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My Travels
This page is dedicated to tell you about all the fabulous places I've been!
So Far, I left UK on 7th Nov, spent 3 days in Bangkok and have been in Auckland since then.
I'm ready to move off, hopefully tom (Mon 25th Nov), travelling up to the North Land for a week of bliss, chilling out on Sunny Beaches!
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Bangkok
I spent 3 days and 2 nights here! It was quite a shock to get off the plane, the weather was very humid and air quite smoggy! |
Arriving in New Zealand
I arrived in NZ on 10th Nov. We were taken to Mt Eden, dead volvanoe with views of the whole city. Auckland looked amazing from up here! You could see all the ups and downs of once volcanoes.
Spent first two weeks getting used to the place. It took me over a week to recover from jet lag, at which I decided a trip to the Doctors was required. Came out with pills to cure a possible inner ear infection. Cleared up after that and finally I could get out drinking!
I Stayed in the International Youth Hostel in Auckland which was good to meet people. Spent most of 2nd week out each night getting pissed! Much needed relief!
Got to attend a DH race on Sun 15th, see bikes page for details!
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My Campervan, Tinkerbell
The Monday after my race, I bought myself a campervan, and set off to tour the Northland!
My Campervan is a converted '82 Toyota Town-Ace. Been converted by adding a double bed on a removable frame so back seats can be folded down and 5 people can fit in!
She's called Tinkerbell cause she's a Japanese Import with a limiter. When you reach about 110kmh, a bell rings thus the name!
She cost me which is about 600 pounds, cars are cheap over here! Plus I spent a further on camping stuff; a 2 man tent, double gas stove and cannister, douvet and lots of pots and pans, so i'm pretty kitted out!
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Northland Tour
I decided to tour the Northland by myself, so to get used to my camper before picking up other travelers.
As soon as I got my campervan, I set off for Paihia in the Bay of Islands to meet Chris, a BUNACer friend!
Drive up took about 3hrs and I picked up this guy called Barry, for middle hour. He told me loads about NZ! I aarived in the dark, grabbed a bite to eat, chilled for bit, then spent half night finding place to sleep, ended up in a rest stop!
Spent Tues with Chris, we found this really secluded beach, big surf location and enjoyed afternoon in very cold sea!
Wed, I shot off on my way to Cape Reinga, Northern Most point that's accessable by car! Chose to spend night on Karikari Penisula. Found a perfect camping spot for the night at Maitai Bay. Shaded from the wind and only few other campers made this location amazing! Tried my hand at fishing that evening and caught myself a snapper, ver tasty, though killing ang gutting it was hard filthy work! Learnt that night to close van in the evening. I left the back door open, which invited about 300 mosquitoes into my van. I spent 2 hrs that night killing them all. I felt like a seen from the X-files!
Thurs. Next up to Cape Reinga. Felt like I was driving on road to nowhere for most of time, hardly anyone else around or cars passing by! Decided to spend night just along from the Cape at Spirits Bay. This was a 15km drive along unsealed road, but worth it! Another open bay, 2 others, felt like paradise. The land around here was very spiritual.
Tried a bit of fishing, but no luck. Cooked my dinner and ate while watching the sunset!
Fri. Drove to Cape Reigna. The road goes right up to the tip, then a short walk takes you to the light house at the end! You can see where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean! The weather had unfortunately clouded over, so the views weren't quite as good! Still very amazing though!
I checked out the campsite at Tapotupoto Bay, next to the cape, but it was quite windy, so I decided to start the journey south!
I drove to Te Paki, the stream bed which joins onto Ninety Mile Beach. Here lies the biggest Sand Dunes in NZ. I left my name in the sand and had that desert like feeling for a while, then set off to Rarawa Beach. A campsite halfway down the Northland Penisula. The beach here was good for surfing and I found a river next to the campsite suitable for fishing. Tried, caught a fish about 15cm long, so set it free, it swam off in circles, never a good sign!
Sat. Decided to check out Puketi Forest. Had been told about a nice campsite there! The drive there went up and over through the Raetae Forest. I stopped for rest and found a waterfall just down from the carpark. Found the campsite, named River Pools at Puketi Forest. Next to the river there was a pebbled area to prak the car and spent night there. In the morning related to the name as the river was quite deep there, perfect for fishing, though very cold!
Sun. Checked out Puketi Kauri Forest. Nature reserve type place showing the diversity and great size of the NZ Kauri trees! Kauri means Conifer of the Great. Then drove down the East side, checking out more Kauri trees. Stopped for a rest at Tane Mahuta, which means the God of all Kauri. This tree is the largest in NZ at 51.5M high and with a girth of 13.8M!!
Spent that night at Waipoua Forest. The campsite there was $1 more than most, this gave hot showers and ccoking facilities! What luxury! George turned up out of the blue, I met him in YHA in Auckland. He had bought himself Beatrix, a Hi-Ace Campervan!
Mon. George and I checked out Kiiwi Lakes, after recommendations from a dutch couple. It turned out to be 3 lakes, one for swimming, 2 for fishing. We camped on site near to lake. Had a play in lake, quite warm until the sun went behind the clouds. Built some sand castles and played ball with this half inflated football I found. Had the entertainment of a few rude boys turning up that night playing their tunes.
Tues. Went to ..... with George. Had some lunch, did some shopping, then went our seperate ways. It was time to head back to Auckland. I stopped at Ureti Beach that night, about 100km north of Auckland. Met this Guy John, whose was weird, and chilled with this Polish Guy. The campsite seemed like place lots go to get away from Auckland, but had that bit too close to Main road feel.
Wed. Headed back to Auckland, ready to come back to reality and get back on with my life! Overall a week and a half of getting away from it all! Spending many night in what felt like paradise! Lots of memories of amzing views!
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Journey to Welly
Realising that I'd spent all my money I'd come over with within the first month, so heading to Rotorua, central area with lots of volcanic activity! Job searching for a day with no luck, so heading to East coast, to do some fruit picking! I survived first day, apple thinning. Which means checking branch by branch of big apples trees for bunches of more than 3 apples and small apples. Lasted 2hrs second day!! |
Life in Welly
Ventured down to Wellington, in hope of job. Expecting capital city to be more hopeful. Reality 10days before Chritsmas, no one was hiring! All the job agencies were closing down for 2weeks! Got myself a cheap place, spacious room in nice house, with some students and the guy who used to live downstairs! Scored a job bike building after about a week, part time here and there. Cool people to work with, though I had more experience than their mechanic!! They gave me staff discounts, cheap stuff! Stayed at home on Xmas day - it rained!! Beach on boxing day and clubbed it up with half a bottle of rum with George this English guy i'd met in Aukland!
Mid Jan got a job at a Shell service station, busiest in NZ! Pumping fuel and washing windows! Downside was 7am starts, so up at 5.30am! Which killed me off and I picked up a killer cough from the fuel i think! Mid Feb, moved house. Lived in the Hataitai Haven with some music loving hippy folk, all cool as hell! Close to a big hill with lots of riding! Had wicked time there, shame to leave as was just getting to know everyone well! But summer was coming to a close, and south Island roadtrip really appealed!
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Roadtrippin
Hit the road end of March ready for life in my camper! Met Damo, this cool Aussie Guy and was meeting Liam, this english guy who loved juggling! We checked out the Abel Tasman National Park, rainforest at the top of South Island. Raining loads, which added to the scenic amazment of the area! Went for a walk to this remote beach and even went for a swim. Drove too much first few days, but saw loads! Beaches and mountains in rain and shine!
Met these Spanish Chicks that Damo new from Oz. Gave them a lift from West coast to Christchurch on the east through an amazing mountain range. We experienced full on snow blizzard! Views at some points were breath taking and felt at times we were in lord of the rings country! Met Chris in Christchurch, drove 6 up in my little van to whale watching country! Then Chris and I up to Blenhiem, for National DH Champs! Real fun course through trees, then big jumps at bottom. Unfortnately on race day morning, I crashed out bad, hooked my front wheel and landed hard on my head, busting my knee in process! Got trashed that night with bikers! Then straight back on road next day! Journey continued. Stayed at Nelson Lakes for second time, then at Reefton next night. Felt the cold for first time, bloody freezing! Met Damo with German and Scottish chick in Greymouth (west coast) randomly and journeyed down to the Glaciers with them!
Picked up Tris, English Guy who was hitch hiking on the way. Galciers were amazing, walked up to them to take loads of photos! 2nd day went to this remote beach, coated in drift wood, but that day, my radiator hose died, little leak appeared.
Chris and Liam decided to go on by themselves. So Tris and I cruised to Wanaka with patched up hose. survived the journey fine! Left Tris in Wanaka and cruised to Queenstown. Sorted van, stayed in Qtown for few days! Damo had done a 3day trek, so went to meet him, then in 2 days travelled about 700kms along the south coast via many scenic points to Dunedin, scottish city on west coast, full of students! Then returned to Qtown.
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Life in Qtown part1
Scored myself a place to stay, had put adverts around town and got reply! Staying with 2 Maori guys and a girl, paying just a week, about 18 pounds! Small room though, just enough space for my bed and little chest of drawers. Got myself a job at another petrol station, though out of town so really quite! 3 days and 2 nights. 5am wake up this time! Snow is on it way, expect to be boarding in a month, got loads of gear on layby for winter paying off weekly. Riding 1/2 times a week on mad tracks, that mean pushing up a mounatin for a hour first!
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Life in Qtown part2
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Roadtrippin again
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