Bought a car, got a tent and now let’s hit the road through NZ! Are you ready?

Within 5 days of my arrival (on the 6th of Jan.2010) I purchased a car which drove me mad the days before I actually started the road trip. So far I have to admit, yep I could have done it different and there are other (maybe) better ways, but in that time I just wanted to have a somewhat reliable car and get everywhere I wanted to go to. In the end when you look back you always know better. Maybe there is a next time and I can do it different and then in a better way   At least the lovely people at the Bamber House were able to turn my nervousness into excitement for the following days as well as gave me some good advices! Thanks to Tereza, Stephan, Michael and Guilleame! Some moments I had to think about you guys and your ideas, views and way to travel (without a plan but knowing about so much other stuff), which gave me many times a lot to think about and helped me a lot

Hostel fully booked, car still at the mechanic but somehow I wanted to start.

Puh, my car just got fixed on Tuesday 12^th Jan. 2010, anyway the hostel was fully booked and the itching in my feet just got stronger and stronger. I wanted to start, to travel, to get to know NZ. So a friend and I drove up to ‘Northland’, northern part of the North Island (so many north in that sentence Unfortunately, the campsite has been closed and we couldn’t find a spot to sleep. What did we do? We follow the advice you can find a spot to sleep in the nature everywhere. Somehow we drove around industry parks and towns. Finally we found a school outside of a town, clever as we are; we knew that school holidays in NZ were still on. Well, that was the only night I just stayed somewhere. Never did it again, I rather enjoyed being at a campsite or a nice hostel out of a city/town/village.

Next day I decided to stop in Whangarei. My radio didn’t work and I figured that this couldn’t mean any good. Also I read something about the Poor Knight Islands. Sounded good to me and I had the chance also to check on the Office of the Department of Conversation. It was decided, I checked in a lovely hostel called ‘Bunkdown Lodge’. A hostel situated in a Victorian style house, where you had to take of your shoes. The lovely lady at the reception, who also owned this hostel with her husband, organised a trip to the Poor Knight Islands for me. During the day the radio got fixed at the mechanics, guess what, the radio was broken Ah, amazing the owner didn’t tell me and I needed a radio, otherwise I couldn’t really sell this car again and seriously a road trip without radio, no way. So I grinned and bore it. At least the lady in the Department of Conversation (DoC) office was very friendly and helped me out with lots of information, also that those campsites close around 10pm. Good to know for the next time. Whangarei itself is a little city, not much about it, but has some nice park to sit, think and for me taking a deep breath for all those issues I had with the car at that time.

Tutukaka, winding roads and a funny boat crew

Snorkelling, Kayaking and swimming out in the Pacific Ocean, that was just about to be one of those perfect days and my schedule for the next day, which also is the name of the Trip ‘Perfect Day’.

Arme Ritter Inseln / Poor Knight Islands

The Boat Trip would start in a little village named Tutukaka and the street on the way to get there is pretty curvy, just a round about 30 minutes drive. Well, when I arrived I hoped on the boat and we went off to the Poor Knight Islands. What I really liked about this trip is that even Kiwis joined it and it seemed to be less touristic. The day itself started to be very cloudy and kind of rainy. I hoped it would be different on the sea and yep as soon as we got out there the sky was blue and the sun was shining, kind of burning on the skin. You definitely need strong sun lotion down here!
After arriving at these beautiful Islands and some stories about them ,the people started to jumped into the wetsuits and went for some snorkling. Oh yeah, ahm haha I just sat up at the boat and I actually wanted to join but I’m afraid of deep water, that I can’t see the ground that it is dark down there and fish… I know they are more afraid of me than I am of them, but still. As well, I can’t dive very deep, because of a bad ear infection when I was younger. So I decided to give myself some time and while waiting a little I met a very nice lady from Christchurch. Immediately she introduced me to her son and his girlfriend, who both were divers and just grabbed my hand downstairs, put me in one of the wetsuits which wasn’t as easy as it looks like on the pictures (oh yeah, check out the gallery and off they went, just jumped in. I just had a look and the nice lady just told me to hop in and enjoy it. I did, puuh… overcoming fears… not easy but one of my aims I wanted to reach and would going to try reach many times in NZ.

Blubb, blubb, blubb… aaah a fish just next to me! How dare you scaring me in that dark underwater cave…

na dann mal rein in den Neoprenanzug / let’s get dressed

First it was cold in the water and then it got to be amazing! I had to calm myself down quite often, because some fish just popped out of those underwater plants and dark corners scaring me  However one of my favourite spots was in one of the dark underwater caves. From inside you could look outside and you would see the shafts of sunlight going deep down into the sea. It had something magical and made me as well as my heart smile underwater! After snorkeling I warmed myself up with soup, tea and hanging out on the deck enjoying the sun. Soon I was eager to do some kayaking and explored the biggest (of the volume) water cave in the world. Being in this cave alone, in a kayak and hearing my echo while watching the sea and coastline of one of the Poor Knight Islands from inside that cave made me feel like Robinson Crusoe! Did he actually have a kayak, a boat or something close to it? However, for this moment I still couldn’t believe I was in NZ doing this trip but I loved it from the very moment I stepped out of the airplane. Anyway I enjoyed this very special moment and those very intense feelings running through my veins and into my heart. That moment I remember shaking off all issues of the first days, difficulties getting to NZ and realising that this trip is going to be one of the best times in my life.

Dolphins, there are dolphins around our boat!

After a while I paddled back and the boat went off for a cruise around the island. The captain told us lots of stories and legends… unfortunately I can’t remember any however I do remember that I took pleasure in making many pictures and loving the scenery so much! And then without noticing first Dolphins appeared around our boat! That was the first time in my life I have seen dolphins in nature Incredible, I was so excited and made some good shots of them.

That night I slept very well and was eager for more, more animals in wildlife, more scenery, country, coastline, people and especially adventures! Apparently I got all of it within the 5 month of my travels and will tell you more the next time. 

Your little Robinson Crusoe explorer, Livia

P.S. check out the Gallery for more pictures!