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Go East! Rotorua to Maraehako Bay

So today was the beginning of my 3 day Go East Stray trip to the east coast of New Zealand, the apparently sunniest part in the whole country. However, New Zealand much like the rest of the world is suffering from an odd change of weather this season. Much like Europe ‘s been having the coldest winter ever, Canada’s west coast the warmest, and here in New Zealand, the rainiest summer. I guess that’s global warming for yea, get ready for different climates.

Enterance to the East Cape

Today we drove from Rotorua to Maraehako Bay via the Pacific Highway 35, this beautiful beach drive along the coast  filled with some spectacular views! This drive is rated in the AA Guides’s top 101 things to do when in New Zealand , and I defiantly don’t disagree.

Me and Gina

View from the Top

For our accommodations we stayed at the Maraehako Bay Retreat , a cozy beach front hostel right on the ocean. It was literally the epitome of the perfect beach house complete with oyster shell stairways!

Maraehako Bay Retreat

Maraehako Bay Retreat 2

We had the option of doing free kayaking that afternoon, and of course I went because I love free things, especially free kayaking .

Kayak Peace

Kayaking

Kayak shh

I call this “Sexy Kayak”

Even though we just paddled around the bay, my British friend Gina and I found this cove and decided to paddle into it thinking it was a lot bigger than it was. I actually felt a small moment of terror when the waves started crashing and pushing us into the cave, but rest assure, we were perfectly safe.

Kayaking Cave

We then docked onto this private beach where Gina and I sectioned off a piece of beach each and pretended to have a beach war.. lol.

Beach War

Look close and you can see Nadine’s Beach and Gina’s Beach written in the sand

In the evening to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day we had a fire back at the hostel including a BBQ, drinks and some Irish music via one of the Irish girls in our group.

9 comments

  1. Dave says:

    I always knew that you would travel a lot. I told you also that we will meet one day but only shortly. That was 2 years ago in Youtube comment. Maybe you didn’t read it but that is OK.
    I know that look creepy. The point is that you look like the cat I had before. You have the same personality. We will meet shortly because you are great but the way you are you will want to explore the world more and I won’t be able to follow you there as I lost her.

  2. Boilrig says:

    Hope you know Nadine, it always rains here in New Zealand, but currently where you are up north, you get less of it.

  3. Luka says:

    Hey Nadine!

    I kind of accidentally stumbled upon your site, so I haven’t read much… anyways if you have the chance I’d recommend you going to Omarama, it’s a small village on the south island. For some of us this small village is like Mecca, Vatican or plains of Nepal. It has an airfield. A place where some of the most beautiful, coolest and craziest glider flights in history happen and if your up for something like this, guys there will be happy to show you what motorless flight is like. Although time of the year might not be optimal. I wish I’ll be able to go there once…

    Wish you lot’s of fun!

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