20 April 2009 – cloudy (Auckland) – rain (Warkworth), 22°

up at 7:30, packed etc then taxi to airport at 9:00, checked in. left on time at 9:50, arrived in Auckland at 10:50. Waited for shuttle to Exploremore, arrived at 11:45, then to Exploremore depot, waited to be checked through, finally got van at 12:45

Drove back past airport and to Manukau shopping centre for lunch, bought some supplies then north on SH1 through Auckland and north

Stopped to pay toll at Dairy Flat BP then north

Turned off and drove through Puhoi to Art of Cheese, bought some Gouda, and then back SH1 at 3:30

North again to Warkworth, drove through town (bucketing with rain) then out to Sandspit to camp and checked in at 4:00 ($30 /night)

Drove back into Warkworth, parked and wandered around the shops, back to camp at 5:15, parked and organised ourselves

Tea @ 6:30

21 April 2009 – cloudy, 18°

Up at 8:00, had breakfast, packed up and left at 9:30, drove up to main road then along through Snell’s Beach (complete with Warehouse) to Algies Bay, then back to Warkworth. Parked and went shopping for groceries at the New World, then back to SH1 then north

Drove over the hills to Wellsford and stopped for coffee at 11:30, walked along main street then north again

Turned off at Brynderwyn west on SH12, turned south to Pahi to look at giant Morton Bay Fig tree, then back to main road and on to Matakohe, arr 1:00, checked into Top 10 camp and parked ($34 / night)

Walked back along road to Kauri Museum, had lunch across the road then into museum ($15 ea), walked around until 3:30 (very impressive) then walked around cemetery opposite and into the Pioneer Church and the current church

Walked back to camp and relaxed

Tea at 6:00

22 April 2009 – fine / cloudy, 20°

Up at 7:00, had breakfast etc and left at 8:30, drove down to Matakohe Bay then back to main road, west on SH12, and north to Dargaville, arr 9:15, north then west out to Baylys Beach. Drove onto beach for a look , then back up to café for coffee

North on SH12 again turned off to Kai Iwi Lakes at 10:30, looked at lakes then back to main road and north again

Stopped at lookout at southern end of Waipoua Forest then north to visitors centre at 12:30, north again to Kauri Walks car park (had to pay $2 for security) and walked to Four Sisters and Te Matua Ngahere, at 1:15 (20 minute walk from carpark) then back to car and coupe of kilometres north to Tane Mahuta. Got a bacon and egg roll for lunch at roadside caravan ($4.50 ea)

North again down from forest and through Omapere to Opononi, checked in to Opononi Beach Holiday Park at 2:45 (office closed).  Parked and relaxed, walked along the beach to the Opononi Hotel for a coffee at 3:30

Back to camp

Out at 5:30 to lookout on south head, got petrol on way ($90, $1.78/l!), back to camp at 6:30

Tea

23 April 2009 – fine / cloudy, late showers and wind, 20°

Up at 7:00, AC went for walk on the beach. Breakfast then checked out ($30 / night), stopped for groceries at Opononi 4 square

Drove east then turned off to Rawene for a look at 9:30 then back to SH12 and through to Taheke then north to Wairere Boulders ( ½  road good, ½ narrow winding gravel)

Parked (at 10:15) and paid ($10ea) and walked around basalt boulders up a little valley, very interesting

Back to the van at 10:50 then north to Mangangu to mission house / church, then back to Horeke and east / north bck to SH1 (good road)

North on SH1 (avoiding crazy drivers) through to Kaitaia at 12:30

Parked, had rolls in van, went to the Warehouse (bought electric kettle $13; gas top one too slow) then walked along main street. Back to the van then out to Ahipara. Looked at the beach then hired Quad Bikes (Ahipara Adventures, $80 ea for 1 hr) at 2:15 and rode on the beach south around Shipwreck Bay and next point then back again; good fun

Drove back through Kaitaia and north, detour to look at the airport, then to Awanui for coffee at 4:00, then to Waipapakauri beach to top 10 camp at 4:30 ($34 / night), parked and relaxed.

Walk on the beach at 5:30 then tea

24 April 2009 – windy / rain, 20°

Up at 8:00, breakfast etc then left at 9:15. North on SH1 battling the wind, stopped for petrol at Houhora, then for groceries. Onwards north started to rain, road works for last 20 kms, arrived at Cape Reinga at 11.30 (gale winds and rain), walked down to lighthouse. Left and south again back to Awanui (rain getting heavier, wnd easing) then east to Karikari Peninsula then north to Whatuwhiwhi, arrived at 2:45. Checked in at Top 10 camp ($36 / night) and parked. Sat and watched the rain. Tea then bed.

25 April 2009 – windy / rain then cloudy with showers, 20°

Up at 9:00, breakfast etc, listened to the rain. Left at 10:00, drove north to Matai Bay to look at the waves then south past Bay View then out to Rangiputa Beach, calm and sheltered there, back to main road then south to SH10 then east. Drove through Coopers Beach then through Mangonui then back to SH10. Rain eased / stopped now. East again, turned off to Whangaroa then out to Tauranga Beach at 12:15, then east again through Wainui Beach and down to Matauri Bay at 1:00 (new subdivisions). South again to join Sh10 the east and into Kerikeri at 1:45

Went to café for lunch then walked around shops (most closed due to Anzac Day). Back to van then drove to Stone Store, walked around, looked at the swollen river then walked to the Pa site, then to St James Church. Back to van then to New World for groceries at 4:00 then to Top 10 camp ($40 / night), checked in and parked

Out for tea at the RSA at 6:00

26 April 2009 – showers, 20°

Up at 9:00, drove to McDonalds for breakfast. Left at 10:00, drove to SH10 then south to SH1 then east to Kawakawa.  Stopped and looked at Hundertwasser Toilets then watched steam train go down main street.

North on SH11 overhills to Opua turnoff then down to vehicle ferry to Okiato ($11) at 11:30

Drove through to Russell, checked into Top 10 camp for 2 nights ($46 / night - $50 voucher).  Set up then walked to jetty, caught ferry to Paihia ($10 ea rtn), at 12:40

Walked around shops of Paihia then had lunch at café.

Walked along road to Waitangi, arrived at 2:15, free entry for Nzer’s, bought guide book for $5. Walked around waka then up to Treaty House and Whare then back to café for coffee at 3:30

Left and walked back to Paihia and caught 4:30 ferry back to Russell, booked Excitor boat trip for tomrrow ($154 for 2, departing at 10:30) walked back up to camp, relaxed

Tea at 6:00

27 April 2009 – showers, 21°

Up at 8:00, had breakfast. Got told that boat had been cancelled, so went to camp office at 9:30 to change booking, to be told that it was back on. Walked to the Russell Wharf at 10:15 for a safety briefing then onto the boat. Set out across the bay into heavy swell, got soaked. Planned to go to Hole in the Rock but too rough so out to “9pins” then back around inner islands, looking at bays and houses. Back to Russell at 12:00

Walked back to camp to get changed and dry.  Walked back into town at 1:30, walked to Christ Church (oldest in NZ) then to Pompelier House ($7 ea) walked around inside

Walked along the Strand to Café in town, got coffee then walked around rest of town.

Back to camp to relax and do washing

Out at 5:45 walked to waterfront then along to Russell Sports Fishermans Club for tea ($15 for fish and chips), walked back to camp at 7:00

28 April 2009 – partly cloudy, 21°

Up at 8:00, packed and left at 9:30, drove over hill to Oneroa Beach then up Flagstaff Hill. Left Russell at 10:00, out on main road then off on scenic Russell Road, stopped for photos at Taupiri Bay then on to Oakura for a look.

Wound over hills and back to SH1 at 12:00.

Drove to Hikurangi for supplies and picnic lunch at Waro lake.

East on Marua Road through Marua then onto gravel through to Whananaki South at 1:15. Parked by longest footbridge in southern hemisphere and walked across estuary to Whananaki North and back (about 500m each way). Drove back to Matapouri Road then south through bays to Matapouri, stopped for a look at the beach then on to Tutukaka, arrived at 2:30. Drove around marina then up over hills to Church Bay then on to Whangaumu Bay, stopped and paddled in the water then back to camp near marina, Tutukaka Holiday park ($30 /night), parked and set up at 3:30. Relaxed. Out for a walk at 4:00 around marina then back to camp. Tea, AC’s mum rang.

29 April 2009 – partly cloudy / fine, 22°

Up at 8:00, breakfast then packed van, left at 9:30, drove south up hill to lookout then on to Ngunguru, stopped for photos then onwards west towards Whangarei, past lots of stone walls around Glenbervie. Turned off to Whangarei Falls at 10:15, walked around falls, down to the bottom then back up to van at 10:45.

Drove on to Whangarei then out around the airport along Heads road, rain showers moving through. Drove through stunning bays then across to Ocean Beach at 12:00.

Drove back to Mcleods Bay to café for lunch.

Rove back along bays again in sunshine, down to Reotahi bay to look across at refinery.

Back towards town then up to Parihaka Monument at 1:30 for view, then back down and to Warehouse for a look.

Drove through town to New World for grocerys then to Alpha Camp, checked in a relaxed, sat in the sun

Went for a walk around the block at 4:30 then tea at 6:00. Out to the Northland Club around the corner at 7:00 to play the pokies, back to van at 8:00

30 April 2009 – partly cloudy / fine, 22°

Up at 8:30, had breakfast etc. Left camp at 9:30, walked to town, walked around shops then walked down to Town Basin.  Stopped for coffee and scone. Walked back to camp then drove to AH Reed Kauri park at 1:00, walked round loop track, across canopy walk and past kauri trees.  Had picnic lunch in carpark.  Drove up to Abbey Caves, walked down track for a kilometre to caves, didn’t go inside, very cramped.  Back to van then drove back through town to Quarry Gardens at 3:00, walked around old quarry up to lake and back to van.  Drove through town to the warehouse for supplies then back to camp at 4:30. Relaxed. Tea at 6:30

1 May 2009 – partly cloudy / fine / late showers, 19°

Up at 8:00, had breakfast etc, left @ 9:00. Drove south on SH1, turned off to Marsden Point at 9:30, drove to refinery visitors centre, not open until 10, so drove to One Tree Point to look around new canal subdivision.  Back to Visitors centre at 10:15, watched a video and looked at displays, very interesting. Drove back through Ruakaka to SH1 then south and turned off at Waipu. Drove along coats, stopped at Langs Beach for photos then on to Mangawhai Heads, then inland to Kaiwaka and south on SH1 to Wellsford.  Stopped to by supplies then east on road to Pakiri, drove to Pakiri Beach, had picnic lunch and a walk on the beach at 1:00. Drove up over hills towards Leigh (could see Auckland city in the distance) then to Goat Island Reserve, waked along the shore. Back to van then down into Leigh. Drove down to harbour for a look around then got an icecream and sat in the sun.

Drove from west and turned off to Omaha Beach, different world out there, lots of huge beach houses. Back to main road then turned off past Matakarna back to Sandspit, and checked in at camp. Set up and relaxed at 3:30.

Out for a walk along the sandspit at 4:00 then back to van. Tea at 6:00

Out at 7:00, drove up to Salty Dog pub to watch the Hurricanes vs Blues match; rowdy lot at the pub. Back to camp at 9:30

2 May 2009 – rain / clearing late, 18°

Up at 8:30, had breakfast etc, left at 9:30, drove to Matakana Country Fair to market; not a lot there, bought small kauri clock ($45).  Drove to Matakana and walked around market there, in the rain.  Drove back through Warkworth then south on SH1.  Turned off to go through Waiwera then to Orewa.  Stopped for coffee in Orewa at 11:30

South again and turned off at Dairy Flat to cross to SH16 then south to Helensville. Stopped for supplies then on to Parakai.  Checked into camp ($26 / night) and got tickets for swimming in the hot pools (1/2 price with camping, $8 ea)

Had lunch then into pools at 2:30. Out at 3:30, back to van.

Went for a walk along main street of Parakai at 4:30, then back to van for tea.

3 May 2009 – fine, 18°

Up at 8:00, had breakfast etc, left camp at 9:00.  Drove south on SH16 turned off to Muriwai Beach 9:30, arrived at 9:45. Drove back to SH16 then south and onto motorway. Turned off and drove through Henderson, stopped for petrol.  On up the Waitakeres and out to Piha at 11:30. Walked along the beach then back up the hill.

Drove along scenic drive through Titirangi then through to Avondale, stopped for picnic lunch at Heron Park, then south through Mt Roskill etc then through to Silvia Park at 2:00.

Walked around mall, had coffee. Back to van and onto motorway and through to Manukau, checked into Top 10 camp ($40 / night). Relaxed

Out to tea at nearby Lone Star at 6:00, back to van at 7:30.

4 May 2009 – fine

  Up at 7:00, had breakfast etc, packed and left at 9:00. Got petrol then west then north past airport back to Exploremore depot.  Checked van back in then shuttle to airport.