The car in question was a Daihatsu Sirion. Now I've driven a Sirion before and it was dire. This one however, once you got the seat adjusted, had definitely been loosened up courtesy of 174000km of tourist driving ("it's a rental, don't be gentle"). We had a classically funny time hammering it up the island. I can guarantee that the next time you see a Sirion driven painfully slowly, usually by a crusty old bastard wearing a plaid cap, it is definitely not the car. They can do a lot more (although the transmission will whine a little...). All speeds were within posted speed limits, of course.
This was a camping holiday - a dry run to see if we can exist only with our packs and would meet the luggage weight limits for flying back, which we easily did at only 16kg each including sleeping gear and tent! We're keen to camp around Aussie or further afield however thought it was worth trying at home first.
So off we toddled up the island. As we so often do, halved the journey at Kaikoura. I'd recommend lunch at The Dolphin Encounter. Hadn't eaten there before and the food was excellent.
We had planned to stay in Blenheim Top 10 however the camp ground was too reminiscent of the Bates Motel...as well as the owner presenting like a masturbating pervert. To maintain my virtue we toddled up to the Picton Top 10 which was really well done. More traffic noise than expected however great facilities. I must say, I do love being able to put up your tent, airbeds and bedding within 30 mins!!
Picton has always struggled, mostly as it only exists as the place where you wait for or leave the ferry however there has been significant improvement in the township and it looks quite pretty now. We drank and wandered the streets :)
We took the Kaitaki across Cook Strait the next day and for the first time indulged in the Kaitaki Lounge. This is the only way to do this trip folks! Free food, free booze and no kids...very peaceful. Had to tolerate Wellington for a night and stayed at the Harcourt Holiday Park which was very quiet with reasonable facilities. A peaceful sleep.
We decided that a couple of nights in Rotorua would be fun so made our way up north. We had planned to stay at Cosy Cottage for old time's sake however this was just such a dive. Found Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park which was really well done. Heaps of space for tents away from the sliding doors of campervans and good facilities. You could lie in bed listening to the bubbling mud only a few metres away down the bank! Definitely a recommended option.
The campsite with the super sized freebie vehicle
The mud pools in the campground!
This wee pool would have been a boiling H2S death trap for anyone dumb enough to have leaned over too far
After enjoying a nice pint and a feed the night before at the Pig & Whistle, we decided to go down Waimangu Valley, including the boat trip across Lake Rotomahana. The former site of the Pink & White Terraces, the valley was created in 1886 following the eruption of Mt Tarawera that destroyed the surrounding area, exploded the lake to 20 times its size and covered the Terraces in ash.
Hmmm. Good points include an easy to navigate pathway, good signage and information available. Downsides include the price (a ridiculous $77 each with the boat trip which you might as well do, otherwise $34.50 each). Although I enjoyed seeing Waimangu again, there had been few changes in the 20 years since I was last here. In my opinion, promises a lot and doesn't deliver for the money. Go to Wai-o-tapu instead - much better priced ($32.50/head) and you'll see just as much.
Still, some photos...
Frying Pan Lake & Echo Crater
Cathedral Rock
Hot Water Creek
A brave wee birdie!
Bird's Nest Terrace
Inferno Crater
Outflow from the Inferno Crater
Kaolin Slope
Warbrick Terrace
Fumerole Bay, from Lake Rotomahana
Donne Cliffs
Donne Cliffs - love the colours
Finally made our way up to Auckland via Hamilton (the Tron remains the hell-hole it has always been in case anyone was wondering). Naturally, it was pissing with rain when we needed to pack up however we managed! We'd booked in to a hotel in Auckland using Wotif. Turned up looking like vagrants with packs on our backs and the concierge was delightfully disparaging. Probably not to his advantage when he had to store our sopping packs until the room was ready! Serves you right mate. Managed to trash the hotel room within about 5 minutes with pieces of tent lying all around the bathroom to dry and air. There was mud for Africa. I'm sure the slow drainage in the shower had nothing to do with the leaves that *may* have made it down there...
All in all, a fun trip. Cheers to Jucy Rentals for the car!
The Rose
