Table of Contents

• North Island of New Zealand
• Auckland

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North Island of New Zealand

255 years ago, James Cook crossed for the first time the strait that now bears his name. Today, it’s our turn to navigate these waters and leave New Zealand’s North Island, where we spent 3 weeks, for the South Island. Here are some of our highlights of the North Island:

1. Tongariro Alpine Crossing: This legendary walk crosses Tongariro National Park. From fern forests to volcanic landscapes, this hike takes us into the most extreme biomes the North Island has to offer. It was also during this trek that, filled with empathy for the valiant hobbits, we walked in the shadow of the Lord of the Rings’ menacing Mount Doom.
2. Mount Taranaki: Considered by many to be the most beautiful mountain in the world, Mount Taranaki overlooks the Egmont National Park region, which offers many spectacular walks. Among these, the Holy Grail is of course the ascent of Mount Taranaki itself. Beware, however, as this long and technical climb is reserved for the bravest and most persevering hikers.
3. Waitomo Caves: Far from the mountains, it was beneath the surface, exploring the famous Waitomo Caves, that we had the most astounding experiences. Our guest stars were the glowworms that light up the caves.
4. Cape Kidnappers: On the eastern side of the island, far from the tourist circuit, lies the Australasian gannet colony of Cape Kidnappers. It’s on the vertiginous cliffs of this cape that these birds look after their chicks, an unforgettable spectacle.
5. Hobbiton: Lord of the Rings fans will feel right at home in Hobbiton, the movie set used to represent the peaceful Hobbits' Shire. Here, for a few hours, you can step into the shoes of Frodo, Bilbo, or Sam, and enjoy the simple life of these warm-hearted beings.

Auckland

After spending a few days in Auckland, we are excited to continue our journey exploring the North Island of New Zealand. Here are some of the highlights of our stay in the city:

1. Tiritiri Matangi Island: We took a boat ride from Auckland (with the company Explore) and were dropped off on a completely wild island for the day. We walked around the entire island – it only takes a few hours – and were treated to some amazing birdwatching: from the giant New Zealand Pigeon, to the dinosaur-looking Pukeko, and the colorful Red-crowned Parakeet.
2. Sailing in Auckland’s harbor: We boarded the 1995 America’s Cup-winning sailing boat (again with Explore) and sailed just outside Auckland's harbor. We even got to help raise and trim the sails to catch the wind. The boat's speed and tilt were truly impressive!
3. Mount Eden: After a short ascent, we were rewarded with a remarkable vista of downtown Auckland from the summit of Mount Eden, an extinct volcanic crater. The view here has to be much better than the one from the Sky Tower, since you can see the tower itself from the top of the crater. While the Sky Tower is no longer the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, it still dominates Auckland's skyline.