Trip Northland

Counting down 24 weeks until we welcome baby into our home and with summer quickly giving way to Autumn, Andrew and I decided to up and take a spontaneous trip North. We set out fresh and early on Friday morning, trunk loaded with sleeping bags, tent, a cooler (chilly bin as they say)packed with food, and plenty of music for the drive.

Our first stop took us to the Waipoua forests. Famous for their magnificent Kauri trees. Kauri trees can live for over 2000 years and grow to more than 50 meters tall. The Maori's used to use the Kauri timber for building boats, carving and building houses. They would also use the gum from the trees as a fire starter and for chewing. When the Europeans began settling in New Zealand they took advantage of the large amounts of quality timber in order to make ships and other quality building. Most of the ancient Kauri trees that have been preserved are in the Waipoua forest. Andrew and I ate our lunch shaded by the second largest Kauri tree and exclaimed at God's majesty displayed through His creations.

By late afternoon we reached Ninety Mile Beach and went for a spin on the sand. Andrew loves testing out the power of our four wheel drive Honda, Orthia and getting it to do what other others would say is impossible. ;) When tide is out 90 mile beach serves virtually as a highway for adventurous drivers, mini bus tours, fisherman, and beauty-seekers zooming up and down the long stretch of sand at the edge of water and sky. Before the 1980's ninety mile beach (closer to 60 miles in actual distance) was seldom used by motor vehicles and occasionally used for droving large herds of cattle from the 40,000 acre Te Paki Station near North Cape. As town life started settling down and barely any life was seen on the beach Andrew and I found a hidden spot in the dunes to park for the night and set up tent. It was so fun to be able to sleep with ocean waves crashing in our ears, stars gleaming above, and to peek out and see the ocean. It was a quiet night and not many cars roamed the shore in the morning. Unbenounced to us there were Tsunami warnings for a wave to hit around 6:30am after the Earthquake in Japan. Thankfully nothing came of it and we woke up dry, safe and oblivious to the worries and woe's of the world around us. After a morning swim we headed for a much anticipated drive down the beach. I even took a turn at the wheel for a bit though I didn't manage to make as many marks in the sand or dunes as my adventurous husband. ;p Andrew and I both took a deep breathe of ocean air as How Great Thou Art filled the car. Cruising along between tumbling waves, mountains, and sun speckled dunes. Nearing the end of the beach the sand dunes pile high and wide. With boogie boards in hand and sun high in the sky we trudged up the towering dunes for an exhilarating sleigh ride.

At the other end of Ninety mile beach Te Paki quicksand stream serves as a road out. We landed at a junction just 16kl from Cape Reinga, the Northern tip of New Zealand. As the windy road took us higher the scene was absolutely beautiful- a clear blue sky, glistening water, and at the top a well layed path along the cliffs to a small light house at the edge. At the base of the Lighthouse there's a traffic-like sign telling how many miles from various places across the ocean. Los Angeles --------miles.Family feels so much closer in my heart. xo

Driving a ways further we found a place to stay for the night at Coopers Beach. On Sunday we drove to Waitangi, a town holding much New Zealand history. In 1840 New Zealand was founded as the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the English and the Maori. There are many activities for tourists and beautiful spots to be explored near Waitangi but I think both Andrew and my favorite activity is finding a comfortable shady spot on a beach and reading, sleeping, swimming and munching as the hours of daylight fly by..