New Zealand > To Cape Reinga

When the alarm goes off, there is still no water. During breakfast, a neighbor stops by. He mumbles that he will try to pump some water into the tanks. For us, it’s too late, as we are already leaving at seven o’clock on the foot ferry from Russell to Paihia.In Paihia, we are picked up by a bus for an excursion to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of the North Island. It takes a little time to figure out which bus is ours, as several buses are running today. The second bus that arrives is ours. Marvin is the driver and welcomes us aboard. Because multiple buses are running, Marvin first drives all the way to Cape Reinga and then returns along the beach. This means we will have a late lunch, he warns.As we drive north through the rolling landscape and past beautiful bays, Marvin explains the program, destinations, and the history of New Zealand. He is Maori himself and tells us about this with pride. He talks continuously into the microphone while driving the bus. Even after the coffee stop, his enthusiastic commentary continues tirelessly.Just before half past eleven, we arrive at the tip of New Zealand. The characteristic lighthouse seems to separate the Tasman Sea from the Pacific Ocean. The bright blue water of the Tasman Sea merges into the greener water of the Pacific. The white lighthouse stands out beautifully here.

New Zealand - The lighthouse where two oceans meet

At one of the sand dunes, we stop for sandboarding. Sandboards are stored at the bottom of the bus. I grab a board and climb the dune. In the loose sand, I make my way up. The slope is steeper than I expected—around 45 degrees, I estimate. Marvin explains that you should lie down on the board, hold the front firmly with your hands, and keep your legs stretched out. You can brake with your feet.When it’s my turn and I lie down, the instructions seem easier than the execution. Still, a little later, I slide down the sand hill. It turns out to be neither scary nor difficult—I actually enjoy it. I grab my board and climb up again. The second time, I go down with a little more speed. Fun!From the sand dunes, the bus drives onto Ninety Mile Beach, a stretch of beach several kilometers long where only 4x4 vehicles are allowed. Rental cars are prohibited. Even for the bus, it is a challenge. On some stretches, the bus must keep moving; if it stops, it gets stuck in the sand. To reach the beach, the bus drives between sand dunes. When two cars approach from the opposite direction, our driver tries a shortcut to avoid getting stuck. Unfortunately, this route has too much loose sand. The bus sinks up to the axles.

New Zealand - Traveling by bus along the beach

There is nothing to do but wait for a tractor. Just behind us, a second bus is also stranded. It takes about an hour before the tractor arrives. Easily, it pulls both buses out of the sand. Without further problems, we reach the beach.The tide is still low, so we can drive over the hard sand easily. Marvin mentions that the police often conduct speed checks here. Some cars drive over 100 km/h. We drive at a maximum of sixty.Due to the delay, our late lunch is even later. Not until half past three do we turn into the hotel grounds in Houhora. The fish and chips are no longer very warm, either. While enjoying a beer, we look out over Houhora Bay. The day is drawing to a close. On the way back, we only stop at the Kaitaia Kauri Forest. The Kauri is the traditional tree of the Maori. In the Kauri Centre, there are several artworks made from Kauri wood. One table costs no less than NZD 45,000 (EUR 27,500).In the forest, we follow the wooden walkway through the trees. The Kauri trees here are not as large, but there are many of them together. In about twenty minutes, we are back at the bus. At seven o’clock, Marvin drops us off at the ferry. He is still as enthusiastic as he was this morning. We thank him and take the ferry back to Russell.Because we had such a late lunch, we order something simple for dinner and then return to our cottage. The water problem has been solved—we can shower again.