My conclusion about the North Island and the crossing with the Interislander ferry

I hope you have already read my post about Cape Palliser and Wellington, because today there is a new one :D

I am currently sitting on the ferry and using my few free minutes of internet to draw a brief conclusion about the North Island. Every evening, I mark my route on a map that I took for free from the tourist information. Since I can imagine that it is always a bit difficult for you to understand where I am or where I am going, I took a picture for you:)

In total, I drove about 3600 kilometers on the North Island, refueled 360 liters of petrol and spent a total of 18 nights there. When I cross over to the South Island today, I still have 19 nights ahead of me. Before I take a flight back to Auckland on November 18th and then continue to Singapore. Many say that the South Island is much more beautiful than the North Island and that you should spend most of your time on the South Island. However, what I have seen and experienced on the North Island was already so beautiful that I can hardly imagine that it will get any better on the South Island. The untouched nature, the few people everywhere, and the often beautifully located campsites. I definitely leave the North Island with a huge amazement and look forward even more to the South Island.

My absolute highlights were definitely the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the East Cape and Cape Regina, and the sight of Mount Taranaki. This time I didn't plan anything for New Zealand except for my van, the ferry crossing, the flights, and the first two nights in Auckland. I didn't know what to expect and just drove off. I had bought a flexi-ticket for the ferry, which I could have changed free of charge at any time. But it's even cooler that it matches exactly with October 30th. I also have no plan for the South Island and will just drive off again. If I like it, I'll stay longer, if not, I'll keep driving. If I don't feel like driving anymore, I'll park somewhere, enjoy the view, take a walk, read a book on my Kindle, or go to bed early.

Now I'm sitting in the café on the ferry, enjoying my flat white, and in 3 1/2 hours I'll continue on the South Island. Unfortunately, bad weather has been forecast until Thursday, but I'll try to make the best of it. See you soon.