Footloose - Our Trip Driving Across New Zealand
One of the most pleasurable trips of the last year was the time we spent driving across New Zealand in a campervan
. We decided the freedom to move at our own pace, stop where and where we wished, and either rent a hotel room or fall asleep comfortably in our van would be just perfect, and it was! Three weeks of bliss, including the chance to see some rare and off the beaten track New Zealand sights and shop for souvenirs from artists we met in cafes and bars. These times will not soon be forgotten.
Why we picked New Zealand
Our choice of country was New Zealand for a number of reasons. The first consideration was finding a big variety of activities and a warm, but not too hot, English-speaking country. The second was being near the sea for as many days as possible, the third was the chance to add to my wifes art collection, from Maori artists galleries, as we traveled. The last reason, one many visitors shared with me, was to capture the natural beauty of the place, giving me a chance to get some landscape shooting in on my new camera.
Starting Off in Auckland
We picked the most diverse trip we could find, one that offered it all, including beaches, charming towns and some deserted areas which promised stunning scenery for testing out my amateur photography skills.
Our flight brought us into Auckland on a warm, breezy Monday morning; and since we both slept for 8 hours on the plane, we were both well rested and prepared to pick up our rental campervan. This we did by hopping a free bus from outside the Air New Zealand Gate 5 at the domestic terminal.
Manukau Harbor
Determined not to waste a single day, we headed off to Manukau Harbor, which is close to the airport, to see the colorful display of sails in the early morning sun. From there, we headed up to the Waitakere Ranges, a 45 minute drive, and found amazing waterfalls and a fantastic view down onto deserted beaches below. This visit was suggested to us by travelers newly returned from NZ who told us the area was always missing from tourist tour guides and worth a stop. We heartily agree, its a must see.
Roamin in the Ranges
After a quiet night spent cozily in our camper double bed, we cooked a traditional breakfast fry up from groceries picked up on the way out of town, yesterday. This was only of the one advantage of renting our own campervan, eating and sleeping whenever we felt like it. The view during breakfast was so special; we agreed immediately to spend the next few days exploring the region.
After 4 days spent happily driving all the scenic routes around the Ranges and taking hundreds of pics, we headed off to Rotorua, via the Glowworm Caves at Waitomo. These caves feature luminescent lighting from millions of tiny creatures stuck to the rocks and host musical concerts because of the great acoustics. Arriving late and tired from the drive, we found a local campsite for the night and set out into the evening, looking for entertainment andfound just that, plus a delicious meal at the Big Apple Restaurant, less than a kilometer stroll from our campsite.
This is how we spent our first week, traveling at leisure and with the campervan hire things where so much better. New Zealand was proving to be the right choice, one we would recommend to anyone who enjoys the freedom of the road.
by: Hugh Mcinnes
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