The end is approaching in big steps - but it is not yet that far

In all the things I write about in this report, I had the impression again and again that our time was already coming to an end, at least the end was approaching quickly. But thank God it wasn't like that.

I would like to start with our time in Northland. A very relaxed and beautiful time. The first stop was Whangaparaoa. A small town on a peninsula north of Auckland. We rented an Airbnb there for three days with a sauna and a view of the water to relax. We enjoyed ourselves here. When this time was over too quickly, we continued by car towards the north along the east coast of Northland towards the Far North and Cape Reinga. Our first stop on the trip were the Waipu Caves, caves that are a bit inland. They are probably one of the few caves in New Zealand that have not yet been developed for tourism. A flashlight is mandatory to get in here and you have to be prepared to walk through water. But if you can overcome yourself, you will find a little adventure in the cave and an amazing number of glowworms on the ceiling. Definitely worth a detour and still a real insider tip.

On Day 2 of our tour, we took it very easy. We didn't leave until late in the morning and therefore didn't go very far. Nevertheless, we were able to motivate ourselves to go for a short hike. In about 20 minutes, a path that was steeper than it was long led to St. Paul's Rock. From the top, you have a brilliant view over Whangaroa and its harbor and sound.

Previously, we had already made a short detour to the Bay of Islands and also visited Waitangi. In Waitangi, the peace treaty between the Maori and Europeans was signed, the so-called Treaty Of Waitangi. We spent the night on the beautiful Karikari Peninsula, where the next morning you definitely cannot resist taking a dip in the sea. Unfortunately, the next day we still had a considerable distance to cover. We wanted to arrive at Cape Reinga on the same day. Late in the evening, we finally reached the campsite. From there, it was only five minutes to Cape Reinga and we were right on the beach. The next morning, we even had the opportunity to go surfing, and that at the northernmost point of New Zealand. But after that, we had to join the tourist crowds again, which we had managed to avoid so far. Cape Reinga Lighthouse marks the northernmost point of New Zealand. From there, if you have good weather like we did, you have a view to the horizon.

But if you let your gaze wander back once again, you will see almost even more breathtaking things. You look at an amazing dune landscape with a great beach and picture-perfect waves. From Cape Reinga, we went directly into these dunes. When you stand in front of the giant sand dunes, you are speechless. But the view from above was even more impressive. A real wonder of nature. If you didn't look towards the horizon, you could have been standing in the desert. New Zealand has so much to offer.

But we hadn't seen everything of Northland and Far North yet. Because our return journey led us down the west coast. Stop 1 was 90 Mile Beach. A beach where you can't see the ends. But the sea can be just as rough there. Northland simply has an abundance of beautiful beaches. The next day, we continued on to the Kai iwi Lakes. Freshwater lakes just a few kilometers from the sea. They resemble paradise lakes.

A great insider tip from my parents. But the even more impressive thing in the area are the Kauri trees. One of the largest tree species in the world, but threatened with extinction. Not only do they belong to one of the largest species, but also to one of the oldest. When you stand in front of them, you first wonder whether you are standing in front of a wall or a tree.

Unfortunately, that was already our last stop in Northland. The next day, the first sales conversation for our car was scheduled. Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned. That's why we tried our luck at a car market in Auckland on the following Sunday, and luckily it worked out there. We found a buyer who paid a fair price. On the same day, the car changed hands and we were once again dependent on rental cars and hostels. A strange feeling. But it was just as strange that our car was gone. It had accompanied us more or less faithfully for the past six months. It was also Niklas' and my first car and our home. Although we were glad to get rid of the car and not have any more worries, it was also difficult to say goodbye to it.

After a night in Auckland, we continued the next morning with mixed feelings. We still hadn't seen everything. With an incredibly good feeling of driving in a rental car, we headed towards the Coromandel Peninsula. This is about a 2-hour drive south of Auckland and is definitely worth a visit. Whether it's the famous Cathedral Cove (a triangular-shaped rock arch), the Hot Water Beach (where you can dig a hole in the sand and sit in hot water during low tide), or simply the fantastic landscape on the peninsula and along the coast. In addition, Coromandel has a history of gold mining. This can be seen very well in the Karangahake Gorge with circular walks that illustrate underground gold mining and in the Martha Mine, a huge hole on the outskirts of Waihi, where open-pit mining continued until last year.

But the most famous town on the peninsula is Paeroa. The founding town of the refreshment drink L&P. World famous in New Zealand.

But after visiting the Coromandel Peninsula, it was almost time for Caro to fly home. But we definitely wanted to make one last stop before she flew. And that was Tongariro National Park, or rather the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. A hike that goes along the volcanoes Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro. The views you get are brilliant and unique in the world. Although you are quite exhausted after 19km in 7 hours with breaks and more than 1000m of altitude difference, you know it was worth it.

On the same evening, we went back to Auckland, as Caro flew back to Germany the next morning. A hard goodbye for Niklas. But my sister was also on the same flight, so I had to say goodbye to her as well. Not really easy after the great time we had spent together. But now it was already a quick walk to our home. A little more than a month and then we are in the situation where we fly. Unbelievable.

But on the same day, Nik and I started planning for the next month. We wanted to see a bit more of New Zealand. We booked flights to Australia and Samoa. Departure on April 30th. It was only three more days until then. For these three days, we got a room in a hostel in Auckland and explored a bit of Auckland City. One of those days was my birthday. A very special birthday so far away from home. Even though I missed my family, it was a nice day, with a few friends. During the day, we relaxed with a round of bowling, and in the evening, we had a few beers. That's definitely a good way to celebrate. But when my birthday was over, April 30th had already arrived and so had our departure.

But what awaits us in Australia and whether Samoa is really the paradise we wish for, you will find out in the next post.

Until then,

Your Luca