Back on the road, but this time by bus after an extra week in Auckland arranging all the paperwork so my parents could get my redundancy for me, but at last everything worked out perfectly and on the 13th of January Cris and I went to Bay of Islands for the weekend. Our last trip together and thanks to the nice weather we enjoyed it much more!
We left on Friday at noon with the nakedbus, one of the cheapest ways to travel in NZ and no, you don't have to be naked to go on it! The backpackers we reserved was near the sea and the town center, the truth is that the entire street was filled with hostels. We had a 4 bed dorm, the first night we shared it with a German (of course, NZ it’s full of Germans) and a Canadian. The hostel was great, a good kitchen, a large living room with TV, movies and very good tourist information board. Next day we did an excursion to Cape Rienga, top North of the country, there’s a lighthouse and you can see how the Tasman Sea meets with the Pacific, a great experience! We had a great day, long but fun and very interesting, in which we could also enjoy stunning views of beaches, cliffs, dunes and crazy comments from our guide.
After picking us up in our hostel and spend the next 2 hours on the bus, we had our first stop, at a bakery where we could buy the water and food we would need for the entire day. From there we went to the 90 Mile Beach, a beach considered road but which you can only use when weather permitted and in the morning when the tide is low. The beach is so called because they thought that was its length, but was actually measured down to 68 miles. Why change it? Because then they can compete with the Australians for the longest Beach/Road in the southern hemisphere. Here everything works like that, the longest beach, the only tower, the only place that… and a non ending etc... that, of course, always in the southern hemisphere!
After driving a while on the Beach we arrived at the dunes where we could do sand boarding, I was tempted to do it, but the sand mountain was too high, too fast and the greatest crash! So, better to leave it for another day, as trip had just re-started.
To be able to enjoy one of the natures phenomenon’s, see how two seas meet and battle against each other, is one of those small luxuries and delights of a traveler and on this occasion, I can assure you that it was a pleasure.
The next day we did a half-day tour to the Hole on the Rock, it’s basically that, a hole on the rock! A rock that doubles in size our Es Vedra and with a big hole, if weather permitted, the boats go through it so you can experience what it’s like to go through such a giant!
Shortly after Cris had to go, our paths were to separate and who knows if they'll ever meet again, but it was a plesure meeting her and to travel together part of the North Island!
