Trounson Kauri Park DOC

Only a very small DOC site but it does have its benefits. Hot showers and cooking facilities. The walk was only a short 1.8km but it made a good jogging track. Our jogging fitness isn't up there at the moment, as it can be quite hard finding appropriate routes when you move around so much. Still I was pleased we managed to loop it 3 times, covering about 5.4km by my calculations.

It always pays to walk the track and check the terrain/route the day before you jog. In this case it was handy to clear a few branches that had fallen down in the storm. Other times it's saved us costly detours when we've missed a sign going one way to see it clear as day going back the other way. Or even helped us make the decision that the route might be too slippy/steep to jog. Good idea to check the tides too because if part of your route is down the beach it can be pretty hard on your legs running in the soft sand at high tide.

Rainbow Falls

A lovely, cool couple of hours walk from Rainbows Falls, Kerikeri NZMCA Park to the Stone House in the shade of the trees. Some nice swimming spots on the way and if you are brave you can even explore behind the waterfall. Next time maybe!

Oh yes and I omitted to say the Falls are just a hop over the style from the NZMCA Park, which is a top place to stay.

Matai Bay

Somebody told me there were 500 steps on the 2hr walk from Matai Bay to Bland Bay. They just neglected to tell me that they are all up hill if you walk anticlockwise. It goes without saying that I'll be going clockwise next time.

I Love You DOC Pass

I'm sure I've told you before, but I now love you even more. Your great locations and facilities just got better the further north we went. First it was a cold showers at beautiful beach locations then just as the weather changed and the storms began to brew. A sheltered spot, hot showers and cooking facilities too.

Lifestyle Choices

Our last promised helpx electrics are completed and we are making our way north. It has been good to meet new people and gain an appreciation of their lifestyle choices, while at the same time helping them with their electrics, but it is now time for us to spend some time exploring our lifestyle of choice which is to travel. I'm not saying we won't be doing anymore helpx electrics, just maybe only small/short jobs with plenty of time to explore in-between.

Suburbia

January again and time to 'House Sit' for 2 weeks while everyone else is on holiday. Not that I'm jealous, as the  roads are pretty busy at this time of the year and most of the freedom camping spots are pretty full. Plus it won't be long now until the last long weekend of the summer is over and all the spots will be available once more. Roll on February the 9th.

I have noticed though, that the longer we are on the road, the harder it is to go back to suburbia and 'House Sit' (AKA 'Garden Sit' or in this instance 'Drive Sit' as we were parked on the drive and slept in the landy). It only takes us a couple of days now until we start to get itchy feet again and are ready to move on -lawn mowers, traffic, loud voices, banging doors - It does make me wonder if we'll be 'Drive Sitting' again? Well not for so long any hows!

At least we had some Electrics to do to keep us busy but at the end of the day suburbia is suburbia and it doesn't matter how close to the beach you are or how pretty the suburb is they all seem the same to me.

Omokoroa Peninsula Walk

If you combine all the small walking tracks around Omokoroa Peninsula into one it gives you a good 2 to 3 hour walk. I recommend you start from the top of the golf course down Kayelene Place, as it is much easier to find the walkway from there, which curves its way along the eroding edge of the golf course. At first having unsuccessfully tried to find the track across the golf course from the opposite direction I had thought the strategically placed - No Entry- signs were protectionism by the golf club, but having seen the erosion followed by a quick read regarding walkways and the Queens Chain in NZ, I now believe the golf club are probably well within their rights to project their land and hope that they continue to enable the walkway to remain open for locals and tourists alike. Either way if you are in the area I recommend you do the walk sooner rather than later so you don't miss out.