Karikari Peninsula to Coromandel

On Thursday we made the long trip from the Karikari peninsula to Orere Point. Originally we intended to stay for one night half way between but wanted to get the journey out of the way. We did however on route stop off at various places. On the coast we passed through two amazing villages called Opomoni and Omapere where we would have liked to spend some more time at but you can't stop everywhere in NZ otherwise you'd never move it's that beautiful. Further along the route we drove through the Waipona Kauri Forest and saw the largest tree in the southern hemisphere called 'Tane Mahuta'. It was 51m tall and had a girth of 13.8m! We had lunch in the forest and then continued our journey to Orere Point arriving around 6pm. To freshen up after the long drive we went for a swim in the nearby river.
Yesterday we had a leisurely start and then did a walk along the coast. The views were stunning along the 7.4km trek. The weather has been excellent for the last couple of days and we have been in awe of how beautiful this country is. In the afternoon we went to Clevedon town and stocked up on supplies for dinner. We've started using the local fruit and veg stores instead of the supermarkets due to the produce being better and cheaper. Returning to the campsite tired but happy we again had a dip in the river to cool off before preparing dinner and doing basic chores like the washing!
Today we left Orere Point and made our way along the coastal road to the Coromandel peninsula. Again the weather has been kind and Mark gazed out of the window for most of the journey as Rach drove. We arrived in Coromandel town around lunchtime, pitched the tent and made some lunch. This afternoon we visited New Chum beach which is considered to be in the top 10 best beaches in the world! It was stunning but a bit too busy to make it really peaceful. Unfortunately as we left the rain started to fall and we're expecting showers for the afternoon but we can't complain.

Tomorrow we head across the peninsula to visit Hot Water Beach where you can dig a hole and bathe in the hot waters! Then on our way back we're going to stop off at Cathedral Cove to explore the rocky coastline.
Thanks for all the comments, we love the banter and competition but please play by the rules and read the blog before commenting - cheeky Mrs Perry!
Love to all at home - its nearly spring!!!
Mark & Rach. xxx

Cape Regina and dune surfing

From Russell in The Bay of Islands we drove North to Whatuwhiwhi on the Karikari penisula. We are staying in a great campsite in Doubtless Bay, a beautiful spot about 200 yards from a quiet beach and sheltered waters.

After arriving yesterday afternoon we pitched the tent and then spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing on the beach. That evening we had dinner and chatted to a few fellow campers in the camp kitchen. We'd intended on an early night but ended up watching Andy Murray see off Nadal in the Australian open quarter final.

It was an early start this morning and we left the campsite at 8.30am. We had a two hour drive to get up to Cape Regina (one of the most northernly points of NZ). On the way up we were spoilt for spectacular views of the coastline on either side. We reached Cape Regina at 10.30 and walked the cliff path out to a lighthouse. It was some of the most amazing coastal views we've ever seen. It is a point where the Mauri's believe that they pass over into the afterlife, however for us it was just incredible scenary for miles and miles.

From Cape Regina we drove slightly south to Te Paki sand dunes. Here you can dune surf on bodyboards. We'd brought our treasured bodyboard along and were keen to give it a run. We trekked to find the best slope and once there Rach went up first. It was shattering getting to the top and once there looked alot steeper looking down! All the effort was well worth it though because the journey down lieing flat on the board face first was brilliant fun. Mark went next and once he'd reached the bottom started to make his way straight back up for another go! After a couple of runs we were exhausted from climbing the dunes so made our way back to the car. On the way we did a couple of runs on the smaller slopes standing up which was a bit more tricky but also great fun.

From the Dunes we drove further South to a place called 'Ninety mile beach' where we had some lunch. We had intended to do some more boarding, this time in the water however when we tested the water the rip was pretty lethal so we wimped out.

We got back to the campsite at around 4pm so hit the bay for a swim and sunbath in the afternoon sun. We then had dinner and chilled out with a bottle of red watching the tennis.

A fantastic day!

Tomorrow we drive West to and plan to camp somewhere between here and Coromandel.

Love to all at home

Rach & Mark. xxx

Arriving in Auckland and the beginning of our Kiwi adventure

We left Cairns as we found it - raining (good job we stayed in a motel on our last night to dry the tent out before departure) but that won't be our memory of Cairns or in fact Australia as a whole. We've spent 6 weeks in Oz and have loved every moment despite the weather sometimes being not what we'd expected.

We arrived into Auckland around 7pm so with not being able to get to the campsite and be able to pitch the tent in the light we stayed in a motel in the centre of the city. It was adequate as all we did was drop our bags, freshen up and head into town for a wander and a bite to eat. Sadly the weather had followed us but it also had a more 'refreshing' breeze!

The following day we left the city around 9am and took a westerly detour around the Waitakere Ranges and also visited a very quaint place called Devonport which had great views of the Auckland skyline. We arrived at Orewa campsite just after lunch and erected the tent to find out that one of the poles may not last the night if it became windy! Putting that behind us we got back into the routine of camping and visited the local store for supplies. With a stocked fridge we then walked for several kilometres along the beach near the tent which is along the Hibiscus Coastline of NZ. That evening we made the traditional English dish of curry and went for another walk before hitting the inflatable mattresses!

We woke several time during the night probably due to getting used to the noises again but also because it was bloody cold! Coming from the tropics of Australia to the cool climate of NZ (9 degrees) hit hard! Despite the restless night Mark woke first and let Rach sleep for a bit more before making the tea. As Rach made the packed lunch for the day Mark took down the tent and the inevitable happened - the pole broke! In fact the ropes were holding the tent up during the night! This time we needed a new pole (or a new tent) as it was beyond repair. We made our way north towards our destination of the Bay of Islands. On the way we took several of the 'Tourist Routes' which took us along the coast and we stopped off at Matapouri for lunch. We wanted to see the mermaid pools there but unfortunately the tide was in so we couldn't reach them. Luckily we found a camping shop that sold poles along the way in Whangarei so at least we would have a canvas over our heads for at least another night! We thought Australia were spoilt for beaches and stunning headlands but New Zealand are up there fighting for top spot - this place is postcard stuff. Arriving at the Bay of Island we took the five minute ferry from Opua that would take us to Russell.

We got to our campsite in the late afternoon and got the tent fixed and erected. We went for a walk around the very pretty town of Russell and bought supplies for dinner. Back at the campsite we sat outside the tent absorbing some of the early evening sun. The weather had drastically improved since leaving Auckland and it was a beatiful evening.

This morning after another chilly night we had a leisurely start and planned our day. We drove to a place called Whangamumu where we did a walk to a bay. It took about 3 hours round trip and we got to the near deserted bay around lunchtime. After a swim in our underwear we sat drying off on the beach and ate our packed lunch. It was another stunning place, NZ already seems to have a lot to offer!

Tonight we plan to make use of the BBQ's and have a feast.

Tomorrow we drive further North to Whatuwhiwhi with a few stops and detours along the way.

Love to all at home

Mark & Rach. xxx

Port Douglas, The Great Barrier Reef & Cairns

From Airlie Beach we travelled up to Cairns. We had planned to stay at a place called 'Mission Beach' but on arrival the campsite didn't look all that appealing as we were told most of the camping areas had been flooded due to heavy rain and they had no fridge in the camp kitchen because a local kept coming in and stealing from it. For those reasons we got back in the car and carried on up to a very nice campsite in Cairns. We spent just one night there and then made our way up to Port Douglas. On arrival we pitched the tent and then went for a wander around the lovely little town of Port Douglas. We went up to a spectacular view point and then travelled slightly north to a place called 'Mossman' where there was a large gorge and waterfalls. The waters were safe for swimming so we went in for a dip. It was a really beautiful spot and after our swim we sat and had lunch on the bank of the river.

Back at the campsite we'd heard on the radio about a possible threat of a cyclone in the next couple of days. Not wanting it to affect our trip to the Great Barrier Reef we got ourselves booked in with a company called 'Aristocat' for the following day. That evening we had a great dinner of pie, cheesy mashed potato and brocolli and chatted to fellow campers in the kitchen before an early night to escape the swarms of hungry mosquitos!

After a very hot night we were up early and ready for our trip. At 7.50am we were picked up by 'Aristocat' and taken to the dock where we boarded our boat for the day. In typical fashion it started to rain and most of the journey out to the Great Barrier Reef was obscured by the rain hammering on the windows of the boat. When we arrived at our first dive site the weather had cleared up a bit. We got our stinger suits, flippers, masks and snorkels on and were ready to go. When we entered the water and saw what was below us we were truely amazed by the stunning colours of the coral and fish. It really was like nothing we'd ever seen before. We spent about 30 minutes swimming around trying to see as much as possible and then had to get back on the boat.

We travelled to the next dive site and had some lunch on board before our next snorkel. The second snorkel was just as good but in much deeper water with visbility for 22 metres. The sea was quite rough and we had a job keeping within safe distance of the boat without getting swept out to sea. Our final snorkel point was fairly similar but still spectacular. One of the crew (a marine biologist) also came out with us and taught us a bit more about the coral and species of fish. Quite a few people were lucky enough to see reef sharks and a turtle but we managed to miss them all.

Overall it was an amazing experience and the Great Barrier Reef truely impressed.

Yesterday we travelled back down to Cairns for a couple of nights before we fly to New Zealand tomorrow.

Love to all at home.

Rach & Mark. xxx

Underwater photos will be developed soon and we'll try to scan some for you all to see!

Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

On Thursday we had a very long drive from Hervey Bay up to Airlie Beach. After 10 hours in the car we were exhausted so got some dinner and had an early night ready for our Whitsundays boat trip the following day.

At 8.20am we were picked up by coach and taken to the port where we boarded the 'Ragamuffin' yacht. We were told by the crew that the 'Ragamuffin' yacht had up until very recently held the title of winning the Sydney to Hobart yatch race the most times. This is the famous race that takes place every year between Boxing Day and New Year.
On board after a safety briefing we set off towards 'Hayman island,' a two hour trip. Unfortunatley it was raining pretty heavily so we couldn't see much of the Whitsunday islands but sat up on deck in yellow waterproofs enjoying the sailing anyway. We arrived at 'Hayman Island' at about midday where we got decked out with all-in-one stinger suits to protect from the jellyfish - figure flattering, NOT! We also got our snorkel gear and flippers. The water wasn't as clear as we would of liked because of the rain, however, we got to see loads of fish and beautiful coral. One of the crew also came out in the speed boat to through fish food into the water. We were nearby and got completely swarmed by fish flapping around and literally swimming straight into your mask. Hopefully our underwater disposable camera should capture some of these pictures.

After our snorkel we went back on deck for lunch on the boat and thankfully the sun had come out. On the way back the wind picked up and the sailing was fantastic fun. The yacht was flying with about half the hull out the water. You had to cling on at the high side or you'd end up in the drink! The people at the front of the boat got a real battering from the waves but fortunately for us we were sat dry at the back. Also on board was a film crew and presenter filming a travel series for an Australian music channel, so somewhere sometime soon we might be on TV.

Overall it was a great day and despite the rain in the morning we were lucky to get some proper wind coming back to experience real sailing.

Tomorrow we drive up to Mission Beach for a short stop over before heading up to Port Douglas.

Love to all at home

Rach & Mark. xxx

Below are 2 more updates of Fraser Island and Mon Repos Turtles!

Mon Repos Turtles

On Saturday night we had booked to go and see the Bundaberg turtles lay their eggs on Mon Repos beach. It was about a 2 hour drive from Hervey Bay so we set off in the afternoon to get there for 7pm. When we arrived we had to wait a while and then they divided the 300 people up into 5 groups. We were in group 5. The turtles can appear on the beach any time between sunset and sunrise and when a turtle appears the groups are taken down one at a time. After a safety talk and a few videos on the conservation program they run we just had to wait. At 8pm group one went down to the beach to see some baby turtles hatching from their eggs and scuttling down to the sea to start their treacherous journey. Only 1 in a 1000 survive to adulthood!
We waited and waited and as it passed 11pm debated sacking it in and going home. We stuck with it and at 12am we could finally go to the beach where a female had appeared to lay her eggs. It was a clear night so the stars were amazing with no artificial light for miles. The small group of people who had stuck it out made a circle around the turtle and watched her lay her clutch of over 100 eggs. We were told that it was her first ever clutch of eggs so the conservation staff tagged her so they could track her and recognise her when she comes back to the beach.
After laying she buried her eggs and then made her way slowly back to the ocean. It was an extraordinary thing to see and we were very lucky to witness this endangered animal.
We did, however, have a long 2 hour drive back to Hervey Bay where we collapsed in the tent at nearly 3am.
Hope all is good at home and the snow is finally melting away.
Lots of love
Rach & Mark. xxx

Fraser Island (in a 2 wheel drive!!!)

We packed up our belongings early and headed to the 4x4 rental company to pick up our little 'Suzuki Jimny' that would take us around the island for the 3 days. We caught the 08:30 ferry over and were entertained by dolphins in the bay as we waited to depart. Not long after setting off from the harbour we also saw a baby hammerhead shark - things were looking good! The journey across took about 30 minutes and when we arrived on the the island the first task Mark had was to reverse the vehicle off the boat! After managing that task we headed through the island experiencing the bumpy roads for the first time. We arrived at 'Central Station' which is in the centre of the island and stretched our legs. We walked through the forest to a place called 'Lake Basin;' a small but beautiful fresh water lake. The best thing about it was we didn't see another soul and it felt like we were the only people on the island. Getting back to the 4x4 to head towards 'Eurong' which is on the East Coast we experienced our first car problem! Mark couldn't get the vehicle out of the car park due to a steep sandy slope. We cleared the sand behind the wheels, lowed the tyre pressure, backed up and went for it -success, despite the horrible engine noise! We didn't experience anymore incidents and got to 'Eurong' and started our way up the beach. Along the east side of the island there was lots to see including 'Eli Creek', the 'Maheno shipwreck', the 'Pinnacles' and 'Red Canyon'. All stunning things to see and the weather was perfect. It was only when we got to the shipwreck that our second hiccup happened! We needed to get through some soft sand in order to park the vehicle up to look at the wreck properly. As instructed Mark hit the sand hard and fast but we ground to a halt! Fortunately we were rescued after trying to push the 4x4 out - an Aussie guy had a bungee tow rope and we were flung out of the soft sand! Eventually we made it to our campsite which was half way up the coast without anymore major problems. The campsite wasn't very busy which made it easier using the camp kitchen facilities. That night we had dinner with a few beers and played cards. Before bed we had a quick word with our 4x4 hoping for a less eventful day tomorrow!

We rose excited and had a leisurely breakfast as we couldn't get on the beach due to the high tide. At 10am we were off and headed towards 'India Head', a high point on the coast where on a clear day you can see tiger sharks, stingrays and manta rays. We managed to see a baby manta ray and several stingers but no sharks unfortunately. The 4x4 felt good so we thought the little talk had worked! It wasn't until we headed back down the island to a place called 'Happy Valley' so we could head inland to visit more lakes that the problems started again. We got 300 metres up a track and we got stuck! As with the previous problem we were pushed out by some very helpful Australians who commented that our front wheels didn't look like they were doing much work! So we sacked off the plan and headed back to the beach. Being restricted to the beach we headed back up to 'India Head' to watch the late afternoon sun before having to head back to the campsite. A very frustrating day due to the car problems we'd had. It didn't help either that a Swiss couple we'd met had also hired a Suzuki Jimny and had had no issues!

On our last day we left earlier than the recommended time so we could get to 'Lake MacKenzie' and spend longer by the fresh water lake. Unfortunately we got caught for about 30 minutes at 'Yidney Rocks' so we had to wait it out but got across all the other tough spots (for our car anyway). Drving through Eurong we were about half an hour from the lake and it was only 11am - plenty of time to chill before catching the ferry at 3pm. Disaster struck when we left the town and hit the deep soft sand tracks - beached again! With most of the roads being single lane and one way if people do get stuck the cars behind have to help or they dont' go anywhere either. Again we were rescued by some Australians (great nation of helpers) who also mentioned that the front wheels weren't doing any of the work! So we called the hire company and were told to go back to 'Eurong' and wait for a mechanic. One and an half hours past before he finally turned up. We ended up at his wreck yard where two other mechanics were already plastered drinking VB. Our mechanic got himself a 'cold one' before he even looked at our 4x4!! After another can of VB he told us that in fact the front wheels hadn't engaged and we had been driving round the island in a rear wheel 2 wheel drive car the whole time!! He fixed the problem pretty quickly (despite the beers) and we were on our way. Fortunately we still had time to get to the lake, chill, have a swim and a spot of lunch before getting to the ferry. 'Lake Mackensie' was spectacular with it's peaceful surroundings and the clear blue water. Mark was also delighted that the 4x4 finally performed and it hadn't been his driving capabilities all that time! We didn't have anymore dramas as we drove back to the ferry for the 3pm departure. Back on the mainland our next task was to get some money back after being given a 'duff'' car! Rach handled the discussions while Mark swapped our kit from the 4x4 to our other hire car. Sadly the discussions hadn't finished by the time Mark had finished outside so he stepped in with his 5 pence worth! After a heated debate with the boss we managed to get two days costs back which was pretty reasonable seeing we did manage to see most of the places we wanted to see. The hire company's arguement was that we should have phoned them earlier when we first had problems which in hindsight we should have done!

Back at the 'Hervey Bay' campsite we pitched the tent feeling really sandy and tired. That night we chatted to the retired couple from Leeds about our troubled three days over dinner and a few beers. We wanted an early night as we had a 10 hour drive the following day to get to 'Airlie Beach' but that didn't happen and we went to bed around 11pm.

Thanks for all your messages and hope all is good back in 'Blighty'.

Love to all.

Mark & Rach. xxx

Noosa and Hervey Bay!

The clouds ahead of us when we left for the Sunshine Coast didn't look promising! On the way up towards Noosa we stopped off at Australia Zoo (Home of the Crocodile Hunter, the late Steve Irwin!) and CRIKEY was it expensive to get in but we did see Terri Irwin!! Not a patch on the Singapore Zoo or the Night Safari apart from the croc show which was impressive but still good fun! By the time we arrived in Noosa it was late afternoon, so we pitched the tent, grabbed some supplies and had sausages on the BBQ. We woke hoping for better weather but sadly that wasn't the case and Mark was thinking about writing a letter to the Australian Tourist Board to complain - Trades Description Act regarding the Sunshie Coast! Despite the rain we wandered around Noosa during the morning and went back to the campsite to have lunch but also check on the tent - it was in a bog but OK! That afternoon we decided we'd get wet by the sea rather than the rain and hit the beach for some boarding. The first beach (Sunshine Beach) had excellent waves so Mark ventured out first but came back pretty quickly with his tail between his legs after being hit in the private regions by the board while trying to get out over the surf! Even the Aussie pros looked to be struggling with the big waves. Determined not to be beaten we went to another beach (The Spit) where the waves were more our level but still challenging. Fortunately Rach had a more reliable bikini on this time and we spent a good couple of hours in the surf. As the afternoon wore on the surf became busier so we decided to leave it to the locals to avoid embarassment.
Yesterday (Mark's Birthday) we packed up and headed for Hervey Bay. Arriving at lunchtime we got ourselves sorted - including arranging our 4x4 rental for Fraser Island (leave on Monday 11th for 3 days). Happy and content we hit the beach for some sun - there are no waves in Hervey Bay due to it being sheltered by Fraser Island so we just topped up the tans! The weather had delivered on Mark's birthday and before returning to the campsite we walked along the 800m pier to view the spectacular coastal scenery. That evening we spent in the camp kitchen cooking fajitas on the BBQ and chatting to the other campers (a retired couple from Leeds). We are here in Hervey Bay for another two days before going to Fraser. Tonight we're heading up to Bundaberg to hopefully see the turtles who visit the beach at sunset.
Hope all is well at home and love to all.
Mark & Rach. xxx

Pictures to follow soon!

It's the end of a perfect day for surfer boys and girls....

After a great New Year in Melbourne we've now returned to the East Coast. Fortunately the flight back was less of an adventure than going down to Melbourne. We picked up our kit that we left in storage at the campsite on the outskirts of Brisbane and once again got into the routine of pitching, going shopping and sitting under shelter while it rained!! Luckily it only lasted a couple of hours but we were happy chilling and reading.

Yesterday we headed South to visit the Gold Coast seeing we didn't see it properly before Christmas. We stopped off in Surfers Paradise on the way to Tweed Heads for a cup of tea/coffee and to be honest didn't think much of the place - very busy, touristy and too built up but at least we've been there. The campsite we are now staying in is the most expensive so far and we would describe it as OK. In the afternoon due to the weather not being great we explored an area called the Springbrook National Park which supposedly had great views of the area - one called the 'Best of all Look Outs'. By the time we got there we were in the clouds and could literally only see 5 metres in front of us - not the Best of all Look Outs for us! Last night we had a quick and easy meal before polishing of some beers and wine while playing cards next to the Billabong.

Today we've spent much of the day by the beach and in the afternoon bought a bodyboard called 'Mad Dog' so now we own two mad dogs - both uncontrollable!! I spent most of the time on the board while Rach spent most of her time trying to recover her bikini top and bottoms due to the surf rip! She exposed more than the beach wanted to see! With her bikini having a life of it's own she decided to take some photos instead.

Tomorrow we leave for the Sunshine Coast so lets hope it lives up to its name!

Hope the weather begins to improve for all you guys at home.

Love to all.

Mark & Rach. xxx