Feb 2nd - Feb 5th
Well, after depositing the majority of our worldlies in storage in Auckland (password and key NOT supplied to anyone, so don’t bother asking), we trundled on to our next adventure.
We had decided to head on to Wellington to visit Simon’s dear friend, and ex-housemate Lucy, in Wellington. Since we had four days to travel the rather short distance between Auckland and Wellington, we well and truly took our time on the trip down…
Night 1: I had insisted on staying in a campsite on the first night, incorrectly assuming they might be a good option. The problem is that Kilou is somewhat of a limiting factor… However, we did manage to find such a place (in Otorohanga) that promised a host of wonderful facilities, and turned out to be distinctly weird – a tiny site, perched between a railroad and a road used by freight trucks (their warehouses were right next to us), with a gym larger than most I’ve seen, and frequented by burly locals. Horrors…
After this, Simon got his way and we camped rough for the next few nights, as follows:
We drove for a while, taking in the sights and sounds of the scenery, and got to see Lake Taupo, the consquence of a truly awe-inspiring volcanic eruption in (…can’t be bothered - wiki it, you lazy ****ers!)
Night 2: was spent pulled over on the side of the road near Lake Tongariro. Perdy, most perdy.
An interesting note for South Africans and other wild creatures: NZ’s government encourages people to camp wild, if possible, and as long as they clean up after themselves. And it is, generally, pretty damn safe! I know! Hardly got a wink the first night, and was fine thereafter…
Night 3: After travelling happily, and rather hilariously, through such landscape as the North Island’s very own desert (now, don’t laugh – the natives take offence when people who have proper deserts are disparaging about the Rangipo). We also got to see Mount Doom – not actually, officially named as such, and the only reference I will make to LOTR scenery etc we’ve seen here (there have been others, but I sincerely doubt you give a damn, dear readers). After more travels, including seeing (but me chickening out on) NZ’s most extreme flying fox (or foofy slide), eating beautifully coloured heritage veggies, and more general scenery admiring, we reached our final campsite, just outside Levin.
Note to foreigners: Levin is, um, how to put this politely…not the world’s most wonderful town. * Ahem*
After driving around for ages trying to find somewhere we could camp, and in the process almost getting the van, and us, either crushed by logging trucks careening around bends, or falling off roads in the hills above Palmerston North, we eventually found the Gladstone Reserve. We pulled in, failing, as a function of our advanced years, to notice the suspiciously well-used 8 the road into the reserve made. A quiet supper accompanied by the burbling of the stream we were next was suddenly, and repeatedly, interrupted by the local yoof doing donuts. Joy. Anyway, they eventually pissed off, thankfully, and we got some sleep, ready for the final couple of hours the next day, down to Wellington.
(Note, from Taupo, we had been following highway 1, down the coast)
Finally, Wellington!
Well, after depositing the majority of our worldlies in storage in Auckland (password and key NOT supplied to anyone, so don’t bother asking), we trundled on to our next adventure.
We had decided to head on to Wellington to visit Simon’s dear friend, and ex-housemate Lucy, in Wellington. Since we had four days to travel the rather short distance between Auckland and Wellington, we well and truly took our time on the trip down…
Night 1: I had insisted on staying in a campsite on the first night, incorrectly assuming they might be a good option. The problem is that Kilou is somewhat of a limiting factor… However, we did manage to find such a place (in Otorohanga) that promised a host of wonderful facilities, and turned out to be distinctly weird – a tiny site, perched between a railroad and a road used by freight trucks (their warehouses were right next to us), with a gym larger than most I’ve seen, and frequented by burly locals. Horrors…
After this, Simon got his way and we camped rough for the next few nights, as follows:
We drove for a while, taking in the sights and sounds of the scenery, and got to see Lake Taupo, the consquence of a truly awe-inspiring volcanic eruption in (…can’t be bothered - wiki it, you lazy ****ers!)
Night 2: was spent pulled over on the side of the road near Lake Tongariro. Perdy, most perdy.
An interesting note for South Africans and other wild creatures: NZ’s government encourages people to camp wild, if possible, and as long as they clean up after themselves. And it is, generally, pretty damn safe! I know! Hardly got a wink the first night, and was fine thereafter…
Night 3: After travelling happily, and rather hilariously, through such landscape as the North Island’s very own desert (now, don’t laugh – the natives take offence when people who have proper deserts are disparaging about the Rangipo). We also got to see Mount Doom – not actually, officially named as such, and the only reference I will make to LOTR scenery etc we’ve seen here (there have been others, but I sincerely doubt you give a damn, dear readers). After more travels, including seeing (but me chickening out on) NZ’s most extreme flying fox (or foofy slide), eating beautifully coloured heritage veggies, and more general scenery admiring, we reached our final campsite, just outside Levin.
Note to foreigners: Levin is, um, how to put this politely…not the world’s most wonderful town. * Ahem*
After driving around for ages trying to find somewhere we could camp, and in the process almost getting the van, and us, either crushed by logging trucks careening around bends, or falling off roads in the hills above Palmerston North, we eventually found the Gladstone Reserve. We pulled in, failing, as a function of our advanced years, to notice the suspiciously well-used 8 the road into the reserve made. A quiet supper accompanied by the burbling of the stream we were next was suddenly, and repeatedly, interrupted by the local yoof doing donuts. Joy. Anyway, they eventually pissed off, thankfully, and we got some sleep, ready for the final couple of hours the next day, down to Wellington.
(Note, from Taupo, we had been following highway 1, down the coast)
Finally, Wellington!
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aimee
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