On the Road Again...

These were our accommodations while Black Betty was getting fixed. Good thing the tent made it through customs. Quite cozy!

While Black Betty was in for her repairs, we took advantage of our location close to the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park. We found an awesome company for a kayak and hiking trip. They even picked us up at the campground!

Half way through the trip we stopped at Apple Tree Bay for morning tea. Our guide, Ben, claimed to make coffee "better than Starbucks". I'm not sure it was better, but is sure was tasty! We enjoyed our mochachinos:)

This is Watering Cove, were we traded our kayaks for hiking boots.

Hiking the trail between Bark Bay and Torrent Bay.

The water taxi took us back to where we started that morning. The tide was out, so a tractor with a trailer attached came to get us and pulled us to shore.

We hired (kiwi for rented) a car and ventured to the north part of Abel Tasman National Park. We camped right by the beach in a little place called Totaranui. This is a sea star we found washed up in the sand.

From there we hiked the northeastern part of the coastal track to Separation Point. This beautiful hike followed the coast line. We went up over a ridge then down across a beach, up over a ridge and down across a beach.

We're not sure why it's called Separation Point. But it sure was pretty!

The trees in this photo are called New Zealand's Christmas Tree. It always flowers red around Christmas time.

We drove to the farthest northern point on the southern island, Farewell Spit. Thousands of tons of sand gets collected here each year from the winds and the currents of the Tasman Sea.

On our way back to return the car we stopped by Te Waikoropupu, the cold springs. This is the clearest springs in the world! The only place they have found clearer water in under the ice shelf in Antarctica. Wow! No, they don't let you swim or dive in it anymore.

Broken Black Betty :(

We were enjoying a nice leisurely drive from our camp site by the beach, jaming out to Christmas tunes when all of a sudden.....

John says, "Do you hear that? I'm in second gear and the gas pedal is on the floor. It sounds weird." Ang says, "Hum...that does sound weird."

Then Ang says, "Honey why did you turn off the car?" John says, "I didn't turn off the car. Something is wrong, it just shut off." "Oh no!" says Ang. So we coasted to the side of the road.

Luckily a very friendly kiwi (no not the bird) stopped to help us trouble shoot. Then he went back to town to call the local garage.

The local guys came to the rescue and Black Betty was towed 9km to the garage. The teeth on the cam shaft belt were stripped. The belt is getting replaced and the garage guys gave us a ride (3km) to the closest town.

Thankfully we brought our tent half way across the world and now are getting some use out of it! Black Betty should be up and running in a day or so.

The Adventure Continues...South Island

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.

Back to the land of the Kiwis :)

After waiting in line for over an hour, a brief argument with the check-in lady, an express pass through security, and sprinting through the Sydney airport we were on a plane back to New Zealand. Here is what we have been up to in the last two weeks since we've been back....

We helped with a dirt bike ride school fun raiser for the Smith family kiddos. John was testing out the track. :)

A short hike to Hunua Falls.

The Smith's beach house that we got to stay in for several days in Whangamata. Thanks Lynley and Alan!

The Whangamata Beach. So beautiful!

Another beautiful waterfall. Owharoa Falls in the Karangahake Gorge.

Karangahake Gorge hiking trail.

Karangahake Gorge hiking trail. The trail hugs the side of the mountain just above the river.

This tunnel is 1km long and really, really DARK! We didn't walk all the way through. Not all the lights were lit and it was really creepy!

We hiked to the top of Mount Maunganui. This extinct volcano is nearby Tauranga.

View of the ocean from the top. If you look closely in the lower right hand corner you can see very tiny people walking on the trail.

That hill in the distance is Mount Maunganui from the Tauranga suburbs.