Day 48 - Goat Island, North Auckland, New Zealand

Wow. We are finally in New Zealand. 13 hours ahead and the furthest away from home we have been, or are likely to be unless space travel becomes a reality. 

We just could not get out of bed today. We were supposed to pick the hire car up at 8am and didn't bother getting it until midday. The bed was ridiculously comfortable and we just couldn't get out of it. We finally arrange to get picked up from the hotel to go and pick up our pimp Toyota Corolla and set off for Goat Island which is about 120km north of Auckland. 

For those of you like us who have no idea where this place is here is a map in relation to Auckland.

Cruising in the Corolla. 

Subway for breakfast after we need a wifi stop to recalibrate google maps after getting lost, missing the entrance to the freeway and then proceeding to not be able to find another entrance despite going over and under it about ten times! Not surprised we couldn't find it as when we do it's like turning into a back alley. 

First glimpse of the Auckland skyline as we cross the harbour bridge north. 

We finally arrive at our amazing B and B called the Nikau Haven. What a lovely surprise. We were not expecting this! It is a little piece of paradise in the middle of nowhere. The old couple who own it Dennis and Jill are lovely and have created a gorgeous place. The kitchen is like our dream kitchen. 

Gorgeous bifold doors onto an amazing deck overlooking the valley.

And even a cheeky little swimming pool at the bottom of the garden. 

Nat finds a new mate. I try to feed the pony after but Nat is having none of it! ;-)

It really is beatiful out here. A hint of the English countryside but a bit more spectacular. 

Here is Goat Island. A lot smaller than we thought. We thought there would be Marina with boats going across to it - Not that you could actually walk to it through the sea (no kidding). 

For those wondering why it's called Goat Island here is the worst reasoning behind a name ever. About as much thought went into naming this as when Mr and Mrs Lovett called their son Richard. 

This place is huge for snorkeling and diving. One of the best places to do it in New Zealand (although it doesn't look like it at first glance). 

After a little walk around we jump back in the car and head into the next town Leigh. We quickly realise there is buggar all there so head further down the coast to the wonderful area of Matakana, famous for its wine. We find Matakana village which is a lovely place Qutb bars, restaurants, a market and shops. 

Nat drops me off...

We have a drink in the Matakana Village Pub which has a very English feel about it. We sample two NZ beers called Macs Gold and Speight Gold Medal Ale. Nothing to write home about (which is ironic as I am writing home about it on a blog). NZ not great for beer.  Also don't even think about looking drunk here let alone being drunk. They are so strict on it. There are signs in the bar saying "don't be offended if we ask you to order food or a soft drink". I can only imagine how they would react to seeing Nat in the doom zone. Part of me feels the need to spike her drinks to see their reaction!

We stock up on BBQ food and booze as we are meeting Trent and Sasha and their friends at their campsite next to our place for a BBQ later on. 

On the way back towards home we stop off at the lovely Saw Mill Cafe which is an old coverted mill which also has a great microbrewery on site. We sample the very average wheat beer called saw mill crystal and the delicious pale ale by the same name. This place is literally the only pub anywhere near where we are staying but luckily is really good. It even has live music on each night so we book a table for tomorrow. 

We meet Trent and Sasha and their friends for BBQ. Really great to see them again. Can't believe it has been a month since we were in Laos with them. Great catching up. 

The campsite is so cool. Pretty well equipped for a campsite and a fantastic setting on top of a hill. 

It even has a giant fire pit to my delight! 

After a good few sausages, burgers and beers we head back for the short walk in the pitch black which is a complete blessing as the stars are magnificent. There is zero light pollution here so the sky looks like a sandy beach there are so many stars. Not seen this many since I was out in the sticks in Canda. Amaze balls!! Wish I had a camera that could capture them!

Day 47 - Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand

Well today is a very boring update so I'll keep it short and sweet. We get up and have Special K for breakfast (see what I mean about boring?)! So nice to just have cereal for a change. We need to leave for the airport at about 3.30 so just head to the beach again for a bit of a chill out. 

There are absolutely no waves today. Crazy the difference from one day to the next. Good job the surf schools were fully booked and I couldn't get in! Doesn't make me feel so bad. 

We get back from the beach, pack up again and say good bye to Rach and Helen (already said goodbye to Nick last nights as he is at work today). We've had such a great few days with them. Always great to see friends from home along the way. 

The best I have got in terms of pictures today are a few I took of the sunset over Australia. 

See told you it was going to be short and sweet. 

Day 46 - Sydney, Australia

Very low key day today as we are all tired and hung over. We get up at about 12pm and lounge around watching rubbish TV for bit before heading to breakfast at Bondi Cafe just around the corner from Nick and Rach's. 

After we head down to the beach to hit the sea to blow away the cobwebs. The beach is heaving. The busiest Nick says he has seen it. 

Here come the girls...

Checking out surf etiquette. Tried to book lessons but everywhere is fully booked. Will have to wait until New Zealand now. 

Unfortunately the weather is not that great today. Really overcast and pretty windy but it's still great just hanging out on the beach. 

The waves are out of this world. So big and so powerful with a pretty strong current. Suffice to say Nat goes nowhere near them. Her chinjury still fresh in mind. They are great fun through all though if you miss time diving into the break they can be pretty punishing. It is also really busy as the life guards only let you swim within a 20 meter stretch so they can monitor swimmers better but also to clear the way for the surfers on the rest of the beach.  

Cool panoramic view of Bondi. 

That evening we head to Bondi Junction to the cinema to watch Anchor Man 2. We grab a very tasty burrito at a Mexican take away called Guzman Y Gomez first then head in. The film is really funny. Got to love a bit of Rob Burgandy. Also really nice to go to the cinema and have the sort of day we would have had at home (the beach part excluded of course). 

 

Stay classy San Diego. 

Day 45 - Sydney, Australia

New Years Eve is here! Very excited about tonight. 

We check out of the hotel as we need to avoid the quadrupling of price to £400 per night for this evening and tomorrow. (crazy!). Luckily we have our buddies Nick and Rachel to stay with. They live in Bondi Beach and have been here nearly two years now. 

We need to get some admin out the way today so trawl the streets to find somewhere for brunch with decent wireless. We manage to find somewhere and get our Auckland plans sorted. Three hotels (including Goat Island) and car hire done. When did hiring a car get so expensive??

We also FaceTime our parents after sending a Happy New Year message and getting an almost immediate reply from both mothers despite it being 4am in the morning in the UK!

After we head to Nick and Rach's via train and bus. Great to see them and also meet Rach's sister Helen who is also over for Christmas and NY. They have a great little place just up the road from Bondi Beach. You can see the sea outside their front door.

We go and grab some beer and pizza as need to set off at about 6.15pm to get the boat. 

When we are ordering the pizza we are in a bit of a rush so decide to order take out from a restaurant. Nick queues up and when it's his turn asks the guy "how long does it take you to crank one out?" Needless to say the guy looks very confused and bemused. Almost as bemused as Nick's face when he realised what he had just asked. Loved it when the pizzas were ready the guy gave them to him and said "this is the fastest I have ever cranked one out".  Hilarious. 

We stock up on Soerra Nevada, Fat Yaks and wine and set of for the long walk to the harbour. The great thing is that it's walkable though and we don't need to faff about with Sydney's public transport, particularly on the way home!

What I didn't realise is that we are actually just getting a boat to a small island in the middle of the harbour called Shark Island, rather than staying on the boat. It turns out to be so much better. 

Here is where we are in relation to the opera house and the harbour bridge. Such a great spot. 

After clear blue skies all day the weather soon turned very ominous but luckily we don't see any rain and it soon passes. 

We head onto the top of the island to find our spot. The island is lovely and luckily just busy enough as they only purposefully sold about 700 tickets for the whole island which makes it the right side of busy with leaving enough space to get a great spot.  We even managed to find ourselves a picnic table. 

Fantastic views of the opera house and the harbour bridge. Was not expecting to be so close. This must be one of the best spots in Sydney to watch the show!

Starting to get dark. The atmosphere is buzzing. Particularly as we get a little taster at 9pm - the family firework show before the main event at midnight. 

For the fireworks we find a great spot on the rocks down by the water. High risk getting down there tipsy but high reward!

The iPhone camera doesn't do a great job of capturing the amazing show. Some seriously impressive fireworks. Sydney definitely does it best. 

When the fireworks pour off the bridge it looks spectacular. Like a waterfall of fire. 

The finale is amazing with fireworks shooting off the roof of the opera house for the first time. What a show. Definitely the best New Year we have had. So nice that we are sat outside drinking, watching an amazing show and it is so warm. Our first warm New Year!

After we go back to Nick and Rach's to play some games and get to bed about 4am. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! X