LaLaLa Means I Love You: Top of the North

04 October 2008

Time: 4am.
Itinerary: Auckland -> Kataia -> Ninety Mile Beach -> Cape Reinga -> Auckland

This weekend was meant to be a trip to the Top Of The North. To the tip of the North Island. We have booked a tour at 9am to discover the Ninety Mile Beach on a bus because our car can't get on the beach anyway. It's no 4WD. We also hoped to learn more about the history of that place and with a guide to explain, it makes things easier. Anyway, its a 4hr 30min drive and we had to set off at 4am, literally. If you look at the map, there's a smooth coastline along the western side, thats the ninety mile beach.

We arrived at the tour departure on time, and the tour operator is Harrisons Cape Runner. http://ahipara.co.nz/caperunner/ The tour bus is a bloody old bus, and the tour has about 20 odd people. Kaitaita is the town nearest to the 90 mile beach, so the bus tour will start there. The bus driver is an old uncle, very humourous guy. Hahha. Made us laugh all the way. Anyway, the beach is actually just over 50miles, not really 90 miles. But it's a long sandy stretch, as far as the eye can see, and more. The bus drove down the ramp to the beach and we will travel the entire stretch of the beach in the bus. The real 4WDs will be able to get down here, but the Subarus may struggle because its ground clearance may not be enough. First Sighting on the beach. Sperm Whale. How close have you gotten to a real Sperm Whale? This one was washed ashore, right in our face. Literally. And it's rotting badly and it stinks. Very poor thing, its just a baby.
We move along the 50 miles.. the same scenery over and over again... The bus then head inwards along a stream and after that, it was time for Dune Surfing! There are alot of sand dunes here along the beach and we stopped by a particular high one and grab a toboggan and made our way up the slope. The bus driver said, "after this sand tobogganing, you find sand in areas of your body you've never ever imagine in your life". LOL. It was so true. After the 'surfing', we had sand in eyes, mouth, ears.. everywhere. It was so fun! Except for the climb up the slope. Next up is the famous Cape Reinga, the place where the Tasman Seas and Pacific Ocean crash. The seas there is very rough. This is a spiritual place for the Maori people.

"The name of the cape comes from the Māori word 'Reinga', meaning the 'Underworld'. Another Māori name is 'Te Rerenga Wairua', meaning the leaping-off place of spirits. Both refer to the Māori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld."
After that is a picnic at one of the beach and then to the Rarawa Beach, the beach with pure white silica sand. Well.. it is quite white, and fine. A beautiful place. We did some jumps here, and tearing some jeans in the meantime. LOL. Ooops....After that is the visit to the Ancient Kauri Kingdom, their legendary tree. Nothing much there anyway, just huge tree logs. Well, this sums up an amazing day at the Ninety Mile Beach and the Cape. We spent the night at Mainstreet Lodge at Kataia, the best backpackers in the area. We went to check out afew hostels in the town, and from the most errie, dirty hostels to almost empty ones with beer drinking jackasses with errie grins. It's just scary. There was no decision to be made, Mainstreet lodge is the cleanest and not spooky one. http://www.mainstreetlodge.co.nz/

05 October 2008
Today is our Quad Bike adventure in nearby Ahipara town. ttp://www.ahiparaadventure.co.nz/ We thought it will be guided tour around the coastline, but it's actually a self exploring tour. You just rent the bike and return it 2 hours later. We just followed the tracks and drove around the bay, its the most fun thing ever. That thing is amazing, you can drive it on the rocks, down steep slopes, places where you don't think it can get through, it can. Very scary little thing. And it goes really fast. Such a small thing, 350cc. It's pretty powerful.

After the 2hr adventure, we head down to Auckland, passing by Hokianga and it's massive sand dunes. Quite alot of sand dunes in the area.. god knows why. It shines a golden colour when Sunset and the dunes slope right down to the sea. Amazing..