Google maps link www.google.com/maps/place/Karekare+Beach/@-36.9879115,174.4730589,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d0d6fad1b96085f:0x2d18bccec905530a!8m2!3d-36.9879126!4d174.4730616?hl=en
I have been told New Zealand had some beautiful scenery but I had no idea HOW beautiful. I really must go some day. Thanks for the incredible views. I envy you for having taken that trip.
Hi David. I was the one who saw you parked up next to the marina in Tairua. I was going to have a chat after I'd run my errands, but you'd left when I got back. Anyway, I was going to tell you to make sure you went to the top of Mount Paku for the view, so I'm pleased you already knew to do that. It's great, isn't it? I actually live in the fifth house to the right of where your van was parked at Paku's carpark, assuming that white vehicle shown is yours! The house is on the opposite side of the road to the carpark. Anyway, it was good to see you in my little part of the world, even if it was from afar!
Another lovely advert for our wonderful backyard. Thank you David. We have taken our 8m (26ft) motorhome through that gravel road (track) from Coroglen to Tapu. It is a beauty isn’t it. The poor tourist coming the other way had to back up for a bit to let us past.
Wow. That scenery was really wonderful. Mr CTC takes a vacation not far from water. All the way to NZ for the ‘porpoise’ of seeing a dolphin? Very nice, thanks for sharing.
8:20 Geodetic Marker. Land surveyors use them to calculate positions, altitudes etc. You usually see them on the side of the road looking through binoculars on tripods. They can start at a point, look for a geodetic marker (there are thousands from big ones on hilltops to small pegs on the roadside) and by looking at the angles, calculate where a property boundary starts and stops and is more accurate than GPS.
Better known to most Kiwi's as a "Trig" relating to the trigonometry used to calculate positions therefrom. There are a fair few Trig Roads dotted about NZ
Stunning beaches! You're right. It is calling out to be painted and I may have to grab a couple of screen shots, with your permission, to paint in acrylic. Seascapes is one of my favorite subjects to paint.
I made the mistake of taking that gravel road across the Coromandel on my 2nd trip to NZ, worse still it had just had a few hundred truck loads of gravel dumped on it! It was not fun. Do come back, you really need to visit the South Island to see some of the best scenery, plus some whale watching, penguin spotting and some accessible glaciers, to mention just a few highlights. I came in 1998 on a 'once in a lifetime trip' liked it so much I emigrated here - my first experience of NZ was a lap of the South Island by Campervan - I highly recommend it to anyone.
It's funny you know, being a Kiwi and growing up with this backdrop, I do take this scenery for granted. Then I rave about all the wonderful countryside in England when I'm there. I now live in Canada, which is equally as spectacular as both NZ and the UK. I do count myself as lucky to have regular access (except right now) to all three.
Hi there , yes we love living here. These roads are so familiar. It looks like Karekare Beach. thank you for showing your pics. Glad you got home. Those days just before lockdown were crazy.
Thank you, David, that was just so enjoyable. I have often wanted to go over the pond to our Southern cousins and their beautiful land. At least I wouldn't have to travel from one side of the globe to the other as you did. What a great journey you had. Driving down that corrugated road, oh my goodness they are such fun aren't they LOL. A surprise around every corner. That boat cruise around the Bay of Islands was so beautiful. So many islands all in the one place, each one rugged and lovely in their own way. That visit with our dolphin brethren would have been an eye-opener for you as it was your first up close and personal with them, they are really such fun and they seem to get great enjoyment from playing around in the ocean. Such a carefree way of life they lead. David, you had a great holiday at a very different destination that most of your countrymen would think an impossibly long way away and so leave it off their possible tourist plans. You did it and now you have a lifetime's worth of memories and experiences to keep you company as you lockdown yourself in your marina. I hope this finds you Safe and Well.
Much needed escapism. Though not totally appreciated at the time no doubt! I did like the nod to the Douglas Adams title ref. Just hope that were are quite at The end of the Universe just yet! Thank you 👍
I found this vlog site courtesy of the RV Geeks. So, now I have this channel, your narrow boat channel, the RV Geeks, and Traveling K to enjoy. Brilliant
So many great memories! Our day at Cathedral Cove was warm, sunny and at a lower tide, and we all went swimming in the glorious surf. Still sorry we were running a couple of weeks ahead of you. We’ll have to plan better next time.
Such a shame your trip was cut short. We had a fabulous four weeks in NZ in November you really will have to go back. Have a blog on our trip if your interested.... Keep safe til roads and canals open again ☕
Kia ora David. The beach you don't know looks to be Piha and or Karekare west of Auckland. The last 2 places shown are Paku-the place you climbed up in Tairua and Pauanui Beach. Noho ora mai rā. (Best wishes.)
Alas this is the last van vlog for who knows how long, since I have no more travel videos with any van, and can't even get to my own van due to lockdown. I couldn't go anywhere in it even if I could get to it!
The twisty road (short cut across the Coromandel) is the 309 Road. Infamous as being a slow short cut, that isn’t. Hope you come back soon, as the North Island is overcrowded, and not as photogenic, or as much fun as the South Island. Glad you enjoyed your brief holiday.
So this was your 1st dolpin. David, is this your way of telling me, that there are no dolphins on the cut? Thanks for breaking it to me so gently. That could have become a real disappointment. Oh, and something I forgot to comment over there on CTC: Glad, you made it back! :-)
Glad you got to see some good bits before you had to flee. The RV Geeks stuck around for the duration (They had much more elaborate mobile accommodations).
Absolutly stunning David, thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us. The scenes look marvellous on film, they must have been even better to the naked eye. One thing I will take away from these travel vlogs is the fact that tarmac comes in a flat finish! Something I've not seen in old Blighty :)
It is such a spectacular place. It is so unfortunate that circumstances cut it short you but you did get to make it home. I hope you get to return someday. You did another entertaining production. thanks for sharing!
Wonderful four pack of videos. Except, the fact that we never had you speak to the camera (in shot). It left the video (to me) feeling a bit detachedl, visually. But fascinating, just the same. Thank you. ☮
Wow! Thanks for letting us see these views, A lot of the views would make great desktop pictures!! Stay Safe and hope you can get back to cruising soon, We are back to almost normal here in Tennessee!
Ahhhhhh thank you Sir, memories of home! I grew up in Coromandel (you should have stopped in town for a look) and just think I took those views for granted growing up there. The Thames coast road is one of my favorites, 32 minutes from Thames to Coro township
I was in NZ many moons ago and the scenery is stunning. Wish there was a way to add some pictures here to show you a little more of the North Island. Your video work is wonderful and really gives great perspectives.
So sorry your trip was cut short last year. When you come back we would love to have you stay with us on our South lsland sheep farm. Even have a bloody good shower. Did I mention Roast lamb nz style . Cold meat sandwiches for lunch or cheese if you'd prefer. 😏
Some great video there David, and I'm a bit like you in that I can never remember where I was when taking pictures. That's where Google Photos helps me out. I always try to make sure I take at least one photo on my phone which has GPS enabled. This adds a GPS location to the photo. They automatically get uploaded to Google Photos when I'm next on WiFi and it means I can always see where I've been.
Great video David. That's why I love my dash cam, you can always later re-enjoy the scenery you can't really appreciate when driving. Seams you might have taken a long road for a short cut at one point.
Went to New Zealand once, and Auckland to Bay of Islands only, so this is perfect! That dirt road reminds me of the road to Hana on Maui. Like me you seem to be a chap comfortable in his own company exploring the world in a van 😊
