From Tauranga we drove down the coast to a little town named Ohope. We camped in the grasses right along the beach. This was the sunset! Ok I may have done a little fancy camera work for the intense color, but it was pretty amazing :)
We drove straight south through beautiful Te Urewera National Park where Lake Waikaremoana is located. This is the biggest national park on the North Island. This is also a pretty isolated national park. Even though a state highway goes right through the middle of it there are several km of unsealed (dirt) road.
For example..... Windy mountain road? Who needs guard rails? Not kiwis!
On the way to Napier down State Hwy 2.
Napier is known for it's Art Deco architecture. After being destroyed by a massive earthquake in the 1930s they rebuilt the city with some spunk. We enjoyed a picnic along the beach in downtown Napier.
Hawke's Bay, where Napier is located, is known for it's wineries. So of course we made our way to one that Fodor's claimed as a "must see". This is Mission Estate Winery the oldest winery in New Zealand, established in 1851. It used to be a seminary. When the boys weren't working on their studies they worked in the vineyards.
The view from the balcony was amazing! I bought a bottle of Merlot that you can only purchase at this location.
Cape Kidnappers is about 15 miles south of Napier. This location got it's name after a local Maori (the native people) tried to kidnap Captain Cook's interpreter. Legend has it that the boy escaped only after plunging into the sea from these rocks.
About 10km (one way) from Clifton, the town farthest out on Cape Kidnappers, there is a huge gannet colony. This is the largest gannet colony on a main land. This large white seabird has wings that can reach a span of 6 feet! We hiked 2.5 hours each way to see these amazing birds. It's an easy hike along the beach. You just have to time the tides right or there isn't any beach left to hike on!
We took the Interislander Ferry across the Cook Strait from Wellington, on the north island, to Picton on the south island. Yes, Black Betty got to go too.
Driving onto the ferry. It's cold and rainy.
Driving off the ferry. It's cold and rainy here too!
There is a beautiful drive down the east coast from Picton to Blenheim called Port Underwood Road. We did most of the drive during an overcast day, but came back to some of it the next day when it was sunny. Quite a difference the sun makes!
We did a day hike along the Queen Charlotte Track. This track goes for about 42 miles along the Marlborough Sounds. In our short hike we saw beautiful native bush (forest) and nice sandy beaches.
Evidently the latrines along hiking trails don't like trash. :)
If you ever travel on any "off the beaten path" roads in New Zealand, you should just assume you'll be going through some farm land. This beautiful location was the road to French Pass.
French Pass is the location where the waters of the Tasman Bay meet the waters of the Cook Strait. This narrow stretch of water moves at up to 9 knots during the high tides and makes boating through very dangerous. It sounds like white water rapids on the river.
Laundry Day at a campground near Nelson.
