Allisi

Well, it has been a while. Sorry, I am just so busy enjoying my time over here 😁 The days I spend around Mount Taranaki were filled with walks, lots of wonderful nature and interesting insights to the Maori culture.

I was greeted with wonderful weather in 2020. So everything was good! I went for a nice long walk along the coast a bit further inland staring at the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge in New Plymouth. A lovely walk and it being the 1st of January it was very quiet in the morning and only got busier towards midday. So I escaped to another nature reserve and walked along a lake to a lookout and just stayed there to read my book.

In the evening I went into New Plymouth to have a look at the Festival of lights. It was great! Wonderful installations and a nice park to walk along. And the best thing was that alcohol and smoking was forbidden in the entire park. It is supposed to be a great thing for families and smoking and drinking don’t fit. I cannot agree more! Good for everyone. And it actually worked. I saw nobody with alcohol or a cigarette. Great! Could we have that in Germany too please?!?!

The next day I had prebooked a guided tour with a group. Upon pick up at my B&B the group turned out to be just me. So a private tour 😊 Tom, the guide is a Maori and explained a lot about his culture and history. Not all of it being nice and bright. But did you know, that when two from different tribes marry, the tribe they convert to is the one where in the past the family has brought the most to the tribe or community. So it doesn’t count what you have achieved for yourself but what you have achieved for the others. Great concept. Should apply around the world as a principle. Will keep it in mind when I am back in the office.

As I had already done quite some things by myself, we decided on going to a bird sanctuary. It is aroudn a small lake and they have fenced it off completely to get rid of all pests for the birds. You only get in through a double gate. It was wonderful. We saw many different birds. The ones I can remember are unfortunately only the Hihi bird and the Tui bird. There were many more and even Kiwis. But they sleep during the day. So we didn’t see any. After a nice simple picknick we were off to the Dawson Falls. Impressive and not to easy to get there. But worth it.

Chatting all the way the day went by in a rush and I enjoyed it very much.

The next day I was off towards the centre of the island, lake Taupo. Stopping along the way to have a look at the Three Sisters where only two are remaining. They are rocks along the coast and you can only see them in low tide as you have to walk out on the beach. I was lucky and got the right timing. Then further on along farmland to lake Taupo. It is a huge lake built in a vulcano creater. So a little bit scary. There is lots of thermal activity all around with hots pools. You can even swim in some of these. I walked along the Huka Falls to some of the hot pools and visited other areas of thermal interest. Quite touristy the whole area, but still nice. The other day I walked along The Tongariro River trail. Not the mountain trail though 😉 But with nice views to the mountains in the distance. In the late afternoon I did the boat trip out onto the lake to see some Maori carvings. The day before it got cancelled because of the strong winds. So new day next try. It was still windy but the skipper went out there. Man these waves…. The boat was shaken back and forth and from side to side. I really was scared at some point. But we made it to the carvings. Nice, but not worth risiking your life. Going back we went along the coast line which was much quieter. At one spot he switched off the engine and on a sunny day you could go swimming. Well it wasn’t sunny, but very very windy. Nevertheless two guys jumped in. Brave men! But then a maybe four year old girl appeared with her dad and jumped in twice! What a brave and courageous little girl. She hat great fun! Even in water that had around 18 degree. So after this dip we went back again. Great day!

So today I had to leave Taupo and head further up north to the Coromandel Peninsula. On the way I stopped at Roturua which I already visited the last time I came over. It has changed quite a bit. It is much bigger now and very busy. I met up with a colleague and his girlfriend who are on their way from up north towards the South island. That was great meeting them and we had a wonderful morning.

Then I headed up north. A long way really. Not in distance but in driving along winding roads with tight bents going up and down hill all the time. And the wind was really strong. Galeforce! But I made it and while driving along the coast I already got a glimpse of the wonderful beaches. So tomorrow it is time for a kayak tour and then I am heading for the beach 😎

See you!