Yes! You read that right. One of the funniest things I’ve seen lately, is people here, when their microwaves break, don’t throw them away! They reuse them as mailboxes. It’s sort of genius if you think about it. No water gets in and it has a perfect and easy-to-open door.
Hey, there everyone! It is a beautiful Wednesday and I am sitting with my new friends Michelle (Switzerland) and Sophie (France), who are WWOOFing with me. We listen to French music and read as the breeze rustles around us playfully.
I am currently on the island of Waiheke, just off the coast of Auckland. It’s been over a week since my last blog so I will fill you in.
My last WWOOFing place was super cute and full of birds and gardening. My host family was so wonderful and took me with their friends to the famous Waitangi (where the original treaty between the Mauri and English people was signed).
We heard traditional songs and got to experience their dances and games. It was a rich experience. What really stood out for me was their harmonies when they sang and the craftsmanship of the community house and giant boats. They were full of intricate carvings of their ancestors and other designs. The picture below is one of the traditional boats used in the area back in the day. This one is actually put in the water once a year to celebrate the Mauri!
Next was again Paihia, I decided to spend a few more days here since I didn’t get to see all of it before.
It truly epitomizes an “exquisite beach town with rolling green hills”. The water is these vivid blue-green, lovely hikes that give you a full 360 view of the bay of islands, and the people are incredibly friendly.
I came in the off-season, so it was definitely a lot colder and less populated, but I had a blast exploring the shores and scouring for rocks and seashells.
And lastly, for this section of my trip, I decided to venture up to the very northern tip of New Zealand. Cape Reigna was breathtaking. I did not expect it to meet and exceed my expectations. Though it was a long drive up, to see where the two oceans meet was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I met a friend named Lea. She was from Germany and was my bus buddy. We had so much fun running up the windy grassy hills to get a better view of the ocean and cliffs. I could have stayed for hours looking out at the never-ending landscape.
We also went to the 90-mile beach. You guessed it! It is 90 miles long. Which is funny because they use meters and kilometers here. Our giant tour bus could drive on the massive beach. I think we were going at least 75 mph on the sand. It felt like we were flying.
We also did a bit of sand boarding!! I’m not sure how good it was for the dune, but I really felt like I was stepping into my kid shoes when I was running up and sliding down this dune.
I was out of breath, heart racing, and laughing so hard I could feel it in my soul.
As I said goodbye to the Bay of Islands, they did not disappoint. The rich Veridian greens, sapphire blues, pastel oranges, and pinks painted a picture like no other.
I travel next to Waiheke, the island of hippies and nomads all seeking an environmentally friendly existence.
I am so excited!