I really feel, like my third month was nearly dominated by one trip and experience after the other.
I went on a short trip to the McLaren Falls on the 2nd October and had a nice walk up there and I´m really looking forward to visit this place in summer again, when it is possible to go swimming in the stone pools.
The first of my two highlights in my third month, is the two-day trip to Gisborne. Paul Noonan took me with him to Gisborne and I spent there a wonderful day with a lot of sightseeing and also a lot of scenic walking, for example along the waterfront up on the Titirangi Domain and also to the Bernie Vette Lookout, from where I had a wonderful view over Gisborne and the harbour. I went to the James Cook memorial and also the ship of James Cook, the “Endever” was still in the harbour. After a really nice day in Gisborne we drove home and also the car drive was a special experience, because of the really impressive nature in the “Waioeka Gorge” with the River next to the nearly endless road between the mountains.
Especially in the middle of October there was a lot of rain, but despite the rain, Paul, Rachel and I drove on the 12th October to the “Redwood Forest” and the “Cat Café” in Rotorua. After the really special experience in the “Cat Café”, we used the break of the rain and had a really nice walk through the “Redwood Forest” and a nice trip to one of the lakes.
On the 13th October, I went up the Papamoa hills the first time and Paul told me a lot about the different tribes of Mauri people, who lived in this region.
The trip up north at the Labour Weekend with one overnight stay in Mangawhai and two nights in an amazing holiday house at Coopers beach was definitely my highlight this month. I learned not only a lot about the history of Paihia and the “Treaty of Waitangi” I also watched a traditional Mauri performance at the memorial place for the “Treaty of Waitangi”. For dinner we had fish and chips from a really traditional pub, where everyone was already dressed for Halloween. We visited the Cape Reinga on our second day and I took a look at the famous white Lighthouse on the cliffs.
After that, we went on a really nice scenic walk from up on the cliffs down to the beach, where I went swimming the second time this year.
At the sandboarding with Paul after the walk it really surprised that you can find dunes like normally in Abu Dhabi or Dubai also here in New Zealand.
This Weekend was one of the best I´ve had since I here and I´m so grateful, that Rachel and Paul give me all these great opportunities to save wonderful impressions and experiences while I´m staying here in Tauranga. You can see, that this month I saw so much more of New Zealand and I´m really looking forward to my three-month holidays and the South Island trip with all the other Exchange students, which starts at the 16th November to see and experience much more of the country.
