AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
FEBRUARY 2019
On a sunny day in February 2019, we left our home town of Langebaan (near Cape Town) in South Africa for our longest flight yet – across the Indian Ocean via Sydney, Australia to arrive in Auckland, New Zealand just after midnight (almost 24 hours later). We decided to fork out extra money and booked premium seats on Qantas Airlines. For such a long flight, you want to sit a little more comfortably.
It will also be our longest visit to a new country. We plan to be in New Zealand for at least 3-4 months; it’s expensive to get there (and, we’d also find out later, it’s expensive just to be there), so we might as well make it worth it.
Probably the most luggage we’ve ever had on a trip – Cape Town International Airport, South Africa
Cheers on our first visit to New Zealand in mid-air … a favourite dish, namely Bobotie
Arrival in Auckland, New Zealand
Good friends of ours in South Africa contacted their family in New Zealand to inform them about our planned visit to New Zealand. Our new friends in New Zealand then kindly suggested that we could stay with them until we sorted out our accommodation and other important matters. What a kind gesture from people we didn’t even know!
They picked us up at Auckland Airport (just after midnight), after which we then went to their house in Gulf Harbour – about an hour’s drive. Very kind of people that we didn’t even know then.
Pearl baked a cake to welcome us in New Zealand – “welcome home”
Welcoming gifts in our bedroom (with even hay fever tablets)
We were very excited to explore New Zealand. When we usually arrive in a new country for the first time, we always compare the new places with towns in our home country and here in New Zealand we sometimes felt we could just as well be on the famous Garden Route (Knysna/St Francis Bay/Wilderness) in South Africa.
After a week in New Zealand, we have already visited Auckland and the surrounding areas. It is beautiful with so much green and lush vegetation. And best of all, one can see the beaches and sea from almost anywhere. For us who love the sea so much, this was a big bonus.
Auckland (as seen from the bus on the motorway/highway)
The waterfront at Auckland
On a ferry, leaving Auckland harbour bound for Gulf Harbour
We visited the famous Piha Beach on the rugged coast west of Auckland and were fascinated with their black sand surfing beach! Although it was cloudy and rainy, we could see that Piha Beach definitely has a unique beauty!
View over Piha Beach
We enjoyed a walk on the beach – with our toes in the magical black sand. There was a surfing competition for youngsters and we took some time to watch them frolic in the waves.
Spectacular views on Piha Beach
Berto, Pearl and Werner walk through the river at Piha Beach
Black sand between my toes – a new experience for me
Our new friends also took us to a beautiful place, namely Mahurangi. From here one could see numerous small islands in the sea. We didn’t know Auckland was surrounded by so many small islands.
Boat in the calm bay of Mahurangi
We got up very early one morning to watch the sunrise from Shakespear Regional Park at the tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. We started walking in almost total darkness, up a very steep hill and through a herd of sheep to reach the viewpoint.
At the lookout point in Shakespear Regional Park
Sunrise at Shakespear Regional Park
Spectacular sunrise
Shakespear Regional Park, named after the Shakespear family who bought the land from local Maori in the 1880s, has so many walking trails. We are definitely going to walk on a few of these in the next few months.
The locals we have met since our arrival in New Zealand have all been very friendly so far. As foreigners it had a big impact on us and something we will always remember.
We were now ready to find our own accommodation for the next few months and to see more of New Zealand.
On our first visit to New Zealand
Sterkte julle geniet elke oomblik
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Dankie Carel, ons het die sterkte nodig (soms is alles so oorweldigend)! Maar ons probeer om ook elke oomblik te geniet ☺️
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Dis awesome Corna en Berto! Ek sommer jaloers, dit lyk fantasties! Gaan jul volg op jul Blog, chat soon! Bxx
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Spaar en kom kuier! xx
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Aaaaaaa julle Avontuurlustiges dankie dat ons saam die avontuur kan beleef
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Ronelle, soms moet ons daai “avontuurlustige” knoppie bietjie afdraai … anders is ons dalk binnekort op die maan 😬
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Geniet elke oomblik.
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Dankie Anet … ons probeer 😁
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Blessings ons sien uit om die wêreld verder deur jul ervarings te beleef!
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Ons sien uit om dit met julle te deel ☺️
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Ah what a wonderful read. Glad you are safe and have settled. I’ll be sure to let Aunty Maureen and uncle frikkie read ur update as they don’t have fb. Be safe and we will chat soon. Much love xx
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Thanks Rose! Yes, please tell them we’re doing fine and give them our love. This is quite an adventure and we are literally taking it day by day 😃
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Jy lyk stralend soos altys Corna. Geniet die nuwe tuiste.
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Dankie Erica ☺️ … ons vat dit maar sulke klein treetjies op ‘n slag!
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How exciting!!!!! I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures and your plans. LOVE the hair. Very nice.
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Hi Carl. Yep, exciting is the word! We are truly enjoying this new chapter in our lives and hope to continue to share this road with you guys! Thanks for the compliment ☺️
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Mag julle baie gelukkig wees! Julle is braaf, maar ons weet waartoe julle in staat is! Liefde in oorvloed!!
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Baie dankie! Ja, soms is mens meer braaf as wys … maar ons glo dit gaan op die ou end die regte besluit wees!
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New Zealand is on the top of my list of countries to visit. So I’m going to enjoy discovering it through your posts.
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New Zealand is such a green country (everything is growing luxuriantly) … and we only saw the North Island – I can only imagine how beautiful nature must be on the South Island. I hope you enjoy the posts as much as we enjoyed our time visiting!
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I have been enjoying the posts tremendously! Thanks for taking the time to write them. The nature is just something else over there 😍
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I’m happy to hear that … hopefully you’ll get an opportunity some day to explore New Zealand yourself!
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