Tag 149 - annoying

26.09.19

The morning begins with a group of seven other tourists ('coincidentally they all speak German') standing in front of our camper and asking us for a jumper cable as the battery of one of their campervans has died. Unfortunately, we don't have anything on board except for a hydrant (no first aid kit, no warning triangle or vest, and especially no jumper cable). We leave our countrymen to their fate and arrogantly drive away in our luxury mobile to the next fishing village, where we refuel and venture to the beach, only to (AGAIN!) turn around immediately on the dune because the wind is so strong that the sandstorm rips the flesh off our bones - please excuse the exaggeration.

(I took this photo above like James Bond or Terence Hill, with my back to the subject and shooting over my shoulder or under my arm; because it was SO DAMN windy!)

Feeling a bit frustrated, we continue on and drive to the next waterfall, the Bridal Veil Fall - 'Bridal Veil' because the waterfall is supposed to look like a bridal veil. The parking lot in front of the trail to the attraction is almost full, something we have never seen or experienced before at any other sightseeing spot. Accordingly, the paths and viewing platforms from which you can see the waterfall are also crowded, which, with its fall height of 55 meters, is extremely impressive. We visit the three different platforms at different heights (from the top, the middle of the waterfall, and at the foot), take some photos, and then climb the stairs back up to our bus.

We continue our drive and arrive at a coast that is supposedly THE surf spot in New Zealand. There is a huge 'Sea Rescue', a large parking lot, and everything else is also geared towards hundreds of surfers enjoying their passion here under suitable conditions. Today, and even we as laymen can see that, the conditions are so miserable that the beach is completely empty. We park our van and take a short walk down to the kilometer-wide sandy beach - very beautiful!

Back at the car, now the last stage is up to Hamilton, a small town in the south of Auckland. There we look for a campground again, take care of a few things, and end the day in a parking lot near a stadium with dinner and TV series.

- Alex