Russel/Paihia 21/6/16-22/6/16

Next day, we decided to drop the idea of going to the Auckland Britz to check our glasses for fear that it'll take a whole day (and we thought it wouldn't matter whether we report it now or three days later). So, up we go! 

Drove two hours straight and rested at Wellsford for lunch; decision of the location was purely due to it being the midway to our next destination. But the cafe we chose turned out to serve really nice food anyway! 

 

Appetising isn't it?

And then for the next two hours, it was just windy road up and down hill as we near the Bay of Island. And then, finally, we reached Russell at around 4pm! Checked in, booked our Dolphin tour for the next morning and off we go to hike! Except... There wasn't any parking for campervan near the track and we got abit lazy, so we chose to turn back. Settled the vehicle and headed out to their town centre. Russell was the very first capital of New Zealand when the Europeans settled but this place felt more like a zombie apocalypse town; we can count the number of people we see on the streets with two hands. Some of the shops were also closed for the winter. 

 

Life is a storm

 

Post-edit shot at their most-commonly captured spot. Wind and flag wasn't cooperating though 

We still managed to find a nice stall that sold Fish n' Chips and more importantly, Battered oyster! Super yummy, so much so that I decided to purchase their last box of fresh oyster by the dozen to go with our dinner proper. 

 

Where's spongebob? 

 

Amazing bag of sin 

So we got back, and it's time for cream of mushroom pasta! Got the condensed version and added some cheese slices in and it tasted super awesome! We weren't even hungry (haven't been hungry the last few days actually; always overeating). And the fresh oyster? Marvellous. One of the better dinner though impromptu. Slept through a peaceful night but was woken up by a windy rain...

 

This 

 

Into this (I ate them fresh though) 

Cooked a simple breakfast in preparation for the cruise trip. Packed up and was ready to go, until I got abit annoyed by Hanni and Qingying for asking me what we're doing for the cruise right before we left for it and when we were rushing for time. And so I flared up. And then they didn't take it too well... Situation was kinda tapered down when I apologise (really my fault for flaring up). 

Went over to the cruise after the diffusion only to be told that they won't be going to the Hole in the Rock (which is what caused the "argument") and there is a chance we won't see a dolphin cos of the strong wind. We can either go with it or back out and get a refund; Zongrui opted for the latter and we all know it's cos Hanni will get a seasick from the rocking, so we did what is reasonable. Except I just couldn't take this disappointment well; thought it's a bonus location, but I've been wanting to see dolphins since my first day here...

So Ms Blur and I went back to the campervan first while the other couple got the refund. I headed straight out for a run in the drizzle to cool myself down, leaving them to plan for what's next. Came back after three dash (sorta) up a steep slope with a cool(er) mind and they've decided to just take the ferry across the straits to Paihia for the Waitangi treaty ground museum. So they packed up while I bathe and off we go onto the ferry across the choppy water. 

 

Fried ice cream bread before we leave! 

 

Choppy water in a stormy seas 

 

Hello Paihia, our very last touring stop! 

We decided to reward ourselves with a good meal so we head to Jimmy's Jack. Wanted to be discipline, we ordered their legendary platter meant for 4-6 people. It includes chicken breast meat, wings, prawns, wedges, fries, and most importantly, ribs. 3 slabs of pork ribs. And guess what, we didn't finish it. In fact, we left almost 1/3 of it. So we packet it off in three big styrofoam and went off to walk the streets. Nothing much except an ice cream stall, and of course, no resistance. After that, we headed back for the choppy sea, and set "sail" towards Auckland once more. 

 

Saying this is a spread is an understatement. "4-6 Pax" refers to 6 huge ass Caucasian male competitive eaters 

 

And ending our trip how we started it out together! 

Four hours and skipping the toll road later, we reached Harbour Gulf, a berthing port slightly north of Auckland with a nice view. 

Reached at night so not much of a view but the night lights from the city center were nice enough. Cooked up a storm made up of leftovers but were really Jimmy Jack's standard (lol). And we spent the last night on the campervan doing what we normally do: watching movies. 

Waitomo 19/6/16-20/6/16

Waitomo was a short drive and we decided to stay in Top10 one more night so that we can camp without power the next day. When we reached, the first thing they recommended was the Huhu cafe right beside; and a random couple that was also checking in gave a 6 out of 5 stars for the restaurant after their recent meal there. We wanted to cook our seafood, which expired on the night; but we had to try out this amazing cafe and so we did! Ordered two of their recommended mains: lamb shoulder rack and scotch fillet steak, along with the waitress' recommendation of a sides, the buttermilk fried chicken. The dishes were all delicious but the hype prior to our dinner was probably overly exaggerated. Still, would recommend people to this cafe if they're in the vicinity (and sacrifice their ideas to cook). 

 

When it's hot, you huhu the food before you eat 

 

Ok la really quite good 

We still did cook though, albeit a small 1.5 person portion (which is also why we only ordered two mains at Huhu). Seafood pasta was alright, seafood wasn't as tasty since they aren't as fresh, went too light on salt and white wine so there wasn't much taste but a blend dinner isn't exactly a bad one considering the heavy ones we had the past few nights. 

 

Looks good hor haha 

Headed back to our van and it's time for a sweet dream...

 

Woke up to a UFO-cloud the next morning 

Next morning was more cooking: beef stew with Mee goreng! 

 

Super tasty somehow 

And then we're off to the world famous Waitomo cave! Wai means water, and tomo means hole, so the area is literally filled with waterhole (water falling through the holes into caves). The cave was slightly disappointing; we just went two rounds on the boat around the main glowworm area. Though the glowworms are indeed spectacular; felt like we were in the galaxy! But the 45-min guided tour was really kinda underwhelming. 

 

Since we can't snap the glowworms, this is the only photo evidence of our "adventure"... But the real one is up next! 

We then went over to the next cave, the Ruakuri cave for our Black Water Rafting adventure! Carrying out tubes around and braving the cave's water current; jumping off waterfalls while landing on our tube in our butt and searching for our way out in the dark, exhilarating and super proud of Ms Blur for conquering it alongside me (though she almost cried at the first trial jump when the water got all over her). But yep, if there's only three hours to spent here in Waitomo, I'd recommend skipping the "world famous" Waitomo cave for the Black Labyrinth adventure by the Legendary Black Water Rafting company. Wasn't that tiring for us guys but the girls were exhausted. The complimentary hot tomato soup and toasted bagel at the end were such a comforting treat after a cold 2.5 hours. 

 

Also no photo cos it was a wet affair so here is the aftermath. All looking more alive than we really were 

 

And this revitalised us! 

And then we left for Auckland with two days to spare, and decided to rest somewhere near the economic capital, while we'll Chiong for the Northland the next day. But before that, a mishap occured: our stove cover glass broke when the garlic chilli bottle fell off the cabinet (and surprisingly not broken) to shatter the stove top glass.  Nothing much we can do so we continued off to our camping ground for the night: a carpark beside a stadium. Dinner and some chilling as usual ended the night. 

 

Also, a peculiar system they have here to control traffic flow hahaha 

Wai-O-Tapu/Mata Mata 19/6/16

Went to Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland and it was... Underwhelming. 

 

Like, man, this was supposed to be the highlight. We just weren't that lucky 

I mean the thermal vents and mud baths and mini geysers (missed the spurting of the main one) and the sulphur-dyed yellow rocks (and the sulphur smell) were all really quite a marvel on their own, considering how earth maintains its stability through these means, but after so many of them, it got kinda boring. 

 

Even the champagne pool wasn't really champagne cos the wind wasn't strong enough to blow the steam away~

 

We did still had fun though. Lol

 

And some of the pools really brought out the Chemist in us HAHA 

The guide that took us around for the first half was rather entertaining though, but it went downhill after the tour ended.

 

Yea don't really remember his name nor the jokes he made but just look at him and his comical (half) face man. 

But one main takeaway was: many of the towns in the area, Waiotapu and Rotorua included and its four of them in total, are all cauldrons! So they are depressed ground, surrounded on the circumference by "mountains". Really interesting how civilisations managed to survive on these "disaster sites". 

Changed our plans to give up on lunch at a Rotorua cafe cos the supposedly 75min walk in the thermal wonderland turned out to be way more than that (plus the morning delay), so we rushed down all the way to Matamata. 

 

This weather welcomed us. Signs of a perfect start of the evening 

Made it just in time to the Shire's Rest! And we're going on an adventure! 

 

Leggo!

Hobbiton is really quite another world; it felt a little unreal at the start (but they really aren't "real"). After some photo taking and ale drinking at the Green Dragon Inn, we left the Shire. 

 

Welcome to the world of optical illusion and well-placed deceptions. Sizes of the doors differ depending on who is entering: hobbits to get a much larger door, and Gandalf to go with a smaller one 

 

I'm definitely Gandalf in this one haha

 

And the mini garden with humongous fruits and vegetables! 

 

The scenery doesn't even feels real (it is) 

 

Bag-End! And we were definitely on a business trip; a party business trip

 

And here we are! After watching so many of the movies set in this place, we are finally on this side of the screen! And yea, we're quite a "hobbit" here 

 

And next place: Green Dragon Inn! 

 

Somehow reminds me of SEA trip at a particular rural farm land we stayed for a night haha

 

All sorts of alcoholic and non-alcoholic 'fictional' beverages (but of course the alcoholic ones are the best) 

 

Then it's time to head back to reality..

 

But not before we say bye to this group of meh mehs (by chasing them lol)

 

And one last glance of this trippy land... 

But we were then greeted by a super amazing sunset. That's when we started to take even more photos. 

 

Just wondering if I'll ever get bored of these kinds of land and sky scape...

 

Look at the moon! 

 

Simply mesmerising 

 

Literally running around like small kids to find the best angle but they were all amazing 

 

And one last one! 

But that also mean we're kinda late (by New Zealand standards), so once again, we rushed off. 

Rotorua 17/6/16 - 19/6/16

Checked in to Top 10 and they have thermal mineral spas! So that's what we did: alternating between the 38 and 40 degrees pool a few times, the last of which to wait for the girls who left to shower first. No 7-minute limit on the hot shower but the girls still made it out in reasonable timing before we got cooked. Honestly, this 4-plus star holiday park was so much better than the previous 5-star one. 

Showered and went into town for dinner cos one of the restaurants was recommended. So we arrived at Pig and Whistle Bar, and the menu was so appealing, Hanni ordered two additional sides on top of the 4 main dishes we've ordered to share. When the main dishes came first with humongous portions, she immediately regretted her decisions (while we got slightly pissed). So after some stuffing, we manage to finish the mains and left out all the carbs and left for a not-so-pleasant night full of burps and almost-vomit (and an uncomfortable night having to wake up to take my Gaviscon before the indigestion kills me). 

 

Back home 

 

Is really looks quite nice la I must say

 

And didn't help that they all came in huge ass portions...

But all was pretty well by the time I woke up; we even found the motivation to run! So ran around the park beside our accommodation where we found foot thermal spas, and most importantly, a Saturday market! And guess which day this is? Really fated. So we decided to finish our run at our accom and grab our wallets to jog back to the market. Alas, Hanni fell while we were running back and we had to mend her wounds while we were back after the girls showered. 

Did some statics and then we walk back to the Saturday market and all the food were so nice! The sausage, the fresh steak simply wrapped in white bread, the paiu (some shell seafood chowder), the fresh strawberry ice cream, the kebabs, the Chinese fried dumplings and fried bun by the local Chinese, and most impressive of them all, the Japanese stall! Ramen was much needed, beef curry don was nicer than many Singapore restaurants, matcha pudding was nice and interesting, but most surprisingly, the matcha latte was so good, even I myself couldn't resist and got a second cup. The run was made worth it for this discovery (despite the fall)! 

 

A mostly local affair. Non-touristy means more authenticity! 

 

Can't help but get fat

 

Always a time for ice cream, even when you're in thick jackets 

An overly satisfying brunch later, we left for Rainbow Spring! Saw many local flora and fauna, most interesting was the Kiwi, wagging its tail and hopping around in its enclosure. But the most fun of all was the Big Splash, similar to the one we have in USS but the girls were so impressed by the drop towards the end that we went for a second round. (Most are video so just some photos here to proof that we were really there. Lol) 

 

I'll run if this Kiwi comes to life 

 

Silver fern upon its crest 

 

Spot the Kiwi ('s nose). Haha 

 

Ok this one slightly easier haha 

Only unpleasant incident was witnessing this PRC Uncle spitting into one of the animal enclosure, not once but twice. Ms Blur got so angry she almost said something HAHA. But really pissing how uncivilised these rich Chinese really are. 

Shopping time after that mainly to get our water supplies; accidentally bought the water fountain version when we saw that it's $9.90 for 15L and got abit too excited. Good thing they have a closing tab nonetheless. Borrowed the Two Towers finally, cleared our waste and waste water, and watched about half an hour before we our pick up to the Maori visit came.

Went over to the Mitai village, where they showed us how the indigenous greeted visitors in the past, some of their local culture/weaponry, their Haka (of course! And it's a similar version as the one we learnt in army as my platoon's war cry), and most importantly, their Hangi feast, which was cooked under the ground for three hours! Really tasty meat I must say. 

 

Here we are!

 

Preparation of the Hangi feast 

 

Row row row your boat. That's their way of welcoming their guest: coming right to the door step to chant their war cry! 

 

Hosted by their handsome Chef who introduced their lives and culture before and after the signing of the Treaty; also, some dance and performances!

After dinner was a short jungle walk showing us the Maori way of life, their scared spring, as well as the glow worms in the village. 

 

Nothing holy about this spring from this photo but it was filled with glowworms and the water was really clear! 

Intended to go back to the Kiwi encounter after dinner to see more kiwis who are nocturnal, but decided against it after a bottle of white wine at the dinner. And may I remind you, it was buffet style. So headed back and couldn't last more than half an hour through the LOTR and it was an early night...

Woke up the next morning to prepare some breakfast; cleared up and decided to book our activities the next day in advance for the Britz discount. In the end, the booking took us a good hour! At least we got that settled...