Heading North
March 15th – Heading north on the north island today. This time I was the passenger in the car. I was feeling a bit tired from the night before so I thought I would just chill out for a bit as a passenger. Of course, that was a bad idea. The worst idea. Still not a single straight road in NZ. By the time we made it to our first stop I was a lovely shade of green.
After a quick puke in the parking lot, I was able to take in the funky little cafe Eutopia where we had stopped for breakfast. A really different kind of place. Mystical is the best word to describe it. When you walk in, there is a very vibrant and interesting fountain to greet you.
Game of thrones?
After a hearty breakfast and a stretch of the legs, we were back on the road. Food always helps settle my stomach after a bout of motion sickness. It’s like a hangover. You just need to eat.
This time around, I was back in the driver’s seat. Next stop is Kai Iwi Lakes. This is probably one of the most amazing lakes I have ever seen. It looks like the ocean with its white sandy bottom and crystal clear blue water. No seaweed, no murkiness, no mud. Just clear blue water. Amazing!
The plan is to have a quick dip and get back on the road. The day was gorgeous so we may have spent more than a quick dip here.
I felt 100% better being on solid ground with some sun and water. Feeling happy that I’m feeling normal again. The roads up north wind up like a corkscrew. I couldn’t get over how twisty they were. Well…. I was about to be amazed yet again. They got worse. I didn’t think it was possible but NZ never fails to deliver on that score. I still can’t understand how or why. Why so narrow? And why do I always feel like I am going in a circle? Does no one want to get anywhere quickly? I have no answers.
As you can appreciate after that little sample of driving in the Waipoua Forest, I needed to rebalance myself on unmoving, firm, solid ground. We stopped at Tane Mahuta to check out the largest tree in NZ.
As luck would have it, there was a bee hive somewhere nearby. As in tons of bees flying around the parked cars. I basically had to run from the car, the Monkey in hot pursuit, holding the puke in until I got to the forest gates. I could not just continue to bolt through because you have to scrub your feet before entering the forest to help stop the spread of Kauri dieback disease. You may sense a theme once again. I swear I do not wear bee attractant or do anything that would encourage them to “seek me out”. But for some reason the little buzzers find me no matter where I go and come straight for me. And of course, always in a gang! A gang of stinging thugs! I have had more stings that anyone else I know! In fact, most people go without ever getting stung in life. Not me! I get stung all the time. WTH?! And never just one little rogue guy but a whole, rotten, bunch of them! If they weren’t soooooo important to the environment (my food supply specifically) I would eradicate every single one of them!
Ok, sorry – I got a little carried away there… back to Tane Mahuta. Largest tree in NZ. Approx 2000 yrs old. We didn’t have to walk far off the road to see the Lord of the Forest.
We eventually came out on the other side the Waipoua Forest to the west coast of NZ. The views and coastline are over the top. Very different from the east side. The west is more rugged and wild feeling. Even the surf looks rougher. We are headed to Opononi for the night but first folks, we need to take in the views.
It was a little windy up there. 
We are always so glamorous. 
Not sure what he was doing but it made for a cool shot. A boy and his rugby ball taking it all in.
After our short jaunt overlooking the ocean and sand dunes, we headed down to the thriving metropolis of Opononi. Population 450ish. We were spending the night there so we could go boogie barding on the sand dunes the next morning.
The place we were staying was super retro. Like 70’s retro. Love that we have stayed in all manor of accommodation. This place had a central bathroom with showers, very civilized, in the middle of the park. Each cabin has a sink and bar fridge. You get your little crate with a toaster, dishcloth, cups and plates. Love it! Felt like I was back at camp. Might belt out a few camp tunes later.
We headed the 400m down the road to the local tavern for dinner. We ate at the Opononi Hotel. Boar and Marlin felt too posh for the likes of us. Plus we had the monsters in tow.
A tiki standing guard.
We ate well and headed back up to the cabins. A quick game of Apples to Apples and off to bed. Sand dune boogie boarding tomorrow! Yes!
