Due to the corona virus the shooting of the HBO series has been cancelled and recently we have a curfew imposed by Spain. So we are forced to stay at home, which doesn't really bother me as I have been worked quite a lot for the last 3 weeks and it’s better that we all be careful in the next days or weeks. We should avoid crowds, washing our hands regularly, boosting the immune system, and always being kind and grateful to those people who continue to work in hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets. We could use the time at home to do the things we unusually never have time for. Like reading, crafting, try out recipes, spring-time cleaning, decluttering...etc.

I really can't being completely without anything to do. That’s why I sat down at my laptop and wrote a new article about our New Zealand trip. I’m gonna leave you a glimpse of my travel diary of our first week and added the corresponding pics to the specific dates. I also create a map of all the places we visited and where we stayed overnight. Actually, it was very pleasant to write this post, as it puts me back into vacation mood. Wonderful to experience this special time again.

Take some time to read it, maybe it will help you to ease your wanderlust.

In this sense…ENJOY!!!!

16.11.2019 

• Arriving at the evening

• Having a pick up from airport to TUI CAMPERS

• Getting Our Camper Van

• Unpacking our suitcases and starting to set up our home, with which we will be on the road for the next 4 weeks, at the parking lot of the big supermarket Countdown.

• Shopping only the most important things for tomorrow's breakfast and some drinks at the Countdown supermarket.

• Having Dinner at the near by Burger Restaurant “Burger Fuel”

• Getting to our very first campsite next to the Waimakariri River called “Kairaki Beach Motor Camp”

• Due to the jet lag falling asleep very early

17.11.2019 

• Cristchurch stocking up food and camping accessories for our road trip at the big Northland Shopping Center in Christchurch

• First day on the road

• Banks Peninsula

• Discovering beautiful different landscapes. Green, rocky and forested hills about 800 meters high, turquoise sea, palm trees and lush green meadows with sheep. River crossing the green fields or beautiful romantic lakes

• Absolutely overwhelmed by this beauty of nature and the stunning views

• Arriving a little French village named Akaroa.

• Strolling through the streets, along the pier, feels like taken back in time. 

• Quaint architecture with all the nice old wooden houses and its romantic rose gardens. 

• Enjoying a super nice laid-back vibe at the beach

• Driving to our camp site directly by the shore at the Okains Bay called “Okains Bay Campground”

• Before passing a very cute village where we get a sneak peek to an old Marae, which is a Maori community house

18.11.2019

• To be a child again!! Trying out the cable way on the playground at the camping ground

• Checking out this old cute village called Okains, taking some photos of the old gas station and the old Marae

• Getting to know the history of the Marae in Okains

• Heading up north, next destination Kaikoura

• Driving 3 hours to Kaikoura

• Checking out Kaikoura-town

• Starting to rain

• Keep driving a little bit further to find one of the prettiest freedom camp site on the south island

• Getting to the freedom meatwork campsite

• Checking out this area 

• Some horses who are longing to be cuddled

• Amazing place, standing with our camper in the middle of blossoming grasses in front of us the beach and the turquoise of the pacific ocean. In the back the south alps of Canterbury with its slightly snow-covered peaks

• No other campers

• Enjoying the nature and the summery climate, sitting outside, writing diary, while taking a beer

• On hour way to Kaikoura we had 3 different seasons. Spring,Summer,Fall

19.11.2019

• Early bird, just before sunrise

• Taking pictures of the alps when the sun kissed the peaks

• Still quite chilly in the morning

• Blessed by a visit to a huge dolphin group spotting after breakfast directly in font of us

• Starting our day ride further north to the Marlborough Sounds

• Arriving Picton, Having a stroll through Picton

• Ferries to the North Island, lots of tourists

• Watching arrival and departing of Ferry

• Following the Queen Charlotte Drive. Beautiful scenic road

• Everywhere rainforest and the always present view to the turquoise shimmering Marlborough sounds, which leads along our road

• Stopping from time to time at some lookouts to capture some pics

• Arrival at the Smiths Fram Holiday Park, near by the Queen Charlotte Track 

• Having our first night walk in New Zealand’s native bush to discover a beautiful waterfall and on the way back lots of glow worms

20.11.2019

• Preparing our equipment and food for our first day hike on the famous Queen Charlotte Track 

• Driving to Anakiwa where the Queen Charlotte Track starts

• Arriving at Anakiwa loading ourselves with the equipment, starting the track with anticipation of adventure

• Following the old bridal path into New Zealand’s bush

• It's a marvelous track with an amazing variety of plants like ferns and mature beech forrest

• Accompanied by the beautiful sounds of tropical birds and stunning views to plenty of lonely bays at the shore of the Queen Charlotte Sound

• Passing self-check-in camp site at the Davis Bay directly at the shore

• Continuing the track a little bit before Mistletoe Bay

• Walking the way back to the Davis Bay camping site

• After around 10 km arriving again the Davis Bay camp ground

• Choosing campsite at the shore, fantastic view to the 300-400 m hills covered with a deep green of the rainforest

• Setting up our tent for the first time

• Pretty tiered enjoying the calmness and sunny evening on the shore of the Queen Charlotte Sound

• Again no other campers

• Preparing a simple but fresh and healthy veggie stew with a gas stove

21.11.2019

• Waking up early but quite recovered

• Although it was pretty windy at night, we slept well

• Slowly getting up to enjoy once again this peaceful and beauty place before we go back

• Coffee lust and hunger lead us to our van

• Faster than expected arriving our van

• Taking an extensive brunch

• Skipping Nelson. Heading the road to Abel Tasman National Park

• Last section, after 2 hours on the road, driving 45 min gravel road to get to the camp ground

• Arriving the campground Tōtaranui

• The campground is located next to clear waters and golden beach at the northern end of the Abel Tasman National Park

• It’s a great place to relax on the beach, swimming, kayaking, fishing or exploring native bush on the nearby tracks

• The beach surrounded by bush covered cliffs and behind the campsite stated the bush covered hills

• After self-check-in exploring the area with an evening walk along the ling beach

• The sand of the beach has a very special golden tone. Reminding us of Australia

• Enjoying sunset with a cold beer

22.11.2019

• Taking a wake up bath in the Pacific ocean before anything else.

• After breakfast enjoying the beach life for the whole day, sunbathing, swimming, sleeping, reading, sleeping again, exploring other bays by climbing around the rocks.

• Taking pics of the paradisiacal and tropical surrounding

• Before the sunset walking at the beach to collect firewood. 

• Watching the sunset at the beach. 

• Preparing the fireplace 

• After dinner lighting the campfire, taking another bear and enjoying the campfire, 

23.11.2019

• After breakfast getting back on the track to our next destination. 

• Along the Golden Bay it goes to the most northern tip of New Zealand.

• But first passing by the little hippie village Takaka.

• Visiting the farmers market in Takaka. It’s a small and colorful local open air market.

• Having a second breakfast by some homemade chocolate brownies and listening to live music by local musicians. 

• Stocking up our food by locally created vegetable, fruits and bread. 

• Strolling around the market and encounter a mix of exclusive handmade artistic endeavors

• Having lunch by handmade stone oven pizza. Everything on the market is from local organic production. 

• Meeting a Maori woman with moko's / tattoo’s in her face. 

• Continuing our way to the next camping site called Wharariki Beach Holiday Park. 

• Arriving the camp site, parking our van and watching directly to some horses having its meadow behind our parking place. 

• Walking to the white sandy beach.

• Track started nearby the camp site. Passing the green hills where many sheep and lambs roamed 

• Arriving this awesome eternally long beach 

• Once again overwhelmed by the beauty of mother earth.

• Gigant rocks formations towering out the sea. 

• Walking on the beach and exploring the big cathedral caves.

• Spotting some seals. Letting the drone fly and watching the stunning surrounding from above.

This was our first week, where we discovered one superlative after the other, as you can see on the photos. In the next week we will explore the west coast and this will surely be even more spectacular. So stay tuned!

I hope you have a some fun and it puts you a little bit into that vacation mood I had during writing. Would be so nice if it took you out of the sad reality we all have right now especial in these difficult days what we all have to experience.

Let’s hold on and keep up positive vibes.

Stay save and be kind to everyone,

Katy!

Digital & analog pics by Daniell Bohnhof

Text by Look2 Ocean