19/11/2017 - Two days of continuous rain

Two days of continuous rain can be quite exhausting when you only have your campervan with you and have to reach under the bed for everything you want or need throughout the day.

But let's start from the beginning:

18/11/2017 - It rained all night. We looked enviously at the larger motorhomes next to us. They are much more flexible - with kitchen, toilet, and more space to move around.

Welcome to spring in New Zealand - the weather so far is as changeable as the German April. As a weather change can happen at any time, we have to be prepared - rain jacket, sweatshirt, and t-shirt are always with us on every trip.

After breakfast, we made our way to the next campsite. We made a stop at the Wellsford Library. You should know that libraries are favorite places for backpackers. It's warm, dry, and you get 1GB of internet every day - for free! Since it was still raining, we used the time in the library to charge our electronics and continue writing our blog.
After some initial difficulties unpacking all our electronics, we gradually set up our charging station. Fortunately, we were not the only ones, and the staff remained relaxed. After spending almost two hours in the library, we continued on to the new campsite in Ruakaka. Since the peak season has not yet begun, we were able to choose a waterfront spot. Then we grabbed our rain jackets to take a look around. Within a few seconds, we were completely soaked ...
It was a bit frustrating, but we rummaged through our cooking utensils in the car and sprinted to the communal kitchen. After a delicious portion of spaghetti carbonara, the mood was much better.

The night was restless, as expected, as the rain was accompanied by strong gusts of wind that shook us.
19/11/2017 - The next morning it was still raining! So we looked for indoor activities for today. After deciding on a 'Kiwi Museum', we had toast with fried eggs and bacon for breakfast to improve our mood - and it worked. ;)

The 'Kiwi-North' museum was about 50km north of us, in Whangarei. We were afraid that the museum would be very crowded on a Sunday, but there were only three other cars in the parking lot. The extremely friendly receptionist warmly welcomed us and showed us on a map what was included in the museum. But before we could orient ourselves, he sent us straight to see the kiwis. At exactly 11:00 am, it was feeding time, and there was a very high chance of seeing one of these rare birds. So we hurried over, and indeed, once our eyes adjusted to the nocturnal enclosure, we were able to observe the kiwis looking for food for a long time.

The New Zealand kiwi is unfortunately endangered. Dogs, possums, and other predators introduced to New Zealand have severely limited their habitat. It is almost impossible to see a kiwi in the wild. They are nocturnal and live almost exclusively in protected forest areas.

For us, it was definitely a very special moment! But they are also really cute, without wings but with a chubby belly. :)
After spending what felt like three-quarters of an hour with the kiwis, we wanted to visit the actual museum. First, we went to a fashion exhibition showcasing local designers. Next was a historical section. It showcased various excavations that have been made in New Zealand.
There was also a museum village on the premises, which we leisurely explored. The village had various volunteer associations. For example, on that day, old miniature locomotives were running on the grounds. We discovered signs leading to a rock and mineral exhibition. When we arrived, eight older gentlemen were sitting at a table with a cup of coffee. A woman from the association rushed up to us and shared her knowledge about rocks and minerals in a 20-minute monologue. Quite interesting, although a bit fanatical.
The rain had eased up a bit by then, so we headed towards the 'waterfall'. Despite multiple signs warning that the trail might be slippery and muddy when wet, we were determined to see this 'waterfall'. The signs did not lie - it was quite a muddy affair. The trail was more like a beaten path, and we struggled for 20 minutes to get down until we finally reached the 'waterfall'. You can probably guess - it had nothing to do with a waterfall. It could have been called a slow stream.
We looked at each other and laughed, as we looked like little pigs. So we climbed back up the hill and walked back to the museum. After paying another visit to the two kiwis, we headed back to the campsite.

After nearly two days of continuous rain, it finally stopped in the evening, giving us the opportunity to clean up our car and take a walk on the beach. But we were once again greeted by rain clouds. So we retreated and hoped for a rain-free day tomorrow.