12.01.2018 - Whangarei, the 1st day

Slightly overwhelmed and undecided, we sat after breakfast with the travel guide and the map to plan the next few days effectively. Thank goodness our host Hala came to help, who had just returned from feeding her chickens. And just like that, she had the essential tips and we booked the excursion for the next day. She told us that she actually wanted to go on a bike tour today, but what we thought about going on an excursion with her instead. She would show us the famous and 'secret' sights herself. Within 15 minutes, we were all ready to go.

First, we went to the Abbey Caves, 3 caves that you can explore on your own. Hala is very lovely, creative, and always ready with new suggestions. First, we explored a different and very small cave with a lot of climbing until she agreed that it couldn't be one of the 3 intended caves. We were able to go quite deep into the 2nd and 3rd cave with the help of a flashlight, even stepping into waist-deep water, and observe the glowworms on the ceiling in the dark, which are different larvae than the ones we can observe in the summer.

We continued to a forest with what can be called young, 500-year-old kauri trees, which can be found in New Zealand up to an age of 3,000 years. Actually, her plan was to reach the Whangarei Falls, but we had obviously taken the wrong direction. So, we had a small picnic first, and then on our second attempt, we reached these picturesque waterfalls.

The last stop was a 'secret place' or as Hala also said, 'shhh, it's paradise'. She drove us through an endless gravel road in the Mimiwhangata Coastal Park. When we arrived at the beach, we were all overwhelmed by this place. A yellow sand beach after another, light green hills with large dark green trees behind them, and a shimmering turquoise water in front, surrounded by large individual rocks placed in the water, all under a deep blue sky. Unfortunately, the photos do not capture the incredibly intense and unbelievably breathtaking beauty of this landscape.

We quickly got into this attractive and refreshing water and enjoyed this wonderful beach extensively until late afternoon. After 2 more short visits to equally beautiful bays, we ordered delicious takeaway dinner from the Vietnamese restaurant, which we enjoyed on Hala's terrace with a beautiful sundowner.

Hala, thanks a lot for this haunting and amazing day!

In the evening, we could see the Southern Cross in a very clear starry sky.

Tomorrow we'll get up early again for the next excursion.