Our much anticipated trip to the Northland (New Zealand’s northern-most part, located north of Auckland) was finally here, and I couldn’t wait to leave the busy streets and bad weather of Auckland City behind.
On our first day, we drove north to the nice little beach town of Orewa, where I had to get fitted for a new pair of contact lenses (exciting). We then continued north to the town of Leigh, situated on the east coast about 100km north of Auckland.
We came to Leigh to check out the marine reserve at Goat Island. This is an area where no one is allowed to fish, and marine life is kept in tact. Some friends from home sent me the link (http://www.glassbottomboat.co.nz/) to the glass-bottom boat servicing the reserve, and it looked cool so we wanted to check it out. The area is kept all natural and is studied largely by the University of Auckland to learn all kinds of great stuff about marine life, I am sure.
The glass-bottom boat ride was really cool. We circled the island and saw all kinds of fish, lots of large snapper but I don’t remember the other species. Here are a couple more photos of the fish, one from the boat and one from land:
These are snapper and blue poi poi or something like that.
More snapper from the boat, and maybe a trevally
After checking out the fish, we spent some time at a nearby beach, and then ate dinner at a the Sawmill Cafe. This is a pretty cool restaurant and micro brewery that often has live bands playing (but none the night we were there). A local I met in Auckland told me about the place.
After dinner we found a spot at a nearby campground and called it a day. The place was pretty busy, as it was Easter weekend. A band consisting of five or six thirteen year olds had a scheduled gig at the campground. Quite entertaining.
I found Orewa and Leigh on the map. At first I thought you were going to the northern-most tip, but I see you were about 100 km north of Auckland center. The scenery looks lovely. What area of the South Island will you be heading for in May? And how cold will the weather get when winter is in that area? My sense is that the terraine is quite different on the two islands. Right?
We did go all the way to the Northern tip, but Leigh was our first stop for the first night. I will post more over the next few days .
We are planning to live in Queenstown, at least for a while. We have season lift tickets to the mountains there to snowboard. It is in the mountains near the southern end of the South Island, so I would imagine the weather will be rather chilly . I hear the South Island is really beautiful, and lots of long stretches with no inhabitants. We are excited to get down there.
Beth just reminded me to explain why it is called Goat Island. Apparently, back in the day when people were cruising around in their boats discovering New Zealand, they would leave goats on islands they passed. That way, on their return trip they could stop back at the island and have well fed goats to eat. So that happened with Goat Island, and the name stuck.
“Apparently, back in the day when people were cruising around in their boats discovering New Zealand, they would leave goats on islands they passed.”
You should write a history book in this style…it would be informative and entertaining.
Glad you guys are still having a great time, I enjoy reading all the comments and viewing the pictures. I may not post too often but I just thought I’d let you know I’m watching and always waiting for more….
Haha I’m glad you liked it Kriz. Perhaps I should start a series of history books “Back in the Day” – as in “New Zealand: Back in the Day” and “Salisbury: Back in the Day.”
Hello Josh Moore, looks like you’re doing fine in NZ. I hope you realize this is an experience of a life time,soak it up. Just wanted to say hello. I love the pictures. Everything is fine here. Take good care of yourself. May God be with you. Frank (from Ridgewood)
he dude in this water it should be possible to catch some snapper. OK I told you need to catch one for me and take a nice picture. Have fun in the South. Later Josh
11 Comments »
Comment by josh — April 12, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
Our much anticipated trip to the Northland (New Zealand’s northern-most part, located north of Auckland) was finally here, and I couldn’t wait to leave the busy streets and bad weather of Auckland City behind.
On our first day, we drove north to the nice little beach town of Orewa, where I had to get fitted for a new pair of contact lenses (exciting). We then continued north to the town of Leigh, situated on the east coast about 100km north of Auckland.
We came to Leigh to check out the marine reserve at Goat Island. This is an area where no one is allowed to fish, and marine life is kept in tact. Some friends from home sent me the link (http://www.glassbottomboat.co.nz/) to the glass-bottom boat servicing the reserve, and it looked cool so we wanted to check it out. The area is kept all natural and is studied largely by the University of Auckland to learn all kinds of great stuff about marine life, I am sure.
The glass-bottom boat ride was really cool. We circled the island and saw all kinds of fish, lots of large snapper but I don’t remember the other species. Here are a couple more photos of the fish, one from the boat and one from land:
These are snapper and blue poi poi or something like that.
More snapper from the boat, and maybe a trevally
After checking out the fish, we spent some time at a nearby beach, and then ate dinner at a the Sawmill Cafe. This is a pretty cool restaurant and micro brewery that often has live bands playing (but none the night we were there). A local I met in Auckland told me about the place.
After dinner we found a spot at a nearby campground and called it a day. The place was pretty busy, as it was Easter weekend. A band consisting of five or six thirteen year olds had a scheduled gig at the campground. Quite entertaining.
More about day two tomorrow.
Comment by Clara — April 13, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
I found Orewa and Leigh on the map. At first I thought you were going to the northern-most tip, but I see you were about 100 km north of Auckland center. The scenery looks lovely. What area of the South Island will you be heading for in May? And how cold will the weather get when winter is in that area? My sense is that the terraine is quite different on the two islands. Right?
Comment by josh — April 13, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
We did go all the way to the Northern tip, but Leigh was our first stop for the first night. I will post more over the next few days
.
We are planning to live in Queenstown, at least for a while. We have season lift tickets to the mountains there to snowboard. It is in the mountains near the southern end of the South Island, so I would imagine the weather will be rather chilly
. I hear the South Island is really beautiful, and lots of long stretches with no inhabitants. We are excited to get down there.
Comment by Clara — April 14, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Thanks for explaining. I found Queenstown on the map. You’ll be not far from the southternmost tip–right next to mountains.
Comment by josh — April 14, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
Beth just reminded me to explain why it is called Goat Island. Apparently, back in the day when people were cruising around in their boats discovering New Zealand, they would leave goats on islands they passed. That way, on their return trip they could stop back at the island and have well fed goats to eat. So that happened with Goat Island, and the name stuck.
Comment by Kriz — April 15, 2007 @ 7:26 am
Josh, that last comment was great:
“Apparently, back in the day when people were cruising around in their boats discovering New Zealand, they would leave goats on islands they passed.”
You should write a history book in this style…it would be informative and entertaining.
Glad you guys are still having a great time, I enjoy reading all the comments and viewing the pictures. I may not post too often but I just thought I’d let you know I’m watching and always waiting for more….
Comment by josh — April 15, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Haha I’m glad you liked it Kriz. Perhaps I should start a series of history books “Back in the Day” – as in “New Zealand: Back in the Day” and “Salisbury: Back in the Day.”
Comment by Frank Dixon — April 17, 2007 @ 1:50 am
Hello Josh Moore, looks like you’re doing fine in NZ. I hope you realize this is an experience of a life time,soak it up. Just wanted to say hello. I love the pictures. Everything is fine here. Take good care of yourself. May God be with you. Frank (from Ridgewood)
Comment by josh — April 18, 2007 @ 12:14 am
Hi Frank. Good to hear from you.
Comment by andi — May 3, 2007 @ 2:02 am
he dude in this water it should be possible to catch some snapper. OK I told you need to catch one for me and take a nice picture. Have fun in the South. Later Josh
Comment by josh — May 3, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Haha nice. It is illegal to fish there because it is a reserve. I keep trying to catch snapper. One day.
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