Day 187 - Waihi

Well, I'm now camping just outside of Waikino, near Waihi, in a free DOC campsite. It is another beautiful spot, running water (river), washing facilities (see previous) and a toilet (one of those composting, outdoor ones - niiice).

How I got here is a bit of a tale... I left Whangamata at about 9am yesterday and drove south, heading toward Tauranga. All went smoothly, Rodders crawled up a few of the steeper hills so slowly that I feared death by road rage, but we managed. Whizzed through Waihi, an old gold mining town, then through Katikati (great name). On the outskirts of Tauranga I took a left, heading to Omokoroa beach. A bit of a disappointment I'm afraid - although I did find a very twee cafe that served great cake and coffee (aargh, have I no willpower?).
Pootled into Tauranga about 4.00 and after some wrong turns I parked up in a shady spot the centre. First I had an internet session in a funky backpackers, accompanied by an up-and-coming band practicing their set (they were all about 17 - made me feel so oold). At about 5 I decided I'd better find somewhere to stay. Didn't really fancy parking in town, or around the suburbs (too many neighbourhood watch stickers), so I investigated Camping grounds. They were so expensive! Next I drove to a the cheapest hostel in my book, which was outside of town, and found out they charged $15 for parking in their car park. Drove around more, getting more and more fraustrated, then went back to internet place and looked up DOC camping grounds. And found Dickie Falls informal camping ground was the nearest... aaall the way back where I had come from! Anyway, to cut a long story short I worked out it would be cheaper to drive back and park a few nights for free than it would be to stay in town (especially when you take into account the shopping factor).

So, made it there before dusk. Parked in a nice spot under the trees by the falls. The place is busy, but not too busy, and the countryside around is so beautiful.

This morning I wanted to have an internet bashing, being as I am stuck in the middle of nowhere with not even a phone signal, but was reluctant to move Rodders after spending about an hour maneuvering him into his spot. I packed my daypack with some bits and set of along one of the walking tracks, the Karangahake Gorge Walk. It was v. spectacular, kept expecting the hobbits to appear floating down the river on a boat! At one point the path went through the hill, along a tunnel cut by the miners - after about 10 minutes stumbling along in pitch darkness, eyes fixed on the light at the end, I suddenly noticed lots of tiny blue lights along the ceiling like stars - they where cute little glowing things. Anyway - I walked 1 1/2 hrs to Karangahake along the gorge, another 1 1/2 hrs to Waikino along the Waitawheta river then thumbed a lift to Waihi. Will definately be retracing my steps tomorrow, I found a particularly tempting pool surrounded by waterfalls just past the tunnel.

So, I'll stay at the camping ground, living like a modern hobbit, till Monday morning, then will drive straight to Rotorua to start my yoga wwoof. It's a plan!

Day 185 - Whangamata

OK - Last night, the first night sleeping in the van, was bordering on painful. I finally managed to find the recommended spot and settled in for the night at about 9pm (to be honest, naff all to do in Whitianga apart from sleep!). The first thing I noticed was that the 'old car' smell got stronger and stronger from the minute I shut the door and rolled up the windows, which I didn't dare open more than a crack for safety reasons. I gagged for about 20 minutes before remembering that had a spare set of earplugs (one set in my ears to block out the traffic) which, in my desperation, I actually considered using to block the overpowering smell. After some serious thought I decided not to, for the reasons a)it's a bit repulsive and b)if the cops bust me for illegal overnight parking my shame would be hugely increased by the sight of orange earplugs protruding from each of my nostrils. So I just buried my face under my liner, tried to breathe through my mouth and eventually fell asleep. The suffering was not over. At about 1am I awoke, shivering, to the discovery that Rodders, a sweatbox during the day, had turned into an icebox by night. I cursed the fact I was not carrying a sleeping bag, and had only a silk liner and a thin blanket, whilst I emptied every piece of clothing from my bag, my towel and even the teatowel, onto my bed. I huddled under the heap, and although I was still cold, I survived the night. I ended up getting up ridiculously early the next day, put on lots of clothes, and went for a jog along the beach to warm up.


Bit of a road trip today - the plan was to drive to Whangamata, visiting lots of nice beaches on the way!

First location - Cooks beach, just around Whitianga harbour. I parked up in a nice spot next to another campervan - spray painted with Gandulf and Gollum. I tested my portable cooker by making myself a cup of tea, and wondered along the beach as I drank it.

Next I went to Hahei beach, which is meant to be the best on the peninsula. The first thing I saw when I got onto the beach was a line of tractors - which I thought odd until I realised that they had boat trailers on the back. I went further up the beach until I found a nice shady spot, and spent a few hours bodyboarding in the sea and sunbathing.

I think I had a clear picture of the hot water beach in my head, because I was a bit suprised and disappointed when I realised there was no line of hot water pools with people luxuriating in them. It was just a normal beach, at least that was what I thought until I got closer to the rocks, and I saw a very strange thing - a group of about 12 people, mostly somewhat aged, standing knee-deep in water doing the twist! After some investigation it turns out it wasn't a day trip of the 50's dancing society, but the hot pools. If you wiggled your feet in the sand, the hot water would rise to the surface. I had a go, and it did, and I can see what Anna meant - it wasn't exactly pleasant, jacuzzi hot, but fresh-out-the-hot-tap hot. After 10 minutes of "aaah hothothot, eek coold, aah hothot etc." I gave up and went for a swim. Not willing to wait for the tide to go out for the pleasure of being roasted alive, I didn't hang around too long but headed of to Whangamata.

Whangamata was an ok place - bit bigger than the other towns I'd driven through, but not that thrilling. Although... I did find a hardare shop selling sleeping bags and a chiller bags (I bought one of each). I didn't fancy sleeping in town, so I had a look in my guidebook and it turns out that there was a lovely DOC (dept. of conservation) camping ground just outside Whangamata. Following the directions I drove out of town and turned right down Wentworth Rd, just past the golf club. After about 7km of windy, gravel path (about 6km of which involved lots of panic and muttering 'crap, hope I haven't missed the turn') I came to the campsite. It was beeaauutifuul. I parked up in a shady spot and had a lovely hot shower, gave smelly Rodney a bit of an airing and made dinner. Now, Rodney only has a small engine, so although he is fuel efficient, he has a bit of a problem getting up hills. On my journey I regularly acquired a long line of frustrated followers so kindly pulled over at every opportunity to let people by. Often where I pulled over there would be a tempting local vegetable barrow, so by the end of the day I had collected quite a stash of cheap delicious veg. So, anyway, getting back to the subject, dinner was green salad and corn on the cob (cooked on my stove) soacked in butter. It tasted heavenly - best & freshest meal I've had in ages (I was so proud I took a picture). I was so snug in my sleeping bag, and the place was so quiet that I slept like a baby. All in all - worth every cent of the $9 for the night.

Day 184 - On the road

Wahay, I'm on the road...

This morning I said goodbye to everyone at the centre, got some final good karma by putting together a guide to cleaning the toilet (joys) and rumbled away in my van. I put the radio on at full volume (music - how I have missed thee), the windows open and I screeched the bends all the way to Coromandel and the coffee shop, where I'm sitting now - my last cake, coffee and internet session in this funky place.

Below are some piccies from the centre (fond memories...)



Anyway... after I've spend about an hour uploading my photos and putting them on my blog, I'll hop back in the car and head off to Whitianga - the town across the peninsula. It's a cool place by all accounts, famous for it's bone carving and hot pools. I'm going to save money on accomodation by pulling up near one of the long, sandy beaches and sleeping on the bed in the van.

There's lots to do while I'm there - nearby Whitianga there are several beach with hot pools... all you do is dig a hole in the sand and it fills up with hot water, which you then sit in. A bit like a natural jacussi. It sound great - I am missing my baths so definately looking forward to languishing in a hot pool until my fingers and toes turn prune-like.

I have to be in Rotorua at the beginning of next week because I am wwoofing at a yoga studio starting from the monday. So I have a bit of a plan; to travel down the east coast and around the bay of plenty, stopping off at all the wierd and wonderful places. If I get to Tauranga on Sunday, it's just a short drive to Rotorua.

LATER....

I'm in Whitianga!

Arrived about 4pm. First thing I did was park near the km long buffalo beach, change into my bikini, grab a body board and ruuun into the sea. It was great. After a good swim I got dressed, went to the supermarket and bought bread and a towel (no need to worry about not having space - this could be dangerous). Next I got some fish and chips (back to the healthy diet) and ate them on a picnic bench beside the beach. A guy from a house across the road told me there were whales in the harbour, so I had a great meal sitting with the fresh sea air blowing trying to see whales (no bloody luck, think I need glasses). After I had finished I decided to try to find a spot to park for the night. Parking to sleep isn't technically legal, although many do it, so I spent a little while driving around trying to find a good spot. Then I decided, on a whim to zip into the big supermarket to cruise the shelves for a bit, and who should I bump into straight away but Sandra, who I met at the Mahamudra Centre! Spooky. Sandra had previously been travelling around NZ in a van also, and was able to recommend a good spot by the marina, which I am now parked in. The buddhists say that if you relax and trust in fate then things will just happen when they are needed - yet again proof that the theory works!

You asked for pictures of the van:

This beauty...


...is completely not my van (haha, had you fooled). This, in fact, is really my van:


I've called him Rodney - what do you reckon?

Sunsets... coromandel peninsula

Day 183 - Colville

I haven't written in a while because I've been at the centre, with the only internet connection nearby in the 'town' of Colville (one shop, about 3 houses) - and that has an agonising 1/4 hr per pageload.

It's very nice here, I'm feeling very calm and ooomm. Sarah gave me a lift back on thursday, and I met Fiona, from England, who had been there a few days, and Ellie, from NZ, who had just arrived. We got on really well, and over the next few days we all mucked in with the chores, and spent the afternoons chatting away over coffee and cake in a cafe in Coromandel, or relaxing on Wahiki beach, just down the road. Sunday was Losar, Tibetan new year, and everyone took part in the ceremonies (puja, light offerings, lots of chanting). We only had one meal (part of the vows for Losar), at lunch, but we had a big feast and all scoffed ourselves silly, afraid that we wouldn't make it til breakfast the next day.

In the afternoon, a Czek couple turned up and Alice & Patrik, who's friends they were, told me they were desperate to sell their campervan as they were flighing to Samoa the next day. They were selling it for a bargainous $1500, with bed, cooking gear and body boards. I took it for a test drive (seemed ok) and bought it! I can use it to drive round the north island and then sell it in Auckland afterward for a profit. It is so nice to have the freedom to drive wherever I want!

I'm leaving tomorrow, driving across the peninsula to Whitianga. So will post an update and some piccies tomorrow!

Update: Here are the piccies as promised, ones of the van to follow...

After climbing up a huuge hill (as you can see - it's a bit windy!)



View of Coromandel Town from the top



Th peninsula coastline, north toward Colville



Lazing on Wahiki beach with Ellie (see - I do have a bit of a tan)


Fiona heads to the sea