Sneaking into New Zealand...

I didn’t think it was worth writing about our time in New Zealand. I lived there for thirty-something years. I’d been lucky enough to see most of the country, several times. The culture was normal. The food was ordinary. The scenery spectacular but simply my back yard. In short, NZ was nothing new - for me.

But for Kris, NZ was anything but normal, ordinary or expected. He was having plenty of first-time experiences and so I started to look back on our 3 months with a new perspective. I also realised that plenty of people have not visited NZ - and you really should! So here are a few posts about our time in NZ, starting with a big surprise!

11:59pm, December 31, 2014. New Zealand soil. 

Kris and I were counting down the last seconds of the year with hundreds of others…on board a plane! I’d been away from NZ for nearly 2 years. Kris had never been. So we snuck into NZ alerting only my 2 brothers and my cousin to our plans. Ben and Mike were in other parts of NZ so Katrina was an absolute gem agreeing to pick us up at possibly one of the worst times in the whole year. (I owe her big time!)

We finally crashed at her place having celebrated the New Year properly a couple of hours late. The next morning, phase 2 of our plan began…surprising my folks. Katrina called them under the pretence of returning a tent she had borrowed. Time and place agreed, we did a bit of sightseeing in the city before heading out to their home. 

Stunning new years day in Auckland

Kris & Katrina

While Kris and I hid, Katrina tried to show mum and dad a photo she had taken of us when we landed. Mum looked confused. Dad couldn’t see. Wait a moment, get the glasses. Take another look. What’s all this about? By this time, I had waited long enough and stepped out from my hiding place. Mum laughed and clapped. Dad couldn’t see again because of his glasses! Oh yes, happy times! Big surprises!

Dad finally recognised me

So did mum

Now, Mum and Dad are just as scheming as me. They were heading down to Waihi Beach the next day to see her brother and his wife and do part of the NZ cycle rail trail. They asked if we would like to go, see the beach, bike the trail and surprise my aunt and uncle. Why not? 

The next morning we headed out. While pointing out ‘normal’ things to Kris, I began to see how scenic and different NZ is from other countries and wanted to stop for photos…a lot! 

Another fun thing I noticed, almost every small town in NZ is known for something. Kumara (sweet potato), salmon, Huntaway farm dogs, gumboots. And most towns also have an enormous sculpture of what they are known for. We passed through the town of Paeroa which is where a soft-drink called Lemon & Paeroa (L&P) was originally made. So the town has an enormous L&P bottle standing proudly beside the main road. (You have to try L&P at least once.)

Hugging the L&P bottle

We were running slightly late because of all the photos, so vague messages about picking up hitchhikers were sent to Uncle Lloyd and Aunty Liz. (This confused them a little as it's not normal behaviour for mum and dad at all). After surprising them, the first of many questions to be repeated over the next few weeks began. When did you arrive? Did your folks know? Who else knew? Did you plan this for long? How did you do it? What’s it like being back? ...

Typical kiwi dinner with Uncle Lloyd & Aunty Liz

Waihi Beach began calling. This is one of many beautiful, long, white, sandy beaches on NZ’s east coast that stretches far off into the hazy sea-spray. We took a relaxing walk, admired sand castles from a competition earlier in the day and casually avoided games of touch rugby and beach cricket. And it’s not possible to go to a beach like this without swimming, especially when a boogie-board is nearby. 

Waihi Beach from the lookout

Touch rugby games

In for a quick dip 

Boogie boarding in the not-so-big waves

Waihi is at the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s a region that is often missed by tourists but I think is one of the prettier places to visit in NZ.

We woke on day 3 to the already warm sun brightening up our room. (I love the NZ summer!) The day of the cycle rail trail and surprising another cousin Emma. I’m pretty sure Emma had the most fun response. A scream, a run, arms outstretched, nearly bowled me over…a very cool welcome home!

Bowled over by Emma

With our bikes sorted, helmets in place and matching blue t-shirts on (not planned) we started on the Hauraki rail trail from Thames to Paeroa. 

The Blue t-shirt Brigade

The NZ cycle rail trail is a network of cycle trails that traverse NZ, often following an old railway line through the ‘back streets and towns’ of NZ. The railway tracks have been removed and the trail upgraded for cyclists to safely ride along. And while some sections are flat, others are not. At all. (Pick your rides carefully!) 

You can do single or multi day rides. Many small towns have been revived as a result of the trail, providing accommodation, food and activities for cyclists. The Otago Central Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch is one of the most popular in summer and you should book your accommodation well in advance.

Our ride from Thames to Paeroa is one of the flat sections passing through farmland, over streams where you can see trout and with a handy rest stop halfway along at The Cheese Barn, a cheese factory and cafe. If you do stop there, I can recommend buying a slice or two of their Kallarney blue-vein cheese. 

One of the cows you see along the way

There are real ones though

Turkeys - in many of the paddocks along the way

The Cheese Barn at Matatoki

Looking for trout in the stream

How many people does it take to change a flat tyre...

Our return journey to Auckland meant more stops in the Kaurangaheke Gorge - the site of an old gold mining plant/ quarry. The cycle rail trail passes through here also and although it is steeper, looks like it would be a really interesting ride to make. Maybe next time. 

In the gorge

Looking for more trout in the Kaurangaheke River

Only foundations left

Old miner