Raglan - Coromandel - Auckland

In the CamperMate app, it said that we should register at the boat on the campsite we selected. 🤔 However, the campsite was quite high up with a great view over Raglan to the sea.. and there was actually a large boat/catamaran on this campsite that had been converted into a reception/office/living boat. World class! 😛

We spent the rainy Friday in a waterfront café in Raglan and in the camper at the next campsite just outside of Raglan. Originally, we wanted to check out surfing again on Saturday, but the conditions were not good due to strong (onshore) winds and crowded water. It didn't get any better in the afternoon, even though the tide times were perfect. Flo was quite disappointed, but we agreed to spend our next vacation on France's Atlantic coast only surfing/bodyboarding/playing in the waves.. then everyone was happy again and we headed to Coromandel. ((-:

We had quite a program on Saturday again: hike to Cathedral Cove (including splashing in quite high waves :) and then visit Hot Water Beach. It's really cool: not far below the surface here are hot springs/rocks. So if you dig holes in the sand on the beach the size of a small pool, you have warm water in them and have essentially dug yourself a natural whirlpool without bubbles. It's a super fun but also strenuous experience.. you lie there in the sand/mud and enjoy life. 😊

Flo then played in the waves like a little child.. he mostly had the quite high waves under control and not the other way around. Two Japanese/Chinese women, who -apparently- want to take over the world here in New Zealand.. there's no other way to explain the multitude of them.. didn't do so well and were carried back to shore by a lifeguard. So we had some real action too. 😉

The next day, Sunday, we went to Auckland where we returned our Jucy camper, which by the way was sometimes called Susi and sometimes Lucy. Beforehand, of course, we - being smart (it was Nadia's brilliant idea;) - brought our luggage to the hotel so we didn't have to carry it through the whole city. She's not as dumb as everyone always says.. 😛

The city stroll was cozy and relaxed without any major highlights, dinner at the French restaurant was excellent and the evening was cozy.

On Monday, after breakfast, we went to the airport where our flight to Fiji was in the afternoon.. by the way, with the Fiji rugby national team on board, who had won an international tournament in New Zealand the day before. Something like heroes here.. amazing!

We look back on very exciting weeks in New Zealand, where we - once again - saw and experienced a lot.. now we're looking forward to the quieter part of our trip, starting with relaxing on the Fijis, snorkeling as much as possible, lounging in hammocks as we please, little program, just experiencing different islands and relaxing until we get to Meppen. 😃

The question of highlights is - as always - difficult: the experiences in Kaikoura were unique, the landscapes in the fjordlands, but also everywhere else, were amazing, dolphins in Curio Bay, lakes around Mount Cook, paddling in Abel Tasman National Park, Nugget Point, Tongariro Crossing, Huka Falls and and and.....

Whether the North or South Island is more beautiful, you can't say because they are so different.

Lowlights would probably be the smell in Wahiotapu or Lake Rotorua or the lack of time.. you definitely need more than four weeks. 🙃

Ps: Even after 10 weeks of camping, we still love each other 🤗

P.P.S.: We're currently not able to upload photos here. The internet here in Fiji is not that amazing, but the islands, the beaches, the water, the snorkeling, the life here, the people.. unbelievable! BULA!!!