Day 2
Starting from my house in Auckland, I woke up super early in the morning just to stopped by at the two cafes where I worked, wanted to say goodbye to my friends one more time. Though I ended up made myself one last cup of coffee for the road! LOL. I’m totally gonna miss being behind the coffee machine and working at the cafe. Felt like I never wanted to leave them, but hey! it is what it is, life goes on.
Back on the road, I’m heading to Mt. Paku Summit in Hahei. It was like 45m drive. I arrived at the destination, according to GoogleMaps.. it was supposed to be a walk path up to the top but all i see was this deadend road. I realized it was wrong, obviously but the view was quite alright.
I went back the same way I came and drove to a different road at the intersection. Then I found a carpark which tells me that it was the right place.. though I still couldn’t find an entrance so I wandered around and finally found a way up. Gosh, that was harder that I thought.
It looks steep but it was acutally quite easy to climb up. It took me about 20m to reach the top…. Oh boy, I can feel the fresh air passing by and seeing this.
Not sure what it is for, but almost every lookouts I’ve been to, they have this iconic/landmark at the top of the hill. Maybe to indicate that we’ve reached the top.. haha! The views are amazing, could’ve stayed for hours though I have to go to the next stop.
Once I’ve reached the road, I saw a little bushy entrance so I took a peak and voila! there was a way down… you can say it’s kind of a shortcut as earlier I was walking through the zig-zag road to reach the entrance. Wait, or maybe I should’ve walked this way up. It’d totally save me at least 10m.
Next stop: Shakespeare Cliff Lookout / Lonely Bay
About 45m drive and I arrived. I parked my car and walked to see the lookout, very short walk by the way.
It was a very cloudy day, still feel nice though. Then I walked to the entrance which has the way down to Lonely Bay. Not entirely sure if I want to walk all the way down, didn’t look like it has anything much down there. Guess what? I decided to walk down to the bay anyway.
It was nice but nothing much to see just as I thought, took a few photos and walked back up to the car to have my lunch.
My friend at Pecan Piccolo Cafe made me this special lunch box before I left Auckland as I went to say Goodbye to him early in the morning. It was my favourite lunch which I often had on my break and of course– he knows.
Now that I’m full, moving on the next stop — Hot Water Beach. It took like 30m to reach the destination.
There were a lot of people at the beach which was suprising comparing the other places I’ve been which usually had few people. Parking lot was very busy, so i decided to drive away and luckily for me, I’ve found another carpark! A bit far from the beach but walkable so, I parked and walked down along the beach.
It was quite nice, with blue sky mixed with white clouds then, I saw a crowd.
Yes! They were digging holes with shovels to lie in the hot water. I was really fascinated by how the water came out, hot, like smoking hot.
I wandered around, and realized that the water will be hot only when it was freshly dug out. After awhile, the water in the hole will turn cold. Amazing isn’t it?
Next stop: Smiling Sphinx Rock, and Cathedral Cove.
Saw heaps of photos about this place and I was really looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes. It took about 10m, pretty close by.
While I was driving up the hill to the carpark, I saw the signs saying that no car allows to park up there and I was like, for real? I had to see it with my own eyes so I drove to all the way up the top. Man, they were serious so i had to turn around, drove all the way down and parked the car so far away from the entrance.
Note to self, it will take about 1h30m (2.5km) walk to reach the final destination.
They have shuttle bus to take us from the carpark to the entrance, though I’d rather walk and wander around.
Wheww! it was quite a walk, definitely gonna take a shuttle bus on my way down. This was where I had to turn my car around.. what a bummer!
The weather was really nice and clear, just perfect for the walk. It was like a coastal walk all the way up and down but very nice concrete path.
Finally arrived at the beach, getting excited to see the cove so I walked in.
Not sure how to put for it, left me speechless and stunned. I was really fascinated by its uniqueness and beauty. Like can you imagine how can it turned out like this? it looks like an architecture, delicately crafted and designed but no, it was just nature — which was never stop surprising me obviously.
I certainly took my time there, see the rocks, the patterns, and how the ocean waves eating the base of those rocks little-by-little.. wondering how long would it still be like this?
Oh look! I found a friend, how lucky 😀
After that, I walked back to my car, and drove to Hahei Beach which located near by. Waiting for sunset before heading back. Can never get enough of the beaches and sunsets.
It was really peaceful, I only wish I could’ve stopped the time, just for a little while so that I could cherish the moment, just a little longer..
It was getting dark soon, so I decided to head out as it would take about 3 hours drive to reach my stay for the night.
I was a bit hungry but hey! luckily my friend at Joe’s Eatery gave me a piece of banana bread. Totally saved my life.
White Star Station, Colville Farm
Wow man, it gets real dark out here in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to my headlight. I’m getting the feeling like there was no one here at all. Not a single person. Dead quiet. I was like shit, was it only me here.. anyway, I drove in to park the car, read the instruction in AirBnb from the host. Still not sure which one was mine.. so I drove further in, saw a wooden and narrow bridge,.. I stopped and again, not sure if I should crossed or not but what choice do I have, just had to do it and shit! I saw someone, he looked at me for awhile then I realized, I was on his private property… damn it, sorry man! I was quickly turned my car around and back to where I came.
Then, I found one caravan, near the entrance, again, not sure if it was mine. Though I drove in and parked the car, man, it was locked which obviously not mine, moving on….
Moved on to the last one, decorated with little lights around the caravan. Turned out it was mine! I mean, I saw this one earlier but there were lights all over and so I thought it was for someone else. Silly me.
Confessed, this was my first time sleeping in a caravan. Pretty excited to see how it would feel to sleep in.
Hey, it was pretty cosy, like for 4 persons but I was the only who’s gonna sleep in.. haha all for myself. The bed was really comfy and plenty of space for me. Even though I had to walk outside to take shower and use the toilet in a freezing cold weather, I really love it!
I think I’m done for the day, my feet were so sore probably walked way too much but totally worth it. Well then, GOOD NIGHT 🙂
KOiSPRK x THE WORLD 