Two weeks in the North Island
In and around New Zealand
Mark has quit his job and we have taken to the road.[1] We decided that traveling around New Zealand and Australia was a better use of our time and money than staying in one place while Mark toiled in misery. But the best laid plans of mice and men… not that we had well laid plans. I have always lobbied for more travel and less grindstone activity and Mark it seems has always dreamed of doing this traveling with a knapsack on his back. He agreed to the travel and I agreed to a knapsack (sort of). [2]
Our maiden voyage involved an elaborate scheme to see all of the North Island in two weeks. This, people, cannot be done unless you like living in your car. Fortunately we came to our senses and limited our travels to moving up the center of the island to the Coromandel and back again down the east coast. Still, to be done properly, this journey is more than a two week trip.
[1] Mark was able to stay away from the workaday world for approximately 2 days and then he had to check all the newspapers and online job boards. He signed up with a head hunter and went on an interview during the first week of his retirement. [2] Our car became my knapsack with my clothes safely stowed in a regular suitcase.
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler turutia
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1
The Last Hurrah
Dashing ahead of a major storm, we zoomed down the North Island towards the ferry in a 4 day driving marathon. Yet in Napier we did take a tour... Continue reading » -
2
The Dark Side of Backpackers
Get out your maps kiddies and we are off to Picton. I have posted pictures and written about Picton in earlier posts, so not much else will be said... Continue reading »
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3
The Other Windy City
The next stop was in a suburb of Wellington called Plimmerton. Plimmerton was originally set up as a resort town meant to be a getaway for the weal... Continue reading »
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4
Not Exactly the Gateway to the North Island
A quick stop in Palmerston North was in order to help our daughter Chelsea celebrate her 23rd birthday. While waiting for her to get off work... Continue reading »
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5
On The Road To Taupo
The road to Taupo is like so many of New Zealand's roads, twisty, slow going, perched on the edges of cliffs, and narrow. This leg of the jou... Continue reading »
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6
A Thermal Wonderland
Rotorua Lake is practically unusable. According to the literature 50 years ago this lake was crystal clear and a paradise for birds and peopl... Continue reading »
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7
Top of the World
"Are you lost" Confused, turned around, consulting the map to verify the directions, just resting.... yea we were lost. Stopping in a s... Continue reading »
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8
The Coromandel
We are in Whitianga for Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. We will not be distracted, we will not be stopped, we will not be delayed. ... Continue reading »
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