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Travelogue New Zealand

Oct 15
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In and around Auckland: jandals, dolphins and shining Sky Tower

The first time waking up in New Zealand, and in front of Foodtown. Well rested we draw the curtains of the campervan. We're astonished: on a german supermarket parking lot we would've caused surprise. Nobody cares here – we don't even get a glance. The weather is so-so. Quite unsettled but not cold at all. In a short space of time we experience sun, rain, wind and then warmth again. Most of the kids walk around barefoot, nearly all the other people are wearing jandals. The trolleys are enormous. And fortunately in New Zealand, you can go shopping on Sundays as well, which we make full use of now: avocados, fresh fish (Tarakihi, 320 g / $6,40), bread, sushi, Steinlager (really tasty New Zealand beer), needless to say kiwifruit and everything else you need. We have breakfast in the van and make some plans: at first we want to get out of the city and get used to driving on the left. We decide to take SH1 north to Whangaparaoa Peninsula and to ask for the ferry to the bird sanctuary island Tiritiri Matangi there.

Driving across the Harbour Bridge in Auckland · more Auckland pictures

Let's go! Driving is still sort of hectic and takes getting used to, but after having some sleep it goes much better than yesterday. SH1 leads across the Harbour Bridge in Auckland where you have a stunning view of the city skyline and the harbour, but we can't pay much attention to it because we still have to concentrate on driving. Ralph is having a hard time sitting on the right, handling the gear change on his left and on top of all that the vehicle is 6.6 m long.

In Whangaparaoa in the Hauraki Gulf we find a parking space right at Stanmore Bay. For the first time in my life I'm at the Pacific Ocean! A few people are looking towards the sea. Five dolphins have just been sighted, we can see the fins. Wow. We didn't expect to see dolphins so soon so this is quite a stroke of luck. I'm watching the surfer and the guy in the rubber boat who are in the enviable position of getting very close to the cheerful animals. Big yellow blossoms in the sand, red blooming trees along the beach, new bird sounds. The wind is still cold, the carpark not the right place to stay overnight.

So we head for Gulf Harbour, which turns out as quite a good choice. An empty parking area with facilities and dump station, situated directly by the sea and providing an awesome view of Auckland' skyline. The small 360 Discovery office (formerly Kawau Kat Cruises) whose vessels go to Tiritiri Matangi is already closed but very close. Further on the right, in the twilight, is the first impression of bush, sprawling lush over the huge smooth boulders on the verge of the narrow beach where it is only possible to walk at low tide. All that comes with evening birds songs we've never heard before. Slowly we realize we've really arrived in New Zealand. We have the tasty fish and rice with minced peas for dinner and to that a cool Steinlager beer, then bed is calling. In the darkness of the night we can see the illuminated Sky Tower, where we'll be going later on to stand in wonder on the viewing platform.

Spending the night at Gulf Harbour in Whangaparaoa · more Whangaparaoa pictures

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Travelogue New Zealand

In and around Auckland: jandals, dolphins and shining Sky Tower