Tag 107 to 109 Northland Part 3

The day started with the ascent of Mount Mania. After dizzying 400 meters of altitude and what felt like 100,000 steps, we had an insane view of the surrounding landscape and the ocean. (However, Pauline wouldn't have minded a railing or something similar and preferred to stay close to the ground). After a short nap (hiking in the summer is exhausting), we continued to explore the small peninsula, hiking through green hills, grazing cows, and jungle to Smugglers Bay - a dreamlike bay with a white sandy beach (the Caribbean is nothing compared to it), where we refreshed ourselves in the ocean.

The next day was quite humid, so we only went on a 'small' hike (3 hours) on the Mangawhai Cliff. The path led us through dense jungle to the cliffs overlooking the disappearing ocean, until we reached a natural stone arch. On the way back, we walked at the foot of the cliffs, along the rocky beach and rocks. With a constant view of the ocean (the tide would block our path), we scrambled over the rocks and discovered many things in the small water pools and on the beach (shells, crabs, sea urchins, starfish). We slept on a small farm.

The next morning, we had breakfast amidst clucking chickens, horses, and cows. After a short stop at the laundromat and the beach, where we watched kitesurfers on the water, we started our journey back to Auckland. After endless traffic jams in front of Auckland, stop-and-go in Auckland, and an adventurous drive on a curvy gravel road over a mountain, we arrived at our last campsite near Auckland. On a lush green meadow with Pukekos (New Zealand birds), we enjoyed our last evening in nature until the mosquitoes drove us into the car (: .