North Island : Opotiki, Mt Maunganui, Raglan and Ruapehu

Amy: Since leaving Opotiki we moved West across to Mount Maunganui (pronounced Mong-a-noo-ee……hehe) for a night’s stay. The following day we climbed the Mount itself. This isn’t the highest or longest of walks but the incline is certainly steep. The views from the top are awesome including a cute little island which we didn’t know was there. The area is very picturesque but it isnt my favourite as it’s just so over priced for what’s on offer.

After a night in Maunganui we hit Raglan, 40minutes drive West from Hamilton. This is the most attractive looking and feeling place that we’ve stayed in a long time. The people are so friendly for it being a small surfing town. Everyone is so chilled out. Probably explains why a lot of hippies frequent there. Unfortunately we didnt get to surf like we’d planned to do but managed to spend a few hours on Manu and Whale Beach watching the locals soak in the sun and surf. We had booked up to do a horse trek round Bridal Viel Falls but I am sure Stu did a wee rain dance that evening as it poured down with rain in the morning when we were supposed to set off and due to the rain this was cancelled. I’ve never seen Stu look happier!!! Talking of Bridal Viel Falls this was a short walk we did do the day before the weather changed. This is an awesome Waterfall. It’s very romantic in surroundings and you can see by the way the waterfall flows why it got it’s apt name.

Unfortunately time was getting on otherwise we would have stayed another few nights in Raglan. So we continued our trip back to Wellington and stopped in Waitomo for two nights. This was another cute wee place with lots of friendly people. I cant believe how lucky we have been with the weather as apart from the rain on the horse tekking day we’ve been landed weather in the mid 20’s every day! Whilst in Waitomo we thought rather than doing another abesil and cave trek like we did last year we’d take the leisurley tour and did a walk through one of the caves followed by a boat trip through the glow worm caves. These were magnificent. The formations were amazing and you can see why locals hold their wedding ceremonies there. We also did a 3hr tramp above the caves which was pretty cool as well although very hot especially when we were both wearing black t-shirts!!

After Waitomo we hit Whakapapa Village. After having a snowball fight in our shorts (see photo) we got a campsite sorted out which gave us views of Mt Rhuapehu and Mt Tongariro. Man that night in the tent was possibly the coldest I’ve ever experienced. Dressed in Joggy Bottoms, T shirt, Dressing gown (yes I took this with me), bed socks, hat, sleeping bag and double duvet wrapped round me I was still freezing. Probably wasn’t the best of ideas camping at the bottom of a snow-peaked mountain…eh Stu?!? After our cold night’s experienced we thought we’d get the blood pumping again and did a 5 hr walk around the base of Rhuapehu to the “Lower Lake” which was used as Mordor in LOTR and also Taranaki Falls which was “Gollum’s Pool” cave in the film as well. This was a very strenuous walk but was worth it with the views over the area. None of the photos or videos do the views justice. I cant wait till next year when we can do the 3-4 day Tongariro Crossing and get to camp out looking over these views.

We decided to end our North Island journeys by staying two nights in Ohakune town famous for the Snow Man and Carrot statues…dont ask but it is a lovely town a lot bigger than we expected and it’s been lovely and relaxing here.
Tomorrow we end back in Wellington where we’ll spend a night at Mark and Rachel’s before catching an 8am flight to Christchurch in the South Island.

Stu : Aye well Amy’s aboot covered everything I reckon. As she mentioned Raglan was a cracking wee place. It’s the surf capital of New Zealand so the town was full of surfy dudes strolling about. With all that shoulder-length blond hair flopping about it certainly made the balding, graying, slightly tubby 32 year old frae Annan look a bit out of place In true fashion we made the most of this excellent surfing town and made our way to the local drinking hole for a few beers the night we arrived. Turns out that the lass serving behind the bar was from Fife ! Small World. The local beer on tap, Raglan Red, has to be one of the best I’ve had in NZ as well so big bonus there !

Then onto the Snow fields of Whakapapa and Ohakune. This is a superb place and although it was quiet given that the ski slopes had closed a few weeks ago it was still well worth a visit. The day walk we done whilst we were there was probably the most scenic walk I’ve ever done. Basically the hike takes you between the two snow-capped mountains and back round via a volcanic lake. All pretty cool stuff. As we’ve been doing our various tramps around New Zealand we’ve encountered many different nationalities. It always makes me laugh though when you pass the Germans on a hike. Head down, concentrating, never breaking stride for a quick hello or cheery smile. It’s all about completing the walk in the most efficient manner…..”Ve shall complete zis route in ze quickest time possible and defeat this hike in ze name of ze Fatherland !!”……or something to that effect that anyway. Then again I wasn’t destined for getting on with the Germans too much on this trip. On one of the first nights we camped I had a German fella come up to me and ask what the time was……just so happened I was reading a Second World War book entitled “SS Hunters” at the time which had a great big Nazi badge on the front. Hehe. Gotta laugh.

We’re heading back down to Wellington tomorrow for our flight down to Christchurch the following day where we’ll be meeting up with Sir Jon Dangerous (or Jon Gerrard….whichever you prefer) and his missus for a few weeks camper-vanning nonsense around the South Island. Should be fun !