New Zealand 7: And thus it ends

[selenak]

Last report from the land under the white cloud, as the Maori used to call it. We're leaving for Germany tomorrow, which means another 24 hours in the air, which means you'll hear from me at the weekend at the earliest. Meanwhile, one last installment of my New Zealandian adventures, featuring the Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Islands and Auckland.





Now the Tasmanian Coast had already been beautiful. The Pacific Coast, though... you constantly have to remind yourself you're not seeing GCI effects while driving along such sights.



And it gets ever more intense. We headed towards Cathedral Cove, which has claims of being the prettiest bay ever in a country full of beautiful bays.







Then we reached it.





Most amazing side aspect: not overcrowded. Maybe because the season is over, but still, in Europe, it would be. Here, one breathtakingly beautiful bay comes after the next. Case in point: along we drove, admiring the Coromandel Peninsula.



Then we made one of the longest day trips, heading towards the Bay of Islands at the most Northern edge of New Zealand. This is the harbor town of Opua:



Where you take the ferry to Russell, which is one of the earliest European settlements, town of whalers, missionaries and pirates. It's quaintly charming today, arriving as one does to this view:



While Russell as watched from our B & B room looked thusly:



It's not big, but the houses are partly Victorian. Like the oldest tavern & hotel in townm, the "Duke of Marlborough", proudly boasting "we serve scoundrels and rascals since 1828".



What you mainly do in Russell, though, is climb up Flagstaff Hill to get an overview re: Bay of Islands:



You then get down on the other side and get treated to this view:



Now yesterday and today, rain poured down like you wouldn't believe. But we did get a very few dry hours. Which was fortunate, for it allowed us to visit the Waipoua Forest, in which some of the last remaining Kauri trees are protected. Literally. Because there's currently a dangerous fungus making the rounds, you have to swipe and clean your shoes on an apparatus both before you enter and before you leave the Kauri paths. Totally worth it, though, because then you see these gorgeous trees, like the "Four Sisters":



Or these:





Or Te Matuua Ngahere, "the Father of the Forests", 30 m tall (which makes it the second largest), 16,4 in girdth which is unrivalled among living Kauri trees:



But after that brief period of not-rain, we arrived in Auckland in a downpour yesterday. Attempts to leave the hotel anyway were quickly defeated. This morning, we were more successful, as while the humidity was 90°, there WAS some sun, which allowed us to admire the skyline from the harbor, including Auckland's trademark, the "Needle".



And the Auckland Bridge, on which we had entered in the downpour.





And the yachts, which delighted the AP.



We then took the ferry to Devonport which allowed us to admire the skyline in totem, though the needle already started to hide in the clouds.



Said clouds consequently brought on the rain again with a vengeance. It was museum time for yours truly. And now, suitcase packing time. I bid you all an E noho ra! It was a splendid journey.

Comments

[kerkevik_2014]

Ah but did you leave properly by sailing into the west? ;-)

[selenak]

I suck at geography, but westward movement certainly happened. Though no diminishing was discernable. :)

[msilverstar]

What great photos, again!

[selenak]

I'm glad to share them!