Here we are, sitting in Happy Diwali, enjoying the beauty Northern NZ has to offer.
Scott and I woke up this morning at 5:30 to try to see the sun rise over the ocean out of the back of HD. Unfortunately, the weather was completely socked in, and we didn’t see anything too stellar. So, back to sleep for us for a few more hours.
Kenna's bad navigational skills led us to this beauty.
We took off this morning at about 10 to make the 200 and some km trek to the Bay of Islands. After 3 hours of nausea inducing ups, downs and arounds (and I still can’t really get over the backwards feeling that people coming around tight corners are going to smash into us), we arrived in Paihia. The scenery here is absolutely gorgeous – think long rolling green hills somewhat Great Britain-esqu but with a tropical flavour, complete with tropical blue ocean. It kind of reminds me of Vancouver Island, but more exotic. Anyway, the roads were riduculous to get here – you’ll make a huge swervy incline through lush vegetation and come over the top to see stunning ocean panoramas. Breathtaking.
We found another beachside campground today and have pretty much done nothing except book a dolphin tour (of the natural kind – where you go out on a boat searching for natural dolphin pods…not mean, touristy crap) for tomorrow with our friendly lady-boy campground assistant. I know we’ll be seeing a lot more of those in Thailand…this was of the Maori variety. That’s the other thing – people here are amazing. They are friendly and happy and will help you with anything you need. We’ve been so pleased with the people here, they are fabulous! Our campground also has two rogue begger ducks which have kept me quite entertained…it’s not a trip unless I get to feed the duckies! They’ll come by every 30 minutes or so and just sleep outside the van door…they are too cute.
Happy Diwali on the road. Actually we almost died stopping here, almost ran into the hill you see on the right.
The view from the back of our camper van right now in Paihia, close to the Bay of Islands..
All for now – we’re going to enjoy another beautiful night in Happy Diwali and we look forward to what tomorrow brings!
I LOVE HAPPY DIWALI!!!! How did you find that thing, Kenna?
I found Happy Diwali online – through some searching. This van was pure luck…it was the only automatic they had there that day. The other vans are awesome too…blue…yellow…one had the Beatles on it…but I love Happy Diwali. She’s awesome!
I just wanted to let you both know how intensely jealous I am!! The pictures make me want to cry a little bit in jealousy! You 2 are so lucky! Keep having fun! Oh and I absolutely LOVE HD lol. The have those type of vans here in Jasper all the time..minus the driving on the left part.
Miss you tonnes!
PS the snow here is awesome…I’d love to say you are missing out, just to make you jealous, but my snow doesn’t even begin to compare to the awesome NZ adventures you are having!!
Quite the Van you to have!!! Looks like something straight out of the late 60’s early 70’s! Keep on trucking.