01/12/2017 - 'At the end of the world.'

After 15 days of road trip, we reached the first destination of our New Zealand journey - Cape Reinga!

The alarm rang at 6:00 a.m. We wanted to reach the northwesternmost point of New Zealand by 8:00 a.m. After showering and preparing breakfast to take with us, we left at 7:00 a.m. The drive to Cape Reinga took about an hour. The road offers beautiful views but not many reasons to stop. We got closer to the destination and from a distance, we could already see a rainbow on the horizon. When we arrived at the parking lot, Tobi sprinted to a small hill with his camera. From here, we had a view of the end of the island and the Cape Reinga lighthouse. The rainbow touched the surface of the sea right next to the lighthouse, which looked really impressive. Only seconds later, the rainbow disappeared.
Our plan was to enjoy the view at Cape Reinga as much as possible. Except for another couple, we had the entire area to ourselves. After a short walk, we arrived at the lighthouse. Thanks to the bright sunshine, the bright white tower stood out beautifully against the endless blue sea - a dreamy and beautiful sight.

For the Maori people, this place on the North Island has a special meaning. 'Reinga' means 'jumping-off place' in Maori. Oral legends tell that the souls of deceased Maoris begin their long journey to Hawaiki, the ancestral homeland, from here. The last point they pass is an 800-year-old Pohutukawa tree. This tree can be seen from the lighthouse but out of respect for the Maoris, it is not allowed to be visited.

At this point on earth, two oceans also meet - the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

After taking some photos, we sat on a bench next to the lighthouse and had our breakfast with a view of the open sea. After this strengthening meal, we took a detour back to the parking lot. The tower was photographed extensively from all perspectives.

We drove a bit further south by car to the 'Te Paki Dunes'. These majestic sand dunes are a popular spot for tourists. You can rent a sandboard for $15 on site and slide down the dunes. Armed with a board, we went to practice on a small hill at the parking lot. After a few practice slides, our courage grew and we dared to go to the higher sand dunes. The ascent alone was difficult and very exhausting because our feet kept sinking deep into the sand.
There are two recommended sliding positions: lying on your stomach, facing forward, or sitting. We preferred the sitting position as it allows for better speed control. We also believed that it is easier to brake in this position. After two slides, sand was all over our bodies and our endurance was starting to decline. However, since we had found the fun in sandboarding, we decided to climb to the highest point of the sand dunes. Welcomed by strong winds and swirling sand, we quickly made our way back down.
In conclusion, this attraction is limitedly recommended. Many people handle the speed recklessly, and serious accidents happen regularly while surfing down the dunes. Apart from minor injuries, we had an action-packed afternoon on the dunes.

Due to waking up early, we had lost all sense of time. We estimated it to be late afternoon. But looking at the clock surprised us - it was only 1:30 p.m.

On the way back, a desire grew bigger and bigger - to finally get rid of this sand! Ten kilometers north of our campsite, our wish came true. Henderson Bay was reached after just five kilometers of gravel road. Since there was no one to be seen on the beach, we took the opportunity and jumped into the cool sea. After a short refreshing swim, we headed back to the campsite. After the long-awaited shower, we spent the rest of the day in peace.

We also opened the first door of the Advent calendar, of course.