Day 3: Wellington to Auckland. SH1 and SH27 648km

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Another gorgeous day for a ride. 
March/April is always a good time to be on the road in New Zealand.

As we ride around every corner a new vista opens up.
We are constantly reminded of how beautiful our countryside is.

 The sun catching the waves as we ride north from Wellington. 
Looking west to Kapiti Island
 The Mangaweka cafe beside the DC3.  We are halfway to Auckland.
 Typical rolling central North Island sheep country near Taihape.
There is a good cafe at the National Army Museum at Waiouru.  
Its a good museum for folk who like military history.  
Yes, we do have some sandy desert-like areas in New Zealand.  
The Rangipo Desert does get rain but the soils are poor, winds and snow mean that not much grows. It is a tiny desert compared with places like the Atacama and most of the south western states of the USA and central Australia. 
It is a military playground just like in desert regions in other countries.
 Mt Ruapehu , one of New Zealand's active volcanoes looms large.
We love the wide open spaces
We  have a few interruptions with road works.
This is the season for resealing highways in New Zealand.
Along the shores of Lake Taupo...
Photo:Dave Browning.
... to Taupo for a break.
Judy and me. Friends since forever.


 The last fill-up before Orlanda flies away to London.
 We ride through the Hauraki Plains. Mt Te Aroha and the Kaimai ranges to the east. Dick's childhood territory.
The setting sun...
on the landmark TipTop corner on the Auckland motorway tells us that we are nearly there...

...in time for the sunset at our apartment in Auckland.

11 hours on the road.







Location: Auckland, New Zealand

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