After crossing back to Wellington, we spent a relatively uneventful couple of weeks drifting back to Auckland. Having had almost uninterrupted sun in the South Island, including in Fiordland which is one of the wettest places in the world – with 7-9 metres of rain per annum in some parts, the weather was mixed with some very heavy rain. We camped two nights at the visitor centre at Egmont National Park, where, despite rain and high winds, I walked the track up Mount Taranaki. The low cloud was so thick…
that I had no views of the famous silhouette of the mountain (an almost perfect volcanic cone) and no photographic evidence to prove that I managed to reach the snow-filled crater at the summit!
We revisited the hot springs at Waikite Valley and spent a couple of days in a garage in Rotorua having the fuel lines on the truck replaced. A very big thank you to Jade and his team at Southpac Trucks, Rotorua, who, hopefully have solved the problem of the truck not starting in the morning before we get to places where it might matter!
Following a hurried couple of days packing and cleaning, we delivered the truck to Auckland dock to be loaded on a ship sailing for Sydney on the 24th January. Having time on our hands, and no home, we decided to take a holiday and booked six days at a beach resort in Rarotonga. Because it is just east of the international dateline, we had the odd experience of arriving the day before we left Auckland. Although it is the largest of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga has a population of just 14,000 and it is possible to drive around the entire island in about one hour – despite the 50 kmh speed limit. The place we exactly what you would expect from a coral-ringed, island in the south Pacific.
We arrived in Sydney on 28/1/12 to await the ship with the vehicle – which was due in on the 31st.
Responses
Vanessa Cameron says: I think I deleted my message by mistake before sending it! Apologies if this is a repeat. The siberian winds are swirling around London and snow is threatened so you can imagine how envious I was of your pictures of the Rarotonga. Life goes on as usual – the Health bill is causing a great rumpus with everyone seemingly opposed to it in medicine apart from the surgeons. We are about to publish a statement in opposition having surveyed members – over 80% are agin it. London is gearing up for the Olympics with dire warnings from TfL about how impossible it is going to be to travel to work. Even walking across the parks is problematic as they will be transferred into venue areas (|whatever they are). To make it worse airlines have hiked up their prices in anticipation of a mass exit of Londoners. Will you be back by then? Isn’t there an equestrian event near you. Everyone here sends their best wishes. Vanessa
Simon McIlroy says: Thank you for sending such great pictures of you and NZ. Looking forward to seeing photos and reading descriptions of the Australian leg of your journey. Have you got hats with corks on to keep away the didgeridoos? Bon voyages!
Susie McIlroy says: Dear Danielle, I was glad to see you in Pacific Island mode, with exotic dress and garlanded brow. In fact, speaking on behalf of all the fashionista recipients of your blog it would be great if you could give us a taste of national dress throughout the journey – Mongolian garb and headgear from the various ……stans would be educational, not to say fab!. Dear Paul, I am so full of admiration for your intrepid nature, walking in those lonely places like the Milford track. I hope there were a group of hardy locals with you as support team. Thanks for sharing these wonderful experiences.