on the move

Thursday, 25 October 2012

New Zealand (stray) - Raglan to Maketu

NEW ZEALAND
Stray bus
Raglan to Maketu via Waitomo
Day 2 24/10/12

'Depart from Auckland at 7am. We head south travelling towards the mighty Waikato. Pick up your free cultural experience (kumara) to keep or have for dinner. We head on to the world-renowned Raglan surf beach, with cow spotting and a walk to the majestic Bridal Veil Falls on the way. Chill out or go hard in this funky surf and arts town.'

First acitivity of the day is going down into some caves. People can either to a paid activity or go for a free walk/wonder about town. Today's activity was caving. We spent a good 2 hours down in the caves. Although it was very cold even through the wetsuit and got quite demanding, it was a good experience. The glow worms from inside the cave were amazing.

below: the map of the cave

below: a brief stop to a look at a waterfall and here is the stray bus

below: the beach near the Maori centre

below: that evening we stay at a Maori village to learn about their culture. We are treated to a delicious lamb dinner, after the caving we make the most of this! Afterwards we go into the special hall to see their dance. We have to elect a chief amongst us strayers - the oldest man. Luckily this wasn't me as the chief has to stand still while Maori people dance menacingly upto him!

below: the guys go off to learn the Maori 'haka' dance. And the girls learn their own dance too. After a good hours practice the girls do their dance.

below: post dance. Us guys aren't naked by the way, we are wearing the traditional skirt! It was a good experience and we took it seriously, we were keen to practice as much as possible as it was quite hard. Luckily we got to practice in the kitchen so could have a few beers to get our confidence up!

New Zealand (stray) - Auckland to Raglan

NEW ZEALAND

Stray bus Day 1 - Auckland to Raglan

The start of the NZ hop on/hop off bus tour of the north and south island of NZ. Several bus operators offer these tours and I chose stray as they are not too partyish but not too boring either. I bought a 21 day pass with a 50% discount (as its off peak season).

I got dropped off in Auckland and start the trip solo as co travellers want to head north of Auckland for a few days. Plus it will be nice to have some independence! The bus is about half full and there is a really nice bunch of people on board. I am writing this 6 days after I got on so a lot has happened since I got on. I am now in Wellington having hopped off for a recharge and to explore the city.

below: walk to Raglan beach from accommodation

below: Raglan beach

below: me and fellow strayers go for a walk

below: Raglan beach

Saturday, 20 October 2012

New Zealand - Auckland updated

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland
17th Oct -

Got up at 0430 and got the airport train from Central. A somewhat significant event occurred in the airport: i tried an egg in the form of a bacon egg McMuffin, so I now like egg and can't believe I have spent the past 24 years thinking I didn't!

Left Sydney airport at 0845. Emirates have just bought some more A380s so we surprisingly had one on our journey, it had been in service for under a week the pilot informed us. We arrived in Auckland 3 hours later, 30 mins early with the wind behind us.

Co traveller Dave's has family in NZ so we are staying with his Uncle Derek, Aunt Heather, cousin Ellen and Fudge the dog. They have given us a place in their house with glorious harbour views, taken us out in their car to beaches and for walks, treated us to delicious restaurants and cooked great dinners/breakfasts(with egg!) for us.

below: view from Arakati Visitor Centre

below: Piha beach

below: wonder on Piha beach to blow away any 'jetlag'

below: a horse appears on Piha beach

below: a spot of rockclimbing

below: Auckland

below: pub in Devonport, Auckland

below: our host's lounge with a spectacular view of the bay

below: we visit Armegeddon - a huge comic book type convention in Auckland. This is me at the xbox/halo 4 stand...

below: another view of Auckland and a sealed over small volcano

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Australia (campervan) - Melbourne to the Blue Mountains then Sydney

AUSTRALIA
14 Oct - 17 Oct

Melbourne - The Blue Mountains - Sydney

On Mon 15th we started our long journey back to Sydney. Today was the most mileage we covered in a single day - 700 km. We also decided to top the engine oil up this day as it had gone from full to half on the dipstick and we didn't want to risk it going bang. A stressful moment occurred when the low fuel light came on and then we didn't pass a fuel station for 90 km... We assumed being on a 'highway' meant there would be BPs etc. but there weren't. Imagine the relief when we finally saw one! That evening we parked up at Richmond, on the edge of the Blue Mountains National Park.

Tues 16th we woke early and set off driving around the Blue Mountains National Park heading west towards Lithgow and then onto Katoomba and back up to Richmond. We got to Katoomba (about 1000m/3300ft about sea level) about 5pm and went on a walk. We had been warned it got dark about 7pm so when we got semi-lost about about 6.20pm we had a slight panic. But luckily we made it back up to the top before dusk.

Wed 17th (Day 24/24) we got up early and the plan was to take Sheila back to Travellers Autobarn depot in Sydney. After commenting the previous day how well she had behaved during the journey we were suprised when she wouldn't start. A phone call to our roadside recovery number gave us assistance within 45mins and he jumped started her. We were told to drive the 30min journey to Sydney centre and then she would be charged back then. We had to take her to the car wash and fill her up with petrol before returning so that meant two more starts. While waiting for her to be washed we were told that she wouldn't start! With cars queuing up behind we had to run over and push her off the wash. Another phonecall to roadside assistance and the guy was there in 5mins (different guy). Dirty battery terminals was the problem. Anyway XTW312 was dropped off by 1430, and we were relieved not to have picked up any speeding fines etc.

XTW312 did 5682 km (3531 miles) in 24 days.

We caught the train back to Sydney Central and went to our hostels for 2 nights before the flight to Auckland on Fri 19th.

We saw a lot of Australia, met a lot of people and had some great memories in the campervan. It went very quickly and was an unforgetable experience.

Some photos of the final leg.....

below: sun 14th overnight stop before the long drive on mon 15th

below: entering the Blue Mountains

below: Blue Mountains road. The road peaked at 3300ft high above sea level.

below: Pierces Pass walk.

below: the three campers. Photo taken by an Ozzy guy in his 40s who went travelling in his 20s around Europe and worked at the Ferry Boat Inn in Norwich in the early 90s. Small world!

below: unfortunately a typical sight when Dave sat in the middle

below: the Three Sisters, Katoomba

below: the oil from the trees below give the area a purpley haze. Most apparenty in the evening.

below: the final day. Waiting for roadside assistance.

below: fly removal and general scrub.

below: 24 days later and we're back!

Saturday, 13 October 2012

Australia (campervan) - Melbourne pt2

below: Swanston St, CBD

below: free 48min tour of Melbourne city centre. Also a good chance to relax, drink coffee and munch chocolate raisins.

below: RMIT University

below: Victoria Market. Massive market that sells everything!!!

below: Melbourne skyline from Batman Avenue

below: in the distance is Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

below: MCG close up

below: Melbourne skyline from the MCG during a shower

below: Rod Laver Arena

below: one for my mum who loves Andre Agassi!

below: BMW Edge Amphitheater hosting some music festival

Thursday, 11 October 2012

Australia (campervan) - Melbourne

AUSTRALIA
Melbourne
11 - 14 Oct

Very nice so far and my favourite city out of Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra. Good atmosphere and buzz about the place. We are staying in a camp site near Monash, 18 km from the CBD which requires a 10 min bus journey and then 40 min train journey.

below: Flinders St rail station