- Chapter 21

On the way to Matapouri Bay, we made a short stop at Whale Bay. We walked down from the parking lot and enjoyed the diverse landscape. It is said that dolphins are occasionally spotted there, but we were not lucky.

From there, we continued on to Matapouri Beach. There were too many people for our taste, but it's a pretty nice beach.

As the last item on our to-do list, we visited Waipu Caves. They can only be reached via a gravel road. Once there, we entered the cave on our own without a guide. Armed with two flashlights, we descended into the depths. There is a small stream flowing inside the cave, which we had to cross three times before reaching the glowworms. They lit up like a starry sky above our heads. Countless bright dots, which are very impressive in almost complete darkness.
It was very slippery down there, and we were glad to have returned to the car without any accidents or injuries.

Our plan was to return to Auckland and work for another three weeks while trying to sell our car. However, New Zealand is also affected by the coronavirus now. At first, it seemed that we only needed to skip the layover in Australia. But since then, all flights to Germany have been canceled, as more and more airports are closing, and there are no more stopovers allowed. Since then, we have been busy writing emails, filling out forms, and making inquiries.

Since a few days ago, there is a lockdown here, just like in Germany. Everyone has to self-isolate. Leaving the house is only allowed for essential activities, such as grocery shopping. It is also permitted to take walks with a 2-meter distance from others.

But how is it possible to self-isolate in a small campervan? Lie in bed for four weeks? We went to Auckland to find out how we could cope with this situation. The hostels were already fully booked, and all campsites are closing on government orders. We also cannot sell our car for now because no new tourists are coming into the country, and our dealer has already closed down.

Fortunately, there are helpful people here in New Zealand. Thanks to a contact from the past, we are really lucky to have a retreat. Not just any retreat. A great cottage with a view of the sea and fully equipped. Pure luxury for us. So now we are here, waiting to see how this will all unfold. If you don't see any updates from us online in the near future, it's because nothing is happening here. After all, we spend the day like everyone else, inside the house.