Forum de voyage

Day 01 - 07/03/11

From : Auckland
To : Auckland
Distance : ~ 25 km

For the very first day the New Zealand Big Trip, we stayed in Auckland to prepare the trip.
First we picked up the Spaceship van at the depot. First drive in New Zealand for Clément but everything went all right ! ^^
Then we bought some groceries (stock of pasta, chips, drinks, breakfast,...). We finally had to load all our stuff in the van ! Luckily the van is well equipped and has a lot of space so everything fitted perfectly in it.
For the last night in Auckland, we played pool with some friends.










> http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_sp … 754936694/

You're welcome ! C'est un plaisir de faire partager l'expérience inoubliable que j'ai vécu




Album du 2e jour de roadtrip en Nouvelle Zélande mis en ligne : http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_sp … 762193564/


Day 02 - 08/03/11

From : Auckland
To : Port Jackson Bay, near Port Jackson
Distance : ~ 238 km

Day 2 but the real first day of the travel ! First destination : the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. We left Auckland in the morning heading to the Pacific Coast Highway. This highway is nice road which run alongside the Firth of Thames, a large bay, to the city of Thames. We stopped there and visited this small town of around 6000 inhabitants. Then, we drove all along the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, stopping by several beautiful bays and the town of Coromandel. To reach the top of the peninsula, we took our first gravel road of the trip (the first of so many !), cruising alone along the beautiful coast. Finally we reached Port Jackson and its DOC campsite where we decided to stay. The campsite is located on a lovely sweeping golden sandy beach. We couldn’t resist to have a swim, despite the cold water !



Itinéraire du jour





Le beau van tout propre prêt pour le départ !





Une des premières vues de la côte, sur la Pacific Coast Highway





L'estuaire de Thames avec les montagnes de Coromandel (notre destination) au loin





Attention, virages pendant les 30 prochains kilomètres ! Rien d'étonnant sur les routes de Nouvelle Zélande





Vue depuis les hauteurs de Coromandel





Batiment typique des petites villes de NZ





Vue le long de la route





L'endroit idéal pour une petite bière :p





Otautu Bay





Magnifique météo pour notre premier jour





Paysage dans le rétro





Port Jackson Bay, notre destination 8)





Soleil descendant sur la baie





Magnifiques couleurs en soirée






Et bien plus de photos sur l'album : http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_sp … 762193564/

Merci, tout le plaisir est pour moi




Et voila les photos du 3e jour ! Enjoy




Day 03 - 09/03/11

From : Port Jackson Bay, near Port Jackson
To : Somewhere on Mathers Road, near Athenree Gorge
Distance : ~ 300 km
Google Map : Lien

The first stage of the day was a twisty gravel road leading to Fletcher Bay, at the very top of the Coromandel Peninsula. We had then to drive all the way back to Whangaahei on the same beautiful road along the West Coast that we took the day before. From here we headed East to the Waikawau Bay then drove along a crazy road in the mountains to go back on the West Coast. On the way we stopped at the summit for the Tokatea Lookout. As there is not many roads in Coromandel, we had to drive again to the West, stopping again to a lookout at the summit of the road, to reach Whangapoua and its beautiful white sand beach where we had lunch. The next stage was to take the 309 Road, described as a very scenic but narrow and winding gravel road ! A good experience with a stop at the Waiau Falls. After a quick petrol/grocery stop in Whitianga, we drove south along the East Coast. A cool and easy scenic drive with different sightseeing : the Twin Kauris, some lookouts on the coast, the Mary Beach Reserve in Tairua, the Whangamata Beach, Waihi Beach and finally Bowentown Heads with a view on the Anzac Bay. After having paid the DOC campsite yesterday, we tried to find a place to stay off the road. After a few minutes’ drive, we took a small gravel road entering a forest and found a small spot inside a corner. That would be the campsite for tonight !



Aperçu de l'avancée générale




Etape du jour




Bienvenue sur les belles petites routes sauvages de NZ où les ponts n'existent pas lol.




Vue sur l'Hauraki Gulf




Toujours l'Hauraki Gulf avec de jolies fleurs néo zélandaises




Vue panoramique !




Un autre panorama, Fletcher Bay




Fletcher Bay, vue sur la mer




Fletcher Bay, vue sur les terres intérieurs




Quel plaisir de conduire ici




Paysage et belle lumière




Arrêt à Little Bay Beach




Un panneau qui fera sourire les français... ^^




Là bas, pas de feux alternés. Un employé avec un panneau Stop/Go qui travaille très dur




Bloqué 10min derrière cet engin....




Ce qui nous laisse le temps d'admirer le paysage le long de la route




Vue depuis le sommet d'une route à travers la montagne 8)




Une route assez sympa :p




Autre sommet de route, autre vue sur le Hauraki Gulf et notamment le village de Coromandel




Whangapoua Beach & Pungapunga Island




C'est beau




Mais la tempête arrive oO




Araignée géante oO




Roue à eau dans un genre de parc d'attraction ^^




Sentier vers la Waiau Waterfall




Waiau Falls




Point de vue depuis la route longeant la côte




Petite pause dans le port de Tairua




Whangamata Beach




Hauturu Island




Time for a beer :p




Sur la route




Waihi Beach




Et notre super camping du soir :p






> Bien plus de photos sur l'album Flickr !



See you !

C'est cool, les photos sont justes magnifiques, et en plus, on révise son anglais !

A part Heineken, quelques photos vraiment magnifiques !! Beaucoup de belles photos, mais certaines sont vraiment exceptionnelles !! Bravo et merci pour ce voyage virtuel.. Un envie maintenant et avant : y aller, vite !!