After Paihia we spent the day driving all the way up to Cape Reinga, the northern-most tip of of New Zealand. The landscape was beautiful in a rugged and wild kind of way, and we truly felt off the grid, as it was our very first camping experience in our van with no electricity, no internet, no cell-phone coverage and most importantly, no flushing toilets!
At the Northern tip of New Zealand, Cape ReingaThe famous directions sign at the North tip of New Zealand. There’s a similar one on the south tip as well.Looking down at the famous pohutukawa tree, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.A closer look at the 800 year old pohutukawa tree, where according to Maori legend, is where the spirits of Maori deceased leap into the ocean to return to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.Another look at both the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean, where you can actually see the waves of both seas crash into each other from opposite directionsLooking at the Tasman side of Cape ReingaOur campsite was just a 30 second walk from where this was taken. Not too shabby a place to have our very first camping experience!Further along the beach near our campsite at Tapotupotu.Cracking open a beer while waiting for the water to boil. It ended up taking over half an hour (or 2 beers) to boil the water due to the wind!In our cozy little camper van. It was surprisingly comfortable, for both sleeping and watching Netflix on the iPad. The little battery operated string lights really contributed to the mood and offered just enough lighting to see things.The following morning we took a walk down to the beach via the Te Paki Coastal Track.The giant sand dunes north of Ninety mile beachSand dunes are fun!It takes a lot more energy than you think to walk in a sand dune. I was quite exhausted after heading over there and back for the photo.Climbing dunes is even more difficult in a “two steps forward one step back” kind of way.We kept wishing the sun would come out while on the dunes, but this is the most sun we got.The very flat and long ninety mile beach, which is only 55 miles long.Driving along ninety mile beach. I didn’t really drive for very much save to take this photo.
