Monday December 23, 2013

This morning it was cool.  We had to put our windbreakers on.  About 15 kms into the ride I had to stop and put my socks on, my feet were so cold.  Today\’s ride consisted of 5 kms of a 200 metre climb, followed by about 15 kms of relatively flat, then 40 kms of undulating hills.  As the route became hillier, it became more scenic.  Although seeing some of the clear cutting of the hills, it does make you wonder what is happening to this land.

We knew we weren’t going to make it all the way to Napier in one day (142Kms and hills) so we had to find a campsite half-way between the 2 Cities.

The route was along State Highway 5 (a two-lane road with a posted speed limit of 100kph) again the cars and trucks travel at high speed and today have not given us much room.  This waterfall was up a 400 metre paved road from a scenic look-out.  You couldn’t see it from the road.

When we got to Tarawera we were told about some hot springs.  An older couple said it would be good for the muscles and a younger couple told us how to find them.  They were going to them.  Once we had set up camp and had lunch we decided to follow their advice and walk to the hot springs.  The first gate we went through said that the hot springs were closed and not to be used.  We carried on following the route that the younger couple had taken.  About 5 mins from the hot springs we met up with the couple they were just coming back.  “Be careful on the path, it’s a bit narrow and you could plunge to your death, but you look as though you are sensible enough.  The pool is about 3 more minutes”.  We carried on and there it was a concrete tub with a rubber hose bringing hot water into it.  It was hot, it took me a few minutes to become accustomed to it but it was lovely a real natural hot spring.

Ralf and I laughed about how we follow perfect strangers instructions and go off into wilderness to find a natural hot spring without a care in the world.  What a difference already.

This is our first taste of freedom camping.  We said we weren’t going to do any but there was nothing between Taupo and Napier apart from this ‘site’.  There wasn’t any organized camp-sites so we are staying by the side of a café with public toilets.  It’s free!!  New Zealand generally does not approve of wild camping.  However, they do allow self-contained campers to park up and stay overnight.  However tents are only allowed if there is a public toilet available.

I think there is a difference between freedom camping which is semi-organized and wild camping which means you find a spot in a wood or field and set up your tent.