After kissing my friends goodbye at Queenstown airport we took a seat in different planes. Theirs going halfway around the world, back to squeeze out the very last of the Swedish summer. And mine being just a brief session in the air to get back to Auckland and Mr. Bike.
Generally my route through any given country falls more or less naturally, connecting the borders I’m travelling between. But with New Zealand being the island(s) that it is, that just isn’t the case. This combined with having a good chunk of time to spend, is setting things up for some rather good times if you ask me.
So with time so see it all, and the opportunity to choose your own starting point. Where do you go?
To the edge of land, of course!
Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand.
Hitchhiking with a fully loaded bicycle is a little trickier than with only a backpack, but thanks to a bunch of friendly people in pick-ups it didn’t take me much more than a day to get from Auckland to the lighthouse that would serve as the starting line of my Kiwi bike ride.
As it turned out this spot didn’t only make up for a good looking point on a map.
Cape Reinga is incredibly beautiful, but not only that. It’s where you watch the big swirls from the country’s two massive surrounding oceans (Tasman Sea and The Pacific) joining to one. And the sacred place where the indigenous Maoris believe their spirits begin their final journey to the afterlife.
And yes. There certainly is something in the air up there.
So, I made it to the start. Pointed my bike south.
And let the ride begin!
I have a feeling this is going to be a good one. What do you think?
Until next time,
Fredrika