Part 2: Paihia (Bay of Islands), Cape Reinga & 90 mile beach
I took the flight back to New Zealand from Australia on December 4 and arrived to Auckland on the evening of Dec 4th (2011. I got picked up from the airport by a german couple (Gyde and Richard)that I met at Bounce hostel in Sydney. On Dec 5th (next day) we decided to take a small roadtrip to the West coast of Auckland (Piha & another beach I cannot recall the name of.. AMAZING!). I love that place, it's really, really beautiful, and considering it's 40-60 minutes drive from Auckland's Central Business Disctrict it sure doesn't feel as if it's close to such a big city.
Anyhow, we spend a few hours walking around on the beach taking photographs, and finally back at my place we cooked us some awesome food - rice cooked in coconutmilk with beans + chicken for me and Richard. We put on a movie (Thor - which were totally crap by the way) and they stayed over for the night.
The next day (Dec 6)I was going to jump on the Kiwi Experience bus and start my real New Zealand adventures. I was super excited but had unfortunately picked up a nasty cold. With an early pickup time (7am) outside of Base hostel on Queenstreet (Auckland CBD), I had to get up extra early to jump on the bus & ferry from North Shore in to the city. I felt quite miserable to be honest as I jumped on the bus that would take us up to Paihia (Bay of Islands) on the East coast, approx 3-4 hours further up North from Auckland. Luckily there weren't many people on the bus so and I didn't need to be super social as everyone seemed to be quite tired (backpackers don't fancy jumping on buses at 7am in the morning, might have something to do with the frequent partylife).
Anyhow, I was a bit surprised about the bus and its seats that kept falling off continuously if you decided to whipp your ass forward a bit too much. I definitely didn't think it met up to the standards of bus quality I had in mind, but as my travels proceeded it didn't take me long untill I understood the whole concept of traveling with these buses. There're so many of them, so basicly the nicest ones are the ones going down South from Auckland.
3-4 hours later (can't recall how long it actually took) we arrived to Paihia, checked in to the hostel (Pipi Patch?) (who had a hot tub!!) and socialized for a while before heading out to check out the super tiny city (really, the city center were stretched out over one small street). I met Jan here, the first german guy I became friend with during my Kiwi Experience adventures. Need I say I soon realised there were lots and lots of germans traveling around New Zealand. It was inevitable to not at least meet 5 germans either on the buses or at the hostels.
Bay of Islands is a lovely place, if you have a boat. Me and Jan decided to go out for what we thought would be a rather short hike, but later turned out to take ages - only to realise we had totally gone the wrong way (it was apparentally better to return the same way you came) as we headed back towards the hostel. I didn't enjoy the surroundings at all as we walked inland towards a waterfall (I guess I had become a bit spoiled by New Zealands beauty already). Turns out the waterfall wasn't anything spectacular at all, rather a small one located just by a fast-laned road. We then ended up walking over 5 km back in flip flops - or jandals as they call them in New Zealand - (on the big road) back to Paihia. We tried to hitch-hike but with no success, and as we approached our hostel I had already managed to kick my big toe on an annoying bump in the asfalt - resulting in a relatively heavy bleeding, but luckily with no pain. To sum it up: the hike was pretty miserable, maybe even more so due to my continuously dripping nose. I don't normally complain about these things but I want to keep it as truthfull as possible on here ;)
The next day I had booked in a boat safari along some of the beautiful islands outside Paihia. Stupidly enough I had taken some pills that helps to keep your nostrils clear (yeah, SMART Alex :P) so my nose went totally crazy and didn't seem to have the decency to stop bothering me. Not to forget that I had lost my new sunglasses in Sydney and was too stubborn to buy me new ones (thought of saving money..). So there I sat, on the boat, with a dripping nose and squinting eyes due to the strong sun, trying to look as comfortable as possible. I didn't want to portray myself as some virus infected human being that you regret sitting next to, but polite enough (or stupid) to move away from (change to another seat), so I tried my hardest to look as normal as possible :) Anyhow, the possibility came up to jump in to the sea (18,5*C) and swim with dolphins, which was something I really wanted to do! but considering the cirqumstances I decided not too, as I wanted to get healthy as soon as possible! so no dolphin swimming for me, but I got some great shots on the people who did it (hehe, weeeh00). Overall, the tour was really nice and I would've really enjoyed it if I didnt feel so miserable! I sure learned my lesson not to insert any more of those pills into my fragile system :p
In Paihia I also met Martin Kendrick (UK guy who travelled by himself) and Brooke & Hayden (NZ peeps who travelled together). I met a lot of other people up in Paihia but Brooke, Hayden and Martin would turn out to be fellow travellers down the North Island (from Auckland down South).
That evening I ended up with a bounch of people at a secluded place further down the beach, playing drinking games (with a very stupid "one up - one down" game from Martin)and just enjoying the stars. It was really optional to sit and do drinking games at the main beach as it's illegal to drink at the beach in Paihia, you can get heavy fines for it. Anyhow, overall a nice evening with nice people :)
The next day I jumped on the bus again that would take me up for a day trip to Cape Reinga and 90 mile beach. The busdriver was a bit hard to understand as he had a strong Maori accent and the microphone was cracking up all the time. We did a mid-stop before Cape Reinga at a forest with massive trees (don't remember what they're called and too lazy to look up!) which was quite cool. Then we headed up to Cape Reinga, which was AMAZING! It was so nice, and my cold wasn't bad either :)
After Cape Reinga we did another "mid-stop" at a pretty sweet beach not far away from Cape R. We layed in the sun for a bit and jumped back on the bus to head to 90 mile beach and the sand dunes up its top. The sand dunes were amazing, almost like a desert just by the beach. From the top of the dunes we boogie boarded down (or body-boarded), it went pretty fast and was loads of fun :)
Drenched in sand we jumped back on to the bus and drove along the 90 mile beach, it's such a massive beach that they've made it a highway. Although you'll need to watch out as it's easy to get stuck in the sand if you're not sure how to drive there!
We returned back to Paihia later that evening and returned back to Auckland the next day (Dec 9). This trip also provided party, barbeques and hot-tubbing! Overall a good start on my New Zealand travels:)
Postad den 2012-02-11 @ 20:25:31 Postad i Roadtrips, NZ | Kommentarer (2)
As we were walking along the narrow neighbourhood streets, we discussed the importance of our future lives. Unaware of what was to come and what was to become expected of us, we discussed the urge of breaking free from what we at the time considered to be a rut. We pictured how to break free and travel as if we'd never travelled before...
It was early May and the night was young. I thought to myself as we walked along the street: I will get out of here, I really will.. I can't wait any longer. I want to go now! Why can't I just go now? It didn't make it better when I was told that I would probably be stuck in Sweden for eternity. A scenario that I at the time considered to be "the end of the world".
Five years later with a rather declined urge to travel I found myself sitting on a train that would eventually take me to an airport, that in turn would take me to an airplane, and finally I would end up somewhere on the other side of the world. So there I was, sitting on the train waving goodbye to my family, but most of all I was waving goodbye to my grandmother. Not knowing if she would be there when I came back. You see, it wasn't just a vacation trip I was getting myself into. It was a four year long degree on the other side of the world (literally), and I couldn't help but feel sad as the shapes of my family dissapeared in the distance.. Thinking I wouldn't see them for a very long time, and with my grandmothers heart disease I couldn't help but feel helpless and confused over my decision to leave at this point in time.
With two very big suitcases, one backpack, my big camera bag and a laptop bag (yeah, I must've looked pretty hilarious), I managed to reach my final destination: Auckland, New Zealand. Unshaved, unwashed and with my winter cloths still on, I arrived to New Zealand summer, relatively unaware of how this year would turn out to be the best year of my life (so far).
The year of 2011 was the start of a new life. A life with experiences, self-belief and new friendships from all over the world. My two semesters at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) went better than expected and I managed to organize a university transfer to Lund University in Sweden for my future studies. My transfer to Lund University (LU) would turn out to be a great decision. I now had the money to spend on travels in New Zealand and Australia for a total of 1,5 months! and I would assure myself to be there if something happened to my grandmother.
Happy as I was after my final exams I jumped on the flight to Australia to spend two weeks in Melbourne and Sydney. The weather was relatively crap, but as I always say: every experience is a good experience! Either way, I found myself eager to return back to New Zealand to start my travels that would take me up all the way to Cape Reinga (top of North Island) and down to Stewart Island (the Island just under the South Island). Little did I know that I would make friendships that would open up posibilities for a Eurotrip this summer (2012)!
So to sum it up, this was how my trip was outlined:
Postad den 2012-02-11 @ 18:51:22 Postad i Roadtrips, NZ | Kommentarer (0)
OK! I am ready to start blogging again. I just haven't had any motivation whatsoever to write down my adventures.. I guess I'm not a really good blogger :p but whatever, stick around and you'll hear more about my adventures!;)
Right now I'm drenched in studies, got exam in 2 weeks (first one ever for a Swedish university) so it's occupying my "spare time" nowadays.. also I started gymnastic again! I will make videos, for sure, with my 'asian' manufactured camera bought in NZ (Trademe) :p
Stick around!
Cheers,
Alex w
Postad den 2012-02-08 @ 11:11:14 Postad i Helsingborg, SWE | Kommentarer (0)
I bloody LOVE New Zealand! I'm having the best time of my life, it's insane! luuuv it. I will post a diary as soon as I got the time that will cover my travels from start to finish. I just don't have the time to update right now.. I have so much stuff going on!
Anyway, today I did the bungy canyon swing and it was really nice. I won a bungy voucher by the way, I dressed up as a psycho during a costume party and won the price for best costume. I guess it was original enough.. The theme was "P" so most of the guys dressed up as prostitues.. Hilarious, we had four danish guys on the bus and they all dressed up as females.. Says alot eh? haha nah, they are really nice. Just putting it out there! :)
Well, got to go get ready for tonight. Party in Queenstown! woop :)
Life's good. Love life!\
cheers, alex
Postad den 2011-12-26 @ 08:08:59 Postad i Roadtrips, NZ | Kommentarer (1)
Hello, I just got back from a trip up north to Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga. It was awesome. However, you really do need to have a boat to enjoy bay of islands to the fullest..
In Bay of Islands I went on a day trip with a boat around the islands and to check out the famous hole in the rock. I was supposed to swim with dolphins but I had an insanely irritating cold which made me reconsider such enjoyment.. I ended up taking photographs of the lucky people who got to do it :E so there I was, sitting in my little corner on the outside deck with loads of toiletpaper and a continous dripping nose. I felt quite miserable that trip actually.
BUT, the next day I felt quite good :) so I decided to take the bus up to Cape Reinga (top of North Island). The busride there was quite uneventfull and pretty boring. However it was beautiful when we finally got there! After walking around taking photographs as the tourists we are, we travelled to one of the nearby beaches. After chillin' on the beach for a while we travelled west to 90 mile beach where we got to bodyboard down the massive sanddunes. It was awesome! It was just like a desert (the sanddunes) but with water channels around it and a view of the massive 90 miles beach.. AMAZING! I luuvd it, if you ever travel to New Zealand's North Island, then don't miss out on the great Cape Reinga and 90 mile beach (sanddunes). Anyway.. after we'd sandsurfed down the "sandmountains" a few times we jumped back into the bus to drive along the 90 mile beach. It is so long and wide that it is a public highway for vehicles. Pretty crazy ;)
When we got back we went to the beach with our ciders and beers previously bought and found a discrete spot to hang out in. We were a bounch of people and went through a few drinking games under the starts before we headed back to the hostel to have a good sleep after a long day.
So here I am, sitting in my "old" room in Devonport writing this blog entry with a cider in by my side. Tomorrow it's time to head down south, starting in Coromandel & hot water beach to later head down to Waitomo Caves, rotorua, Taupu, etc.. And ofcourse South Island adventures:)
I love New Zealand, I really do :)
Have it sweeet as bro!
Postad den 2011-12-09 @ 09:44:00 Postad i Roadtrips, NZ | Kommentarer (0)
I am right now in Sydney at Peter Pans travel place and using their free internet. I went to bondi yesterday and it was amazing. The weather was actually good for once which made it even better. If I ever live in Sydney it would definitely be somewhere along the beach, the city kind of sucks.. I also went up the Sydney sky tower to check out the view, and then headed off to an animal place that displayed native animals and insects.. No spiders though, which was really dissapointing :E
I am heading back to Auckland today, need I say I'm excited? I will upload photos when I get home, hopefully I have enough time to upload on both facebook and on this blog. I only have one day "off" before I jump on Kiwi Experience and travel around New Zealand.
A german couple that I met at the hostel in Sydney will pick me up at the airport, not too bad :) they'll sleep over for two nights and we'll make some food etc.. Will be nice!
yeh, not much more to write right now.. I might have written something about that OZ (aussie) suck in the previous post: however that was due to the crap weather I had.. I have noticed that I'm not really that much of a big city person. I don't like to get smoke blown in my face everytime I walk down the city streets, not to forget all the vagabonds (bums) and weirdos walking around on the streets.... I much rather live in a smaller sea town.
I am happy that I came here cause now I know I will never study here, ever! Might work here for a couple of years, but nothing else... Europe has so much more to offer!
ook, heading back to hostel now to pick up my bag and head for the airport.
have it sweet adios amigos!
Postad den 2011-12-04 @ 01:38:13 Postad i Australia | Kommentarer (0)
zuep, My travels have officially started.. well, they started a week ago as I went to Sydney (Australia). I am currently in Melbourne and it's 30'C.. Not complaining! However, the weather was S H I T in Sydney, only rained and it was really cold.. not what I had expected out of Sydney really :E I am going back there for three days on thursday and then I'll head back to Auckland. Hopefully Sydney will bring some hot weather by then!
I went to the Great Ocean Road 2 days ago, and it was pretty sweet. Took lots of great photos, really happy that I bought my big camera.. Awesome memories captured with it!
Anyway, as I head back to Sydney I will travel to the blue mountains .. better be good weather though! Holding my thumbs for it... If it's bad weather you cant see anything, no fun.
I've met some awesome people here in Melbourne and just got back from the beach. The beach however is a big dissapointment here, it's called st Kilda and it's really.. not very clean. The water is dark and dirty in a way and I heard that you need to watch out for the 'needles'.. Like whot le fock? Apparentally the junkies ditch their needles on the beach or whatever... nah, really nothing to see./ AT ALL! so if you come to Melbourne, don't expect much of the city beaches..
I've also noticed that there are alot of weird people in Sydney and Melbourne.. More in Sydney than Melbourne, but still alot of them in Melb.. Like vagabonds (bums) and just really weird people.. like psychotic weirdos :e I do NOT like that, obviously :p
I am just about to head into the shower and then later in the evening it'll be barbeque on the roof top here at YHA hostel in Melbourne. That will be nice.
I feel sorry for everyone who needs to wear a suit to work when it's 30*C outside.. but then again lots of people wear sneakers and black clothing (jeans and such..) when it is this hot outside.. Really? They must stink like crazy when they get home.. Weird people!
I will try to upload some photos when I'm back in Auckland, they will def be on facebook at least. I only have one day off till I jump on the Kiwi Experience the next day and start my NZ travels. It will be A M A Z I N G!! Can't wait for it, wooho! Life's awesome right now.
okee, gotto head off now...
Later :)
Postad den 2011-11-29 @ 06:13:24 Postad i Australia | Kommentarer (0)
I got accepted to Lund University in Sweden :) It's ranked 89 in the world and is one of the best, if not the best, physiotherapy programs in Sweden. I am so happy :)
Check this out ;)
Postad den 2011-09-24 @ 01:23:35 Postad i Auckland, NZ | Kommentarer (0)
There is not much that beats sitting by the bar/restaurant at the end of the pier in my hometown, sunset, a drink and people waterskiing while live blues is being played in the background.
And there's just no genres that can EVER replace blues, EVER! It's a lifestyle. Dot end.
Postad den 2011-09-19 @ 06:45:47 Postad i Auckland, NZ | Kommentarer (0)
I am right not on the slowest internet EVAR! Not sure why the internet is cracking up like this.. Its normally pretty fast, owell.. Hope it will be better sooner rather than later.
Im on a friends computer right now, going to see if I can find some photos to upload from RWC... If I did you will see them underneath hehe.
I have just had break for two weeks, "mid-break", and its been... well its been fun with Coromandel and rugby etc.. Otherwise it's been kind of boring. Ive been studying a couple of days, then I kind of lost motivation (like today) and I havent done much at all really. It will only be five weeks till our finals exams, starting next week. So yeah,.. I have noticed that I always become like this before our exams. Some weeks before I start to feel anxious and just want it all to be over with. So some days I dont study at all, for some reason I really cant explain, and then others I study my ass off. Really, it's all about motivation.
After this week I will start my supertempo again :p I will start going to the gym again, I kind of lost motivation doing that as well since I did benchpress and walked out with an injured shoulder haha. Wouw, I am such a rookie. Stupid benchpress ;P I guess you learn from your mistakes.. Anyway, I am going to start jogging and doing physio exercises to basicly "pull" the AC (Acromioclavicular) joint out again.. For you who dont know which one that is, it's the shoulder joint :)
I am right now going to log on to studera.nu and apply for some swedish universities! Since I'm going home I need somewhere to continue my studies, obviously :) Who knows, if I dont end up in Sweden I just might end up somewhere else haha. You can never me too sure when it comes to me, really.. I ended up here, didnt I?
ah, I love this laptop. It's an apple (my friends), I so want to get one when I am back in Sweden... THe one I got now is an HP that continues to overheat and burns my fingers, no fun for my poor fingers.
Eden Park; New Zealand VS Tonga
Tonga just done with their haka
Postad den 2011-09-16 @ 08:03:08 Postad i Auckland, NZ | Kommentarer (0)
