Study - travel - explore: September 2014

29/09/2014

To the North!

Before I arrived to New Zealand, I knew for sure that I wanted to see both northern and southern tips of this beautiful country.

Cape Reinga is the northernmost tip which can be easily accessed, but to be honest there is a place which is even more to the North.

On our way to Cape Reinga we stopped at 90 Miles Beach, which was amazingly beautiful and homogeneous beach. The endless view to the North at the beach would have taken us up to Cape Reinga, but we decided to drive there along roads since it was getting dark and we were slightly afraid of the rising tide water. With a 4WD car you can drive through the whole beach and avoid the curvy and hilly roads.

Sand surfing turned out to be a lot of fun, even though after that we had sand everywhere. It was a risk to take my phone to the dunes, but nothing happened, even though my Lumia was literally swimming in sand for couple of times.

This is 90 Miles Beach, whoa!

A view to the North

Sunset, close to Cape Reinga

Using my Trangia for the first time

*** Day 2 ***

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet here, generating big currents

The lighthouse in the horizon is at 165m altitude

Sand surfing! At the end of 90 Miles Beach you can find these massive sand dunes

Turn your head, and you'll see the inclination

Oh boy, it was windy.

The tripod attachment failed and my Lumia was smashed under my gliding surf board. Luckily nothing happened to the phone!

*** Day 3 ***

Orange farm in Keri Keri

My resistance was not enough for Jubilee (45°C)

Arai-Te-Uru Recretional Reserve

This massive Kauri tree, called Tane Mahuta, is about 2000 years old. The girth of the trunk is almost 14 meters!

17/09/2014

10 days in Tonga

It was hard to believe that the first half of the semester had past when the Spring Break started on 6th of September. Our group of 12 people decided to go to Tonga for ten days, hoping that the weather would be sunnier than in New Zealand. The flight to Tonga took 3 hours and the cost was back and forth around 290 euros, which was totally an acceptable price. In Tonga we had a nice beach house with a private beach for 20 euros per night per person.

In general, Tonga seemed to be a very authentic pacific island group, and so far it is not spoiled by the tourists. If you want to party and have a luxurious holiday, don't select Tonga - go to Fiji for example.

Tonga is one of the easternmost places on earth

What? A tasty chicken salad and a glass of Mud House PN was included in our economy ticket. Thank you Air New Zealand!

A view from our beach house

Our beach during the high tide

Enjoying the sound of the ocean around the fire at midnight

Rene's surprise birthday party!

Ha'amonga 'a Maui trilithon, built at the beginning of 13th century

The fresh water cave, a place where you could swim in the darkness with bats

A view from Hufangalupe land bridge

The water is rising up to 18 meters from the blow holes!

*****

Over night trip to Eua

After experiencing all the main lookouts and places of the main island, Ryan and I decided to go to Eua, which is located 50 km to south east from the main island. Eua is more tropical and and montainous than the flat main island, so we thought it should provide some nice hiking opportunities. Tenting on the shore was memorable, you could only hear the smashing waves and singing parrots.