Christmas in Napier, New Zealand

December 23, 2017
Christmas is just around the corner. We decided to spend the holidays in a bigger city, so we headed to Napier, which is 150 km away. We left Taupo around 10:00 am and made a short stop at the Waipunga Falls halfway. Unfortunately, we couldn't get closer to the falls, but the view from the parking lot was worth it!
Now let's quickly head towards the coast. Since we arrived in Napier too early and the official check-in usually starts around 1:00 pm, we used the time to visit a popular viewpoint. From 'Bluff Lookout', you have a great view of a small freight harbor. While enjoying a delicious apple, we watched the bustling activity for quite some time - old container down, container being taken away, new container being brought in, loading containers, old container down, and so on... :)
After a successful check-in at the campground for the next four nights, we spent the rest of the day relaxing.

December 24, 2017
The day started with a hearty breakfast and an extra portion of fresh fruit. For the upcoming holidays, we treated ourselves to groceries that we would normally pass up due to the high prices. Energized by breakfast, we planned to visit the Shine Falls. After an hour's drive on mostly unpaved roads, we arrived at the parking lot. Putting on our hiking shoes, we set off on the trail. Once again, the landscape was extremely impressive and beautiful. We walked along a small footpath, past tall, rocky mountains. We reached our destination in just 30 minutes, much faster than the estimated one hour. The waterfall, which plunges 58 meters, was quite extraordinary. The water didn't fall straight down, but rather flowed down the rock wall, creating "steps" that the water climbed down. Because a lot of water sprayed towards us, it wasn't possible to aim the camera at the waterfall for a long period of time. The Shine Falls is a real hidden gem and one of the most beautiful ones we have seen so far in New Zealand. On the way back, we took numerous pictures of this peaceful scenery. We felt like we were in the Shire. ;) Back at the car, we drove the same way along the gravel road. Just like on the way there, we crossed several sheep pastures. A few sheep managed to get onto the road, so we had to be extra cautious!
Our next destination was two other waterfalls located on the way back to Napier. Before that, we made a quick stop at a lake and had pasta salad for lunch. Then we continued on and arrived at the parking lot after just a few minutes. After a 30-minute walk through the forest, we reached the "Te Ana Falls". It is hidden in a corner. To get closer to it, you have to cross a small stream. The sun was in the perfect position and showcased the waterfall. The "rock formation" surrounding it was covered in green and the whole scene was simply breathtaking. This waterfall will definitely be one of the most beautiful ones we visit in New Zealand. Then we did the second hike. To reach the waterfall, we had to climb some elevation. It turned out that the path only led to a terrace from where you can view the waterfall. Whether this effort is worth it, each person has to decide for themselves.
Now we headed back to the campground and cooked ourselves an Indian dinner. After doing the dishes, we returned to the car. Before we left, the family had given us two gift bags to open today. For the first time, a little spark of Christmas spirit reached us. For Christmas, Tobi and I gave ourselves a selection of scratch-off tickets. So the Christmas table was nicely decorated. We put on our Christmas hats, which have a blinking function. Tobi's hat didn't light up until today. But miraculously, his stars were blinking that evening too! :)
We enjoyed the evening with Christmas music and German gingerbread - thank you again!

December 25, 2017
Merry Christmas from the other side of the world!
The morning of Christmas Day started unusually early for us. We wanted to take the chance to connect with our family via Skype using the campground's Wi-Fi. It didn't work perfectly, but the intention counted and we were able to bring them great joy. While they sat together in the evening, the two of us stayed in our van and were able to laugh and celebrate Christmas together despite the great distance.
After another hearty breakfast, not much was planned for today. Christmas Day is one of the few days of the year when even supermarkets are closed! So we used the day to work on our blog and recharge our electronics. In the late afternoon, we took a quick dip in the campground's pool - what you do on Christmas. ;)
Kiwis celebrate their Christmas with huge camping gatherings. Alongside their barbecues, the colorful lights shine.
For us, we had one of our favorite meals: pasta with chorizo and broccoli. As dessert, we wanted something more traditional. On Christmas Day, Tobi's family has been making homemade plum pudding for years. Since New Zealand cuisine is heavily influenced by British cuisine, you can buy it here. It tasted much better than expected - now the Christmas feeling also reached us.

December 26, 2017
The day started unusually early again because we wanted to seize the next opportunity to Skype with our family. After breakfast, we were drawn to the mountains once again. Just outside Napier's neighboring city Hastings is "Te Mata". The mountain can be conquered either on foot or by car. Since we had other destinations planned for today, we opted for the lazy option. The road to the top was partly one-lane and quite adventurous, but the drive was worth it. We were surprised with spectacular views. We had a good view of Hastings, Napier, and the surrounding area. After wandering around the summit for a bit, we headed to the city center of Hastings and then to Napier.
Yesterday, all the shops were closed, but today they were open again and the Kiwis could indulge in their favorite activity - shopping! The second Christmas holiday is called "Boxing Day" here. All the stores entice customers with special offers - you could compare it to a summer sale. So we jumped into the hustle and bustle and looked for unbeatable deals! But besides a large beach towel and a rain cape for the backpack, we weren't tempted to buy anything else. Well, except for a sweet treat. There was a small stand in front of the supermarket that smelled irresistibly like donuts. The fluffy rings were continuously fresh and ended up in the bags while still hot. We drove quickly to the beach and enjoyed this delicacy. They were delicious - it couldn't be better!
With satisfied bellies, we strolled along the beach promenade and visited the city center of Napier once again.

Napier has a very eventful history. In 1931, the city was struck by a severe earthquake with disastrous consequences. The city was reduced to rubble and had to be completely rebuilt. They decided to adopt a unified architectural style - the "Art Deco" style. Many of these buildings still stand today and shape the cityscape.

The weather gradually got worse. Since tomorrow is the day of departure, we went shopping for the upcoming road trip. When we arrived at the campground, there was no holding back and it started pouring rain.

That's how our Christmas at the other end of the world ended.