Auckland and surroundings - travel diary

Auckland - New Zealand travel diary

 

In only three hours flight we arrived in Auckland, the most populated cities across New Zealand. We accepted an airport of moderate size with a very familiar: we have also offered coffee.
Completion of the usual practice, we were worried about finding accommodation. To our surprise it was not easy because all the hostels were full. We finally opted for a dormitory located in the center city that offer excellent value. In about twenty minutes we got it right ... was already late afternoon and once housed the luggage, we have a direct economic gobble something. Returned to the hostel, we spent the remainder of the evening to plan our stay in New Zealand. In fact, our time in this country was confined to a single week, and the sights were truly infinite.

The next day we were precipitated in a travel agency for backpackers hoping to receive help in organizing our week. Please be assured that it was not easy ... we started with the idea of doing a super lap around the whole island in the north, but as usual we had to come to terms with our budget. In the end, we decided to only visit Auckland and Rotorua, a city of which we had heard so much talk, in which there are beautiful parks geothermal. Aside the question New Zealand we have grasped the ball to leap and have the opportunity to book a wonderful package "all inclusive" for Fiji. We emerged from headquarters after four hours, with your wallet considerably lightened, but with a secure future ... at least for the next two weeks.

The next morning at eight departed our bus to Rotorua. Our entrance in the middle was greeted by Jill, the pilot Maori who has gladdened us with his valuable explanations of all the towns we have met in five hours of travel. And so we arrived in the middle of the north of New Zealand. This is a place known more for the story told by Peter Jackson in the trilogy "Lord of the Ring", but also for widespread geothermal underlying subsoil.
Arrived at its destination towards lunchtime, after a brief dormitina, we went to the park for our first meeting with the sulphurous water that evaporates from ponds scattered among green flower beds, giving off an intense and initially unpleasant odor of sulfur. The scenario that is presented to every tourist who arrives in Rotorua, is very similar to that of a kitchen in full operation, including cooking pots and steaming light. But this was only a sort of appetizer for what was waiting for the next day. In fact we had planned to reach Wai-o-Tapu, the largest and most famous park of the geothermal region.
In one half hour a bus led us to Wai-o-Tapu: in reality there was spring in the main road, from which, with a brief picnic through green valleys, we reached the entrance to the park. First we discovered that it was not free, but it was necessary to pay twenty dollars. We could not do otherwise, we were already there. Already just entered the park has earned the price of the ticket. A stream which flowed between the thick vegetation, hemmed in a fluorescent yellow color, due to the massive presence of sulfur. The map consegnataci entrance, proposed three routes, with journey times different. Round longer lasted an hour and a quarter and was just what we were willing to follow. Unfortunately time is tyrant: we had already bought the ticket for the return and the last bus would be there in the past two hours. Legs and shoulders as we left the rockets towards smoking craters, the pools of boiling water and many Gaiser, marked by strange names such as "the mouth of the devil", "table of the painter," "hell of fire "and so on. But the attraction that really left with no wind was a huge pool which stood in the middle of a flat limestone. The water in it close to one hundred 100 ° C, causing a strong evaporation and spreading everywhere heavy cloud of steam. For a little we felt at home in our beloved Po plain, in a nebbiosissima evening in November.
Reached the exit we were directed to walk ripigliare sent to the bus, under a shower to say the least, arrogant and rude. Back hostel we made a quick shower because we expected an evening at a Maori village. It was an interesting experience that has led us to know customs and habits of the legendary Maori people: let it be clear that this was a reconstruction made specially for tourists, but the fact remains that the atmosphere created was truly characteristic. After a brief presentation, we were accommodated in front of a sort of stage, from which have sprung Ragazzoni painted and tattooed that they started to dance, shelled eyes rolling and tongue. The spectacle lasted half an hour is plenty and ended with a 'Haka' collective. This is the most famous Maori war dance, which has been lovingly taught by the village head. We then proceed directly to a big tent under which the apparatus of the tables were laid in each well of God In fact, the trip included a traditional Maori dinner, cooked under the earth, just below the earth! A belly full, too well, we were accompanied to a digestive walk in the middle of the forest. Armed with flashlight, we went to discover the wonders of nature surrounded by darkness. But the best thing you could see the flashlight only without the forest was strewn with tiny insettini placed among mosses and lichens, which emanated a pleasant and charming their own light. The walk ended at the margins of a natural spring that was home to huge sea monsters: in reality they were only simple trout and some eel (or something similar), but that water in crystalline and with the help of darkness did their porca Figure.

The next day we spent in an SPA. Firstly this is not a PLC, but a sciccoso spa. Do you understand, just a beauty farm ... and then you are breaking the soul telling you that we have not even money to eat! We are too fake! Well no, the truth is another. The entrance was kindly included in the accommodation price, even if that included several input (and too many!) Limitations. There was only allowed to immerse ourselves in the five thermal pools, each one characterized by a temperature and a different mineral composition. It's been great, relaxing and beneficial! Hence Rotorua had had its day ... the next day we were back in the bus towards Auckland. Arrived at their destination at around nine, we went again settle nell'ostello we had taken our arrival in New Zealand.

The last day we dedicated to discovering the city. After a brief tour of patrol of the main streets of the center, we boarded the boat for Dovemport, a district that is located beyond the bay, right in the middle between Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf of veleggiatissimo. The neighborhood was quiet and without any major attraction, if it were not for the hill top where you can enjoy a superb view. Facing the Sky Tower and the city center, behind the Hauraki Gulf, where it was disputed last American's Cup We stayed there a couple of hours to rest and contemplate the view. He was already back at the airport in view of our next destination: the Fiji.