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North Island Summer 2019
  • Dylan Thomas
  • Dylan Thomas

North Island Summer 2019

Trip around the North Island. Rotorua, Taupō, Hobbiton, Waitomo, Auckland, Northland and New Plymouth. Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 5, 2019
    Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    1 - Taupō, Rotorua: Swimming & Relaxing

    January 5, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Started the drive in Barry the Bus with short stops in Hunterville + Waiouru. Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro were spectacular.

    After short swim in semi-warm lake Taupō we played golf at wonderful Course in town centre. Lastly had a swim in a hot pool (super hot) then drove on to Rotorua. Got settled in, played ping pong and read books. Fush and Chups for dinner.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    2 - Rotorua Extravanganza

    January 6, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Woke up after great sleep and had an early kayak/ dinghy ride down the river. Didn’t see any trout... afterwards drove down to the Living Maori village Whakarewarewa which is a shortened version of a much longer name (second longest Maori name in New Zealand) Whakarewarewa is built on thermal areas so the area stinks of rotten eggs, it is steaming everywhere and is full of hot pools boiling over 100° Celsius. Had a great tour around the area and learned loads of stuff. Afterwards watched a cultural performance and had lunch in forest. Quick trip to Rotorua city and then off home :)Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    3 - Blue Lake and Skyline

    January 7, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Nice long walk along abandoned railway w/ Lola. Drove to the beautiful blue lake where we walked along a wonderful pathway around the lake - 2 hours. Swims at the beach + tanning. Then off to Skyline For the luge (riding down hill on sort of go-cart thing), gondola ride and ice cream. Outstanding views from the top. The Skilift back to the top from the bottom of the Luge track was freaky. Humorous commentary on the way back down in gondola. Dinner is Lamb, kebabs + bread and salad :)Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    4 - Matamata, Hobbiton

    January 8, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Had to leave Waiteti Holiday Park sadly to continue our Journey. We dropped the dog off at a kennel in Matamata and hung out in Matamata for a couple of hours. Savoured a cream bun and chocolate milk. Whole town is hobbit themed! Then onto yours truly: The hobbiton film set. Had lunch in Party tent as part of tour package then proceeded to the guided tour of the movie set. Really wonderful how they preserved the entire hobbiton, with all 44 hobbit holes. Staying in Auckland tonight. Dinner was beef and potato saladRead more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    5 - Auckland

    January 9, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    After breakfast and a swim in our cousins pool we headed off to Auckland City Centre by the very slow but interesting train. Walked along waterfront to the Cloud Building where we ate our sandwiches and then Strolled along to the Wynyard Quarter via the Auckland Drawbridge. Delicious ice cream then on to Skycity and Queen St. Then off home again by a slightly faster train.... tomorrow Matapouri!Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    6 - Leaving Auckland for Northland

    January 11, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Left Auckland at a early 8.16am and headed down the motorway towards Whangarei. 3 hrs drive. Stunning scenery and great music in the car. Stopped in Whangarei to pick up dinner supplies and soon after arrived in Matapōuri, a small village north of Whangarei. It has a beautiful estuary and beach. If it is a quiet enough night you
    Can hear kiwis. We started off with jumping of the bridge into the estuary and afterwards. Had lovely dinner of Pesto Pasta and Salad made by Uwe and Emilia... yum.    Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    7 - Matapōuri

    January 11, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Started off the day with some bread from the bread maker. Relaxed in the morning until a fish on the kayaks at 12.30. Caught two massive Kahawais and two mediums. Went across a difficult track to the sacred mermaid pools for a swim. Great views and massive crabs.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    8 - Matapōuri, Sandy Bay

    January 12, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Relaxed in the morning again and then headed off for Boogeyboarding at the Surf beach Sandy Bay. Caught three massive waves. Saw some old friends then headed home for lunch of chips. Spent the rest of the day jumping off the bridge and swimming. Another flotilla also was enjoyed. Leaving tomorrow :(Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    9 - Auckland & Devonport

    January 13, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Had to pack up and leave Matapōuri which was very hard to do. After a 3 1/2 hour drive which was slowed down due to pointless traffic jams before the Toll Road tunnel we arrived in the city of Auckland on a beautiful day. Drove in to the city centre and caught a 15 minute ferry to Devonport where we enjoyed wonderful lunch and the best cheesecake ever. Devonport is very rich, and saw the scale of Auckland house prices for real for the first time, one was up for almost 7 million. Satan. Took a ferry home and enjoyed exotic sausages from the Westmere butcher.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    10 - Waitomo Caves and N. Plymouth

    January 14, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Left Auckland at around nine am. Drove for couple of hours until we reached The glow worm caves which was a wonderful experience, the caves are millions of years old and the glow worms were beautiful. Sadly no photos allowed :( One said that if water was to drop on your head you’d have good luck, which happened to me. After a very scenic part 2 drive we went shopping in Waitara and drove to our motel afterwards. Then walked off to Pukekura Park and enjoyed the very cool festival of lights.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    11. Part 1 - New Plymouth Exploration

    January 15, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After a nice sleep we generally relaxed all morning but left at around 10 to explore the area. Lindsay showed us some of his childhood homes and interesting places and then walked the dog along the waterfront. Climbed a rocky and steep rock called Paretutu where on the top half of the climb you had to use all fours. Good exercise. Afterwards we visited the Len Lye Museum which was very interesting, watched some of his experiments in action. Had lunch and then relaxed a bit and walked the dog for an hour along a track. Part 2 - Pukekura Park coming soon!Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    11. Part 2 - Pukekura Park

    January 15, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After a scrumptious dinner of Chicken Salad, we walked along our ‘secret’ path to Pukekura Park. It was a bit light at first but the lights turned on at around 8.30. We discovered a very cool Bellringing Simulator with no real bells but you could make sounds and patterns if you pulled a certain time. Had a nice ice cream then a Boat ride over the lake which was a brilliant place to enjoy the lights. Walked around the park a bit more and left the disappointing market quite quickly. The lights, light art and sculptures were phenomenal. Walked home in total blackness.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler
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    12 - New Plymouth City and Bridge

    January 16, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today we visited a very spectacular bridge on a track near bell block. Captured some spectacular photos. Had a good morning swim in the New Plymouth Pool until 1pm, it had some crazy as water slides. Afterwards we had free time in New Plymouth. I wandered around looking at Old Churches and headed up to Marsland hill but missed out on the carillon sounds. But managed to hear the tower clock strike. Had dinner of Fush and Chups at Oakura beach and had a swim in the very dangerous and high waves. Very good day today.Read more

  • Dylan ThomasNorth Island Summer 2019Traveler

    13 - On the way home

    January 17, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I’ll put the Location to Hawera because that is where we spent the most time. Anyhow We left early at around 8.30 and made our way home along the wonderful state highway three along the mountain. We headed off through Stratford and off to Dawson falls which is a beautiful waterfall on the mountain but to our horror there was a song saying you weren’t allowed dogs, not even in your car! So I made the ultimate sacrifice and walked the dog back along the road where we came from and 5 very happy people picked me up again near the intersection. After that we visited a cool museum and water tower in Hawera, a beautiful Maori Gift Shop in Whanganui (in Taranaki dialect pronounced Hwanganui) and our next stop was home. What an Amazing trip!Read more

    Trip end
    January 17, 2019
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