Digital Nomad Life: Month 129

Month 129 was spent entirely in New Zealand, and other than some lingering pain, it was otherwise a pretty quiet and happy month.

I started the month with six nights left in Auckland, still mostly laying low and recovering from my wisdom tooth removal. From Auckland, I drove my Dad’s campervan to Rotorua and was feeling much better. I spent three nights at a holiday park there and enjoyed being a tourist.

I then spent a week in Papamoa staying with my Mum and Step Dad, and two days visiting a friend in Hamilton. I did a couple of hikes, visited downtown Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, and had a couple of beach swims at the Mount. I also visited family in Cambridge.

Then it was back to Auckland for a quick two days where I stayed with my Dad and caught up with friends, before embarking on a six day road trip to Northland. I absolutely LOVED my time in Northland hiking, swimming, and visiting cute small towns and islands.

I finished the month with three nights back in Auckland where I enjoyed the late summer sunshine.

Now onto the stats!

Countries Visited: New Zealand

Places Visited:

• New Zealand: Auckland, Matakana, Rotorua, Papamoa, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Cambridge, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Kerikeri, Totara North, Mangonui, Hihi, Mahinepua, Matapouri, Paihia, Russell, Mangawhai, Mangawhai Heads.

National and State Parks, Monuments, and UNESCO Sites: None.

Islands Visited: North Island of New Zealand, Moturiki Island in Mount Maunganui, Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands.

Days on the Road: 12 days.

Best Meals: Yogurt and strawberry cinnamon bun from Cinnamon Squared in Auckland; Pavlova with cream and rhubarb and raspberry compote from Atticus Finch in Rotorua; Chicken, camembert and cranberry pie, and cream and jam donut from Patrick’s Pies in Rotorua; Maple walnut icecream in waffle cone with cream and strawberry sauce from Copenhagen Cones in Mount Maunganui; Chicken enmoladas from Sagrado Canina in Auckland; Mango lassi and salted caramel and white chocolate gelato from Island Gelato Co in Auckland; Fish and chips from Papamoa Takeaways in Papamoa; Everything at Otto in Auckland – highlight of the month for sure! Pizza fritti stracciatella semi-dried tomato, Focaccia capsicum agrodolce, Chickpea parmesan chips feta oregano, Zucchini fritti lemon, Spinach goat cheese dumplings sage butter, and Cannelloni eggplant burrata walnut heirloom tomato.

Hikes/Walks:

• Waiotapu Trails in Rotorua, NZ 2.2 miles
• Blue Lake loop trail in Rotorua, NZ 3.65 miles
• Mount Tarawera guided hike in Rotorua, NZ 3 miles
• Hakarimata Summit Track in Ngaruawahia, NZ 2.9 miles
• Wairakei Reserve loop trail in Papamoa Beach, NZ 3.5 miles x 2
• Kerikeri River trail to Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri, NZ 5.2 miles
• Dukes Nose/Kairara Rock trail in Totara North, NZ 7.4 miles
• Mahinepua Peninsula Track in Mahinepua, NZ 3.2 miles
• Urupukapuka Island Loop Trail in Bay of Islands, NZ 7.4 miles

Watching: Off the Grid with Colin and Manu, Love Life.

Reading: The Book of Love by Kelly Link, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow.

New Posts: No new posts this month.

Highlights

Roadtripping in my Dad’s Van

I have had a number of excellent road trips in my Dad’s campervan over the years but it had been a couple of years since I had last used it. After sitting neglected for that long, the battery had died and it was full of rust.

My brother managed to fix up the rust and it got a new battery so I took it on a couple of short road trips this month to Rotorua and Northland and I hadn’t realized how much I had missed it. I have so many great memories with the van and now I have added even more. 

Being a Tourist in Rotorua

I love Rotorua and have visited countless times over the years. I hadn’t been for a few years so it was great to be back and I definitely made the most of my time, visiting Waiotapu Thermal Valley, hiking around Blue Lake and visiting Lake Tarawera, walking beside Lake Rotorua and in Kuirau Park, and soaking in the thermal hot pools at the holiday park.

Hiking Mount Tarawera

I have been wanting to hike Mount Tarawera ever since I was a kid obsessed with the story around the 1886 Tarawera eruption, the buried village, and the world-famous pink and white terraces that were destroyed by the eruption.

You can only hike the mountain by doing a tour with Kaitiaki Adventures, which is owned and run by Ngāti Rangitihi Iwi, the guardians of the mountain (Kaitiaki means guardian in Te Reo). I managed to find a half-price last-minute ticket and I was so glad I finally got to do it.

I loved the whole experience (well, maybe not the bumpy ride there) from learning about the mountain and why it is sacred to Ngāti Rangitihi, to the hike itself around the red crater, and then running down the steep scree slope into the crater. 

Visiting One of My Besties in Hamilton

I always enjoy visiting one of my oldest friends, AnnMaree, and her family in Hamilton. I spent two nights there and we hiked the Hakarimatas, went to a small fundraising concert, and relaxed at their amazing house in the countryside on the outskirts of Hamilton.

Mount Swims and Icecreams

I made it to Mount Maunganui a couple of times this month to swim at the beach and have ice cream at a couple of my favorite places. Nothing says summer in New Zealand like excellent ice cream and swimming at the beach.

Spectacular Northland Hikes

I was so lucky with the weather during my Northland road trip and I made the most of the sunshine by doing multiple hikes and walks.

My favorite was the Kairara Rock/Dukes Nose hike, which involved a crazy climb up a vertical rock face and a 360-degree view over an ocean-dotted coastline and inlet with brilliant turquoise water.

I also loved the Mahinepua Peninsula with more stunning coastal views, the Kerikeri River trail through native bush to lovely Rainbow Falls, and the stunningly beautiful loop trail around Urupukapuka Island. 

Hanging Out at Some of the Best Beaches in New Zealand

Northland is home to some of the best beaches in New Zealand and I enjoyed spending time swimming and relaxing at Mahinepua, the beaches of Matauri Bay, and Sunset Bay, Akeake Bay, and Cable Bay on Urupukapuka Island. The water is so clear with shades of blue and green, and because I was traveling mid-week in mid-March, I didn’t have to share the beaches with many other people.

An Excellent Day Trip to Urupukapuka Island

Urupukapuka Island is the largest island in the Bay of Islands and I took a round-trip ferry there to spend a day exploring. I had such a beautiful day for it and I enjoyed it so much. I did a 7.5-mile loop covering most of the island, visiting quiet bays and beaches, hiking through native forest, and I was afforded stunning coastal views on multiple occasions. 

It wasn’t busy and I was treated to native bird song the whole day as it is a pest-free island. I visited the small gift shop before catching the ferry back and there was a very tame banded rail (New Zealand native bird) walking around in the store. So cool!

My day on Urupukapuka Island was probably my biggest highlight of the month and I highly recommend anyone visiting the Bay of Islands to make the trip here; it is so worth it!

Sunny Days in Auckland

I was finally blessed by good weather during my time in Auckland near the end of the month so I made a couple of trips up to the rooftop pool of my brother’s apartment, walked around the harbor, took my Dad to the wooden boat festival, and spent a day walking around Devonport, North Head, and swimming at Cheltenham Beach. Auckland is such a beautiful city when the sun is shining.

Eating at Otto

My definite food highlight of the month was having dinner with friends at Otto on K Road in Auckland. Otto is an Italian restaurant that I have been wanting to visit for a while and it definitely lived up to expectations and then some. We shared five entrees between four of us and got a main each and every single dish was absolutely incredible, it truly was one of the best Italian meals I have ever had and I highly recommend eating here if you are visiting Auckland.

Lowlights

Still Recovering From Dental Surgery

I had another week of reasonably bad pain from my wisdom tooth removal this month, followed by another week where I still had some lingering issues. Even now, more than five weeks after I had it removed, it is still bothering me although the pain has finally gone at least.

I ended up going back to the dentist two times this month to get the hole irrigated and patched with medicated gauze, and I was also given antibiotics for ten days which I had to take every 8 hours – frustrating because it meant I couldn’t go to bed till late as I took one of the pills at midnight.

I wish that they could have just filled it as it had grown in straight and just had some decay – I wouldn’t wish dry socket on anyone.

A Lonely, Scary Night Camping

My first night camping in Northland I stayed in a small, private campground on a farm, right by the beginning of the Kairara Rock hike. Unfortunately, I was the only one who stayed there and because I have a lot of fear staying by myself when there is no one else around, I did not sleep well and felt scared a lot of the night.

Everything turned out to be fine, this is just something I have to deal with sometimes. I wish I was braver, but it is what it is.

Horror at What Trump is Inflicting on Cuba

I can’t believe that it isn’t getting more press but Trump has initiated a fuel blockade to the already struggling Cuba and it has completely devastated the island nation. There have been nationwide power outages, food shortages, disruptions to water systems, crops haven’t been able to be harvested, schools and universities have been closed, and garbage has accumulated in cities. 

Cuba has suffered under the unfair embargo put in place by the U.S. in the 1960s and this blockade only makes things much, much worse. The Cuban people are suffering and any donation or awareness you can spread about this is important. Check out this article for more information about how you can help.

Spending

I don’t include international flights in my recaps. Some of my costs are shared with Toby or other travel partners.

Total: USD$2281

Not a bad month. It’s crazy that being in New Zealand, a notoriously expensive country, is cheaper for me than being in the U.S. these days.

Accommodation $187

My 8 nights of paid accommodation for the month consisted of three nights at a holiday park in Rotorua, one night at a campground in Totara North, one night at a holiday park in Hihi, one night at a holiday park in Matauri Bay, and two nights at a holiday park in Russell.

My 20 nights of unpaid accommodation for the month consisted of six nights housesitting for a friend in Auckland, seven nights at my Mum and Step Dad’s in Papamoa, two nights at my friend’s in Hamilton, and five nights at my Dad’s in Auckland.

Food and Drink $575

Pretty good month for food spend. I have been cooking a lot but eating out is generally cheaper in New Zealand now than in the U.S. with the current exchange rate.

Clothing/Shoes $202

• Scarf $13
• Thermal gloves $29.50
• Leggings $12
• Underwear x 3 $26.50
• Shorts $33
• Cardigan $26.50
• PJ pants $23.50
• Summer dress $38

Transport $387

• Ubers in Auckland $60
• Gas $296
• Return car ferry from Opua to Okiato in Northland $22
• Return ferry from Auckland City to Devonport $9

Activities $165

• Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland in Rotorua $29.50
• Mount Tarawera guided hike in Rotorua $59.50
• Charity Music Festival in Hamilton $15
• Fernland Spa hot spring in Tauranga $6.50
• Stone Store Museum in Kerikeri $6
• Russell Museum in Russell $7
• Return cruise/ferry from Russell to Urupukapuka Island $41.50

Other $659.50

• U.S. Phone plan $35
• New Zealand phone plan $23.50
• OneDrive monthly storage $2
• Garmin monthly subscription $14
• Netflix $9.50
• Toiletries $74
• New Zealand adaptor $12.50
• Charity $149
• Glasses cloth $5
• Cooler bag $4.50
• Sheet set $16.50
• Computer charger $35.50
• Chase credit card annual fee $95
• Tax filing costs $136.50
• Vision test $35.50
• Showers $2.50
• Red light torch $9

Website Costs $34

• Keysearch One Month Subscription $12
• Domain renewal for one year $22

Vehicle Costs $71.50

• RV and van insurance $71.50

What’s in Store For Next Month

I will be spending the first half of the month in Australia, with just over a week visiting friends and my favorite spots in Sydney, and then six days roadtripping with friends up the coast to Byron Bay.

Byron has long been one of my biggest Australia oversights so I am excited to finally make it there, and I am also excited to visit two high school friends on the road trip too and well as spending time with Sydney friends.

I’ll be back in New Zealand for two weeks after that, mostly in Auckland where I have a petsit in Mount Roskill as well as staying with my Dad. My brother and I will be spending a few days back in Papamoa visiting my Mum and Step Dad too.

Then I will be flying back to the U.S. where I will spend the last couple of days of the month staying in the South Bay of LA, a favorite place of mine. I am looking forward to walking the boardwalk to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach as well as eating seafood and looking for seals from the pier.

To read additional Monthly Recaps, you can find them here