Because of New Zealand geography, it's compulsory to go through Auckland if you want to go North. We're not ready yet for this huge city so we close our eyes and we drive! (And it's pouring rain!) [we're not sure we'll find a job in Brussels when we come back] After all a little walk to a waterfall on the heights of the city won't do any harm...

Waitakare Ranges
Waitakare Ranges

NB: we cross Dargaville, kumara (NZ sweet potato) capital. We're still wondering why we didn't buy a 10kg bag.

Camping in Pahi
Camping in Pahi

On our way along the West coast, we greet some old timers: Yakas, the 4 sisters, Tane Mahuta and co. This kauri gang from Waipua forest is hundreds years old and tens of metres thick, they are really huge! Like the colossus with feet of clay, these giants have tiny little roots, quickly damaged by mobs of tourists. Please stay on the wooden path (not made out of kauri wood :) ).

Kauris
Kauris

These trees were young shoots when Europeans arrived (they might not keep them in their hearts, many are not here anymore to talk about it). Anyway, settlements in the area were amongst the first built by Europeans thanks to the wood industry.

Hokianga Harbour and mangrove
Hokianga Harbour and mangrove

Rawene, with its 16 churches and its ferry to cross Hokianga harbour, is really cute. Original pee break in Kawakawa where the art Deco toilets were created by Austrian architect Undertwasser. And we arrived with an empty bladder in Russell at Eoan and Lisette.

Rawene
Rawene
Koutu boulders
Koutu boulders
Artistic loo
Artistic loo

We met them in Samoa and this kiwi couple, nature guides, invited us in their cabin "at the back of their garden". And what a garden! Kiwis and wekas (even rarer than the kiwis) are nesting only a few metres away from where we sleep. It's even almost noisy at night ;)

Weka sound:

Eoan and Lisette's cabin
Eoan and Lisette's cabin

We're experiencing a new kind of hospitality: couch surfing. Unlike wwoofing, our hosts don't have any little jobs for us but they don't provide food. It doesn't matter because they show us how to harvest cockles and oysters at low tide (Eoan is an oyster farmer) YUM...

Wekas, seafood collection and ferry crossing with the car
Wekas, seafood collection and ferry crossing with the car
Russell
Russell
Tapeka Point and Maiki, the flag mast with the Union Jack was cut four times by Hone Heke, a rebel Maori chief
Tapeka Point and Maiki, the flag mast with the Union Jack was cut four times by Hone Heke, a rebel Maori chief

The next part of our trip is another way to meet the locals: volunteering for the Department Of Conservation in Mimiwhangata national park, between Russell and Whangarei.

PS : This is almost the end of our kiwi adventure and we can't bring the Chariot back to Europe. If you want to come for one year in New Zealand or if you know somebody who wants to come for one year in New Zealand, know that we're selling this "wonderful" car at a friendly price early November in Auckland.