May 2020
Poor Ben's birthday was spent in lockdown, and although I did my best to cook something fun and buy something nice, I could only hope the next year's one would be better.
Happily by the end of May, lockdown eased and we were able to take a road-trip to celebrate. We decided to go up north of Auckland, as neither of us had explored that area much.
We left before dawn, cresting the Brynderwyns as sunrise broke out across Uretiti beach - it was one of the best views I've ever seen.
Our first stop was Kawakawa, for toilets - though not for the reason you would assume. The Hundertwasser toilets were designed by the famous artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and are notable as they are his only project in the Southern Hemisphere. They are known as the most photographed toilets in New Zealand, so I followed the trend.
Our first stop was Kawakawa, for toilets - though not for the reason you would assume. The Hundertwasser toilets were designed by the famous artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and are notable as they are his only project in the Southern Hemisphere. They are known as the most photographed toilets in New Zealand, so I followed the trend.
Our next stop after a quick ferry over was Russell, in the Bay of Islands. It was a glorious sunny day, and I was madly tempted to swim, even though it was far too late in the year and far too chilly.
Our lunch at the vineyard was everything I hoped, and I would absolutely recommend a visit. Especially as we walked away with a rather nice dessert wine.
Feeling rejuvenated, we popped into the Stone Store, New Zealand's oldest surviving stone building. Built somewhere between 1832-1836. It was build to sell produce from local farms to ships, as well as European goods to the Maori. However over the years it had many purposes, from a Library, to a Barracks to a boys school.
Our next pitstop was the nearby Rainbow Falls, a 27m waterfall near Kerikeri.
A very short walk, it was lovely, easy and scenic. We were a bit too late in the day for rainbows, but it was pretty nonetheless.
We had travelled a long way and done a lot in one day, so it was time to start heading to our accomodation, a little caravan for the night.
Cheap and adorable, I would definitely recommend. The owners house wasn't too far away, but they were happily out of site of the outdoor compositable toilet and outdoor shower. I still felt rather exposed showering in the wilderness of the garden, but it was also somewhat lovely in the rain. (Braving the outdoor toilet in the night with only a torch was somewhat less lovely).
Our very last stop for the night was for dinner; we popped out to a nearby a fish and chip shop on the water, in Mangonui. The sunset painting the water in pastel pink whilst we drank beer and waited for our hot dinner was magical.
The ridiculously overpriced fish and chips which weren't all that great - less so. I'd come back for the views, but not to eat. Give me Stanmore Bay fish and chips any day!
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