The highlight of my stay in the Far North was undoubtedly the one-day road trip to Cape Reinga. 17 hours, all by myself, in a borrowed car.

If I needed any more confirmation of my poor mental and emotional state, then the fact that I wasn’t particularly interested in exploring this green land said it all. I’ll return sometimes with a different mindset because so much was missed. Anyway, all I cared about this time was beach and sunset. I didn’t see a proper, over-the-sea sunset since I left Bali in August, and my soul was yearning for it. So when the opportunity showed up, and I got a car to get out of the bay, I didn’t think twice.

SUNRISE IN MATAURI BAY

I left Kerikeri at 5:30 am and arrived just in time for the first rays of sun. Driving at dawn is pretty stressful as the roads are full of bunnies, ducks, possums – literally all kinds of animals – and I don’t want to hit any of them.

Matauri was perfect to start the day: I enjoyed my premade morning coffee on the empty, tranquil beach with a gorgeous view.

BREAKFAST BY THE COCA-COLA LAKE

Rotopokaka is a cool one, and it really looks like Coke (and luckily smells just like any other lake). I arrived around 7 am, walked (no, not swam) in the crazy-coloured lake, then had a sandwich in the morning sun with my playlist in the background.

From there, I headed to Doubtless Bay, which was full of campers and smelled funky (fish or sewage, it was hard to tell), so after a quick look, I left for Karikari Moana.

OMG. Puheke Beach is pure perfection – except for the super cold water – and has a secret corner, too. It embodies all our imaginations of a white sandy shore.

Apparently, New Zealand has a nice diversity of beaches, and the best thing is that nothing wants to annoy the hell out of you while you enjoy the sand and the sea. Beaching is sooo much more relaxing than in Aussieland (Australia – New Zealand 1:2).. only the midday sun can be a killer. So when some people arrived around 11 am (they were clearly more prepared than me), I left.

DESSERT FOR LUNCH IN TE KAO

Just because it was on the way and because I wanted to check it out myself, I stopped by the famous local store for an ice cream. It tastes really good (I had the kiwi pavlova), only $3, and this is the small portion:

It was not only hot, but I also had a mental meltdown from the reception issues I had been facing since Karikari (I highly recommend downloading an offline map and not relying on live GPS services), so this delish ice cream helped to keep my cool.

SUNBURN IN SPIRITS BAY

If I were a spirit, I would definitely live here; white sand, crystal clear, azure water, powerful waves, and not a single shade. I only learned about the legend of the bay afterward, but the folklore essence somehow helped soothe my sunburnt skin and stimulated my thirst for learning more.

THE FINAL DESTINATION: CAPE REINGA

I arrived at Cape Reinga around 4 pm, long after the tourist peak, at the perfect time for a serene and surprisingly quiet stroll. It’s a beautiful spot indeed; I loved the information notes along the walkway, and the highlight – the meeting point of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean – was mesmerizing. If I were a spirit, I, too, would love to take my last journey through this cape.

SLOW DRIVERS AT TE PAKI SAND DUNES

The order on the way was like sheep, cows, bush, fuckin’ lots of sand. With my freshly burned skin and loneliness, I wasn’t up for sandboarding (that’s more of a fun group activity), so I basically just stopped by and tried to figure out how the hell got this much sand here, then “enjoyed” the dusty ride behind Very. Slow. Drivers. I wasn’t in a rush, but guys.. please.

SUNSET AT NINETY MILE BEACH

I first hit the beach at Te Kao, but the wind was blowing extremely strongly on the wide open coast, and it was simply no fun sitting there waiting another hour for the sunset.. so I changed plans.

THE LAST CIGARETTE AT WAIPAPAKAURI

My second spot at Waipapakauri offered some protection between the sand dunes, and as I still had some time to watch the setting sun, I smoked my last cigarette by the car, listening to the – wait for it – radio. I can’t remember the last time I listened to the radio on purpose, but my phone was out of its senses, and I had no other option for music. The More FM was the only acceptable one, and it gave the perfect mainstream touch to end the day.

When the time came, I realized how many people were waiting for the sunset the same way as me (kinda funny). We walked to the open beach and admired the flaming star descending over the sea, leaving gorgeous pink shades behind. I really missed this sight, which gave me exactly what I needed.

The one-hour drive back to Kerikeri was smooth under the starry sky and the Cheshire Moon. What else can I say?! Such a perfect day. No animals were killed, and I have a new favorite song:

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