Waitomo and New Plymouth - english version

Waitomo

After we saw the village of Hobbiton, we drove directly further to Waitomo. Our plan was to stay there for one night, but after the first night nobody asked for us, so we stayed one night longer without paying! :)

We already booked the Waitomo Caves on a website, 2 for 1., 260 Dollar instead of 520 Dollar – BARGAIN!! :)

Unfortunately there are no pictures, because it wasn´t allowed to take your own cam with you. But here is a short list, so you can picture it yourself:

• ·         A 3 hour tour through the caves under Waitomo
• ·         Wetsuit, rubber boots and a head torch
• ·         3 times abseiling in the dark, between 5 and 25 meter, once right through a waterfall
• ·         Crawling through small and contorted ways
• ·         Climbing a  rock
• ·         Adrenalin pure

It was just amazing!!

Sebastian and Maren in the back of our car :)

As usual we weren´t the only germans in this hostel and so it came that we were fast in a conversation with Sebastian and Maren. There next destination, like ours, was New Plymouth. After a short consideration, we decided that we would smuggle them in the back of our car to New Plymouth! Our first smuggle trip!! EXCITEMENT!! :D

Short stop at the Three Sister for lunch

Three Sisters

Three Sisters

 New Plymouth

Actually we planned to stay three till four days, climb the Mount Taranaki and that´s all. But Marleen had back problems, too. So we decided to stay at least one week, at the end we stayed 14 days! :)

Fabios back won´t get better.. till now, he only lied in the back of the car while Marleen is driving. Unfortunately no doctor can help, only relaxation and patience. Marleen had to go to the chiropracticioner, one of her vertebra was not on the right spot (Short background: Since the bus trip from Sydney to Melbourne Marleen had pain in her back. After six weeks the pain didn´t go away by itself, so Marleen decided to see the doctor. Result: Chiropracticer). She had to go more than once, but finally the pain is gone!! She doesn´t know, how life without pain was?!

Our activities around New Plymouth

Mount Taranaki: The reason why we came to New Plymouth. Because of Fabios back, Marleen climbed the Mount Taranaki with Sebastian, Maren and Lukas. It was worth it. Just amazing!!

Mount Taranaki

Up the mountain and down the mountain. Once cold, once warm, rain, mist, sun and a lot of fun.

We planned to go for a walk for 2 till 3 hours, because the weather forecast said it was going to rain for the day.. at the and we walked for 6,5 hours. :D

Small mount by the port: Only 15 minutes and you had the most amazing view over New Plymouth and Mount Taranaki.

Small hill by the port

Costal Walk: New Plymouth has a 7 km costal walk. We did it in three hops! :)

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge on the Costal Walk

Baking bread: Because of Lukas we discovered baking bread (check out the recipe: http://chefkoch.de: Saftiges Vollkornbrot ohne Kneten!)

Baking bread with Lukas

Banana Cake: To many bananas, flavour, sugar and baking soda from the free food shelf…  baked a delicious banana cake! :) Best with nutella and peanut butter! :D a dream!!

Fabio the chef: most of the people lived in the hostel, because they worked in the neighbourhood. Fabio cooked sometimes. For example chili con carne for the three boys Aaron, Jake and David. He didn´t get too little money for it! :) Or Fabio made some pizza for Jakes birthday. Pizza for 15 people, that was delicious.

Pizza baker

14 days in one hostel, during the 14 days almost the same people, at the end we were like a small family!! Saying goodbye wasn’t the best feeling, but we had to go. There is a german saying: Leave when it´s best. Unfortunately.. maybe we see us again..

PS: Thanks to Anna and Connor (probably they won´t read this) for all the season of Breaking Bad!! If someone don’t know this or haven’t seen this, start to watch it, otherwise you will miss something, just a burner!! :D

Last but not least our new travel friend and friend from the US: SARA!! After a short conversation in the kitchen Sara decided to quit her new job in the hostel and join us! :D

Let´s go – East Cape here we come – the place where the sunrays hit the earth first :)