Biking in New Zealand – Part 2

Like Cape Reighna isn't the northernmost point of the northern island, Bluff is also not the southernmost southern point of the southern island, although it is advertised to be. The most southern point is Slope Point. There is a bad macadam path leading to it, but I didn’t go. Now I can say that I was not at any of the extreme point of the islands. I was no longer thinking about this goal. From there I drove past Invercargilla towards Te Anau. I have another crazy story here. 60 km in front of me, a road worker stops me and tells me that there is a cycling macadam road. I decided to take it. After 15 kilometres, there were no more markings. I'm going down a macadam road, and I didn’t think it was the right road. I drive to the asphalt road, and it's also not right. I drive on the main road, but I turn. Mistake. Finally, I find the right road. After the new 15 kilometres, the road runs out for the second time. I'm turning to the first one. Wrong. I'm turning to another. The right road, but I did not see the markings. I'm going to the third road. Wrong again. To explain, the roads are so bad that I cannot even push the bicycle in front of me, but I pull it behind me. I go back to the other way and find the markings. Soon I meet a local man who tells me where to go. After 5 km, I come back to the point where I first ran out of the road. I cycled for 20 kilometres for nothing and spent three hours for it. When I got to the main road, I still got 47 kilometres to the finish line, of which 7 kilometres of hill with a wind in the chest. And it was 15:30. The problem was because I booked a bus ride to Milford Sound the next day, and I kind of had to get to Te Anaua. For the first time on a tour I was cycling as much as I could, and at seven in the evening I was there, tired and unwilling to set up a tent. The bike has 19 kilograms and equipment about 35 kilograms.

The ride to Milford Sound runs through a beautiful landscape. You should also board a boat and indulge yourself in the beauty of the cliffs. It's really nice. These walls are magnificent, mighty. At first nothing impressed me because you do not see a bigger picture. When you turn back at the turning point, you see an incredible image. You get some tears in your eyes and you know that you have found another memory for a book of memories. And here you only see a small piece of Fiordland Park.

Queenstown is a very expensive place, you must have your hands in your pockets. I have problems with this, so I slept in the suburbs, in the town Frankton. From here on, I had eight days of incredibly beautiful rides along the west coast. These were the most beautiful cycling days in the whole tour. You see the nature and you cannot believe that there can be such beauty in the world. On the first day I drove down the canyon, where I was so fascinated by the beauty that I did not take a single picture. Fortunately, this is impossible to forget. Frankton, Cromwell, Wanaka with the lake and a famous tree that grows out of the water. Crossing Haast to the glaciers Fox and Franz Josef. I went to see the Franz Josef glacier, but because of my bike equipment it was not advisable to walk too close. From a distance you can see the glacier, which is only a good hour walk away. Harihari, Hokitika and Greymouth. Somehow this fairy-tale path ends here. But before I take off, I have to finish the story with Canadian Jean. I stayed at a camp in Harihari. In the morning I went into a shop, when I experienced one of the greatest surprises in my life. After 18 days, I saw Canadian Jean in front of me. I mean, this is a coincidence, a fate or something else. What are the possibilities that something like that happens? And so we cycled together for 6 days. Because I cycle alone, it's hard to get used to a have a cycling partner. I was looking into the rear-view mirror all the time. The path first led us to Hokitika, where we had to sleep twice because of the cyclone. The wind and the rain were very strong at times. When you see that your neighbour’s tree has collapsed, you are not really comfortable. Jean and I spent some nice days cycling. In town Motupiko, we separated. I was feeling a little down for five minutes, but then I breathed again with full lungs. I found that I function better alone than in a company. Anyone who has never travelled alone will not understand me. In four days I reached Picton, the final destination on the southern island. I finished a circular ride on the southern island, which is beautiful. I recommend taking more time for seeing the southern island. You will not regret it. I enjoyed myself in extremely beautiful nature and in good weather.

The ferry brought me to the cloudy Wellington. I still had the last quarter of the trip left, the east coast of the northern island. I drove from Wellington to Hawke Bay, a little on the side roads, and a bit down the main ones. In Napier, I met with two Slovenes, Mateja and Matija, who live in Clive. They offered me all the benefits of their house. But what made me the happies is that I was able to talk in Slovenian again. In the evening we went to the biggest Art Deco festival in New Zealand. A lot of beautiful old cars. Many people are dressed in old clothes and dance to old music and I have enjoyed an unforgettable evening. In the morning, Matija took me to their mountain. It is only 399 metres high, and the view from it is incredible. The next day, I took the bus from Napier to Gisborne, which again turned out to be the right decision. A narrow road and a large area without a cell signal. You should know that in New Zealand there are many areas where there is no signal. I was cut off from modern technology for 4 days. In the event of any problems, this can be a major problem. Driving to Auckland was one great enjoyment. For some time, I was no longer burdened with anything, miles, weather, mountain roads. It took me almost a month and a half to start enjoying the trip. I spent two nights at Lake Taupo and two nights in Rotorua. Here I visited the Maori village. I was most impressed by the kitchen and the bathroom. They were boiling and warming the water with the help of hot springs. The cultural program was also worth a visit. Of course, I also saw their dance, Haka. In Tuaranga, I took two days to relax. I visited volcano Mt. Maunganui, which is far more impressive from out far than from close. I still had a few more days, so I drove over Coromandel. But I chose the easier way. Nevertheless, on the last day of my trip I experienced one of the most beautiful views on the northern island. The next day, the ferry drove me to Auckland. When I got the sight of Sky Tower in Auckland after 83 days, it was the saddest 5 minutes on the trip. Luckily, I remembered that I already had a plan for a new trip. Soon I was smiling again. Still, I cannot describe the feeling when you get to the end of your destination. Happiness and sadness are exchanging. A little pride and raised hands.

In the last part I have some information on how to travel to New Zealand and some technical numbers.

Jerman Joži