PlanLoser...XV " from Auckland to north along the east coast"

After a bit of city hostel life...

...while many came and went...

...extended 10-dollar beer parties and X-10 acquaintances were made, a ray of hope led us to a car market. This takes place weekly on Sundays from 0800-1159am in Auckland.

Lined up by price range, you could easily go there and buy a car.

A thought that made me think...:

How is it possible that on an island that allegedly advertises its nature and sensitive vegetation, but cars and trucks feel like it doesn't matter what kind of "dirty car" I drive - they are allowed and accepted. Scandalous car?! No problem, shipping up to New Zealand... back to the text

Registration and all that crazy stuff is quickly filled out and regulated and you are now the owner of a car. No insurance like in Australia - none and straight from the parking lot - good luck.

Well, not any better and also a "gas guzzler"... So now the only thing that counts is to hold on until we reach the south, the destination. The calculation for this is very simple... The cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle must be cheaper than renting. We are confident that this will be the case (not 100% but pretty sure :-) - updates will follow...

We spent almost 10 days in Auckland City, four days would have been enough but we have time and can spy on everything on site, reorganize, pick up information, save -

A bit of chilling in bed...

...on the PC...

Repeated city sightseeing...

Sailing... Attention, the Amarica's Cup is in New Zealand in 2021

Hiking...

Next image shows the hiking hill from the previous image, left hill...

When we finally had everything together, we said goodbye to the Asian city of Auckland and began our journey with car + tent and "baggage" heading north along the east coast.

For the sake of nature conservation, I will refrain from providing exact locations of our impressions.

Attached are our approximately driven route and photos in chronological order.

Impressions of the 1st hike

We spent the first night camping in a nature park that was secured by electric gates, like before entering Jurassic Park in 1993. Sounds logical, right? :-)

Everything worked fine so far, Pascale also has cooking with some makeshift stuff under control.

Sleeping in a tent has to be learned again 😒 so I lay down again in the morning, as soon as the sun rays came, to soak up fresh warmth for the day.

As far as wild camping is concerned, everything is generally forbidden. My personal opinion on this: I think it's absolutely right! Leave the place as if no one knows you were there. That should be taught... Dog ban or just on a leash, ditto Australia, also absolutely brilliant.

Alcohol and tobacco claim half of mankind, but according to an old custom, the other half also dies... on we go!

Hiking day 2 took us further north...

...and to another overnight spot...

...one of the most adventurous EVER but also uncomfortable places in the last 180 days. HA...

But after a tough ascent, a leisurely descent follows at dawn... as can also be seen from the flip-flops 🤙

Shortly after, there was a small change of position before another hike begins.

Here we go

We have now arrived at the first insect-free beach, which invites you to relax.

But for now, we had to pass a waterfall...

...then to the public toilet by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in Kawakawa

To finish with some action on a gravel road...

...passing abandoned cars

Yes, we are making progress and will talk to you again in the northernmost north :-)