31/08/2018 - A wet bridal veil

The days in New Zealand are noticeably quieter. Apart from the rainy weather, which often has us in its grip, we are now significantly reducing our travel speed to dedicate ourselves to the remaining unknown regions in peace. We are also increasingly focusing on writing the blog. In doing so, we often pass by schools. We frequently encounter students in uniforms. Of course, they leave their scooters, rain jackets, and school bags unsecured outside the classroom. It is shocking that this seems so "extraordinary" to us.

Our further route initially took us past "Hamilton" to "Raglan". On this journey, we were once again accompanied by rain. But we did not let that discourage us and headed towards a waterfall. Squeezed under an umbrella, we walked along the path for ten minutes until we reached a fork with a signpost. This indicated four viewing platforms.

We found the first one at the highest point of the "Bridal Veil Falls" and it offered an exciting perspective. We stood at the spot where the water masses plunge 55m down - luckily, we are not afraid of heights. ;)
The second platform was on the same level. Just a bit to the side, so we could see the entire waterfall.
If you continue along the hiking trail, you will reach the middle viewing platform after 135 steps. After another 126 steps, you will reach the base. The name becomes clear at this point. The waterfall meets a large rock in the catchment basin, creating a wide spray that strongly resembles a bridal veil.

Simply amazing! The persistent rain did not diminish our enthusiasm. The "Waireinga" (its Maori name) is one of the most beautiful falls in New Zealand for us. We were not only impressed by its height but also its surroundings. It falls in front of a steep cliff and is surrounded by New Zealand bush. Beautiful! :)
After taking the souvenir photos, we drove to Raglan. When we checked into the campsite, it once again became clear that there are still few tourists (and locals) on the road. We had the entire kitchen to ourselves, consisting of four large commercial refrigerators, eight gas stoves, and ten sinks. As well as the seven toilets and eight shower cubicles. Which one should I use now?

After a stormy night, the sun greeted us this morning. After our morning routine, we visited one of the most famous surf spots in New Zealand. "Manu Bay" was already bustling early in the morning. Because of its special shape, long left-breaking waves are created, which seem to be ideal for surfing. Despite the crowd, we quickly found a parking space in the front row. So we put our feet on the dashboard, watched the activity on the sea, and relaxed in the beautiful sunshine.
About an hour later, we went for a short walk along Manu Bay. During this time, we observed the difficulties faced by surfers trying to reach the sea. The fastest way to the cool water was over rocky cliffs that were regularly flooded by high waves. Extreme caution and waiting for the right moment were required!
After the morning entertainment at the beach, we left the coast and headed inland. During the 35km drive back to the nearest major town in the region, we made another stop at the Bridal Veil Falls. The weather was much better compared to yesterday. We wanted to take long-exposure photographs. Once again, the Bridal Veil Falls did not disappoint and reinforced our initial impression. After visiting all the viewing platforms, the rest of the drive to Hamilton was uneventful. The closer we got to the city, the better the radio reception became. Finally! Although we have over ten different CDs, after almost a year, you know them inside out, so it is a great joy to hear something new and different. Once again, New Zealand radio proved to have very good taste. It played a variety of music from different decades, which put us in a good mood. However, driving on multi-lane motorways is also part of the city experience. The maximum speed limit on highways is generally 100km/h. But not here. Around Hamilton, there is one of the few road sections where the speed limit is 110km/h! ;)
Finally, the biggest disadvantage of a city showed itself for us campers. The sleeping options are very limited. In fact, we only stayed at the one campsite in Hamilton, which offered little besides an expensive pitch fee. For $40 (22€), our Sam can stay here for one night.