Hammockeering Around: New Zealand

I have arrived in New Zealand. After a month back in the USA visiting friends and family I decided I still hadn't quite biked far enough, and so I continuing on. I left the winter of Argentina for the summer of Pennsylvania which turned to fall and now within a single month I am back to spring. For this stretch of spring road my dad is joining me. Recently retired, twice my age, a self described debonaire, he has brought along his bike and his fishing pole. I've been showing him how to bike tour, he has been showing me how to not live like I'm destitute while bike touring.

After several incredibly long flights we arrived in Auckland. Auckland is a beautiful clean city with an attractive harbor and happy looking people. The parks were nice, I liked the architecture. It is worth a visit. Leaving there took us through suburbs for a day before arriving at a tall picturesque waterfall where we camped. Every few days another amazing waterfall appears. Fields and hills of thick, vibrant green grass full of cows, sheep or deer filled in much of the landscape for the first few days. We spent an evening very near the set location of the Shire from the Lord of the Rings movies. No visa required to get to middle earth.

Our next stop was the town of Rotorua. Days earlier a rancher referred to it as Rotovegas. It proved to be quaint, clean, quiet and laid back just in the way that Las Vegas is not. Positioned on a large beautiful lake the town is known for its hot springs which steam to the surface as bubbling lakes or mud pits. Walking paths meander through pleasant parks past the steamy water. Trees bloomed with intense full large flowers like I've never seen before. It was beautiful scenery.

We also found mountains. Climbing through Urewera National Park was like biking into an arboretum curated for variety and size. The forest was thick, impenetrable even. We found camping along clear blue streams and drank water flowing from hillside springs. In the park, at another waterfall, we met a native New Zealander. He shared some locally foraged vegetables and taught us the traditional New Zealand hello which involves tapping noses together twice while shaking hands.

On the far side of the mountain we pedaled to the coast reaching Hawke's Bay. Never have I seen such a beautiful coast. Steep cliffs rose out of water the color of glacial lakes. The black sand beach was contrasted by bleached white driftwood piled against the base of the cliffs. Turning away from the ocean, vibrant green hillsides nearly glowed in the sunlight. It was magnificent in every direction. The waves fell gently against the beach, salt filled the air. It was a hard place to bike away from.