert ChambersNorth Island, New ZealandTraveler

    Day 11, Auckland

    January 5, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today was a treat day before we return home tomorrow. It's been an adventure and an eye opener. Maybe there's more News Zealand in our future.

    Since we didn't really do much, this is our accommodation. A little unusual. The old Auckland Railway Station. We missed it the first time we drove past. It's a railway station and still looks the past from the outside. However it was closed on the early 2000s, and repurposed as residential accommodation. Now it's serviced apartments.Read more

    Trip end
    January 6, 2024
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