Tag 50 Tapotupotu Campsite

After yesterday's kiwi spotting, I'm still a bit tired in the morning. I've been feeling a bit under the weather for 2 to 3 days again, it's definitely a "homecoming allergy" 😂. I'll take something for it today. First, we're going on another Forgotten World Highway: the Kauri Forest Highway. The road is steep again, with tight curves and daring slopes. I hardly see any cars coming my way. But there are two construction sites. There's always something to fix in the jungle. Then there's a big sign that says "lookout point". Let's go, a bit of sightseeing. But after 10 meters, the road turns into a steep, curvy, muddy track. Oh no! I definitely shouldn't be driving with this car here, but I can't turn around. I actually thought this would be a very short path to the parking lot. At the top, there's a lookout tower. Great! It really makes an impression. So let's go in and up. At the top, there's a sign saying that the observation deck cannot be entered due to the need for renovation. Very sad. Those were the only points that disappointed me in New Zealand, all the beautiful things that are not maintained and are falling apart. Too bad, wasted half an hour. Today, only big tourist points are planned as stops. The next stop is the biggest Kauri tree, Papa Kauri. First, you have to clean and disinfect your shoes, as there is a fungus that threatens the Kauri population. The tree is huge, some photos on the internet show that you can hug it, but that seems to have been a few years ago. At least there are funny people there and a few photos, then onwards. In Ahipara, there is one of the huge sand dunes of the North Island. The construction sign "uneven surface" greets me appropriately 😁. Driving through Ahipara is interesting, as oncoming traffic sometimes greets me. I stop at a snack bar and ask around. The region is not yet well known for tourism and the people are really friendly.

On the drive, I pass through areas with high crime rates, you can see that immediately. Everything is run down and I'm not used to seeing so much police in New Zealand. I don't wait until a gas station just before Cape Reinga. I buy an ice cream and some cheese to snack on in the evening. Then I continue to the Tapotupotu campsite, which I have been planning for half a year. On the way, I wondered if I was very late, if there would still be enough space, and why there are no other campers on the road and the remaining campers are driving in the opposite direction. In the meantime, a whole convoy of campers has formed behind me. It's not because I'm driving slowly, but everyone wants to go there. The turning lane to the slightly narrow, curvy downhill track to the campsite proves that. In a convoy, we drive into the DOC campsite. This is one of those government campsites with self-registration. Two Germans park next to me, who were traveling in Australia before. We meet again in the water a few minutes later, everyone goes there after the hot long day in the car. In the evening, we exchange a few tips over gin and tonic and salad before the lights go out everywhere at half past nine.