The next day we left the South Island for a speedy drive up to Auckland to see some friends for the weekend. We were up early to catch the Interislander ferry from Picton to Wellington and then a non-stop drive up to Taupo for a night before continuing up to Auckland the next day.

View from the Interslander Ferry leaving Picton.

View from the Interslander Ferry leaving Picton.

The campsite in Taupo was a few kilometers away from the lake but it was close to Huka Falls and Hot Spring Park. In the morning I went for a rather hot, sweaty and hilly run along the Huka Falls Walkway to the falls and back again. It was good to get moving after the prior full day of driving and the views were amazing.

Early morning at the Springs Park Taupo.

The Waikato river from the Huka Falls Walkway.

Huka Falls in Taupo.

The drive up to Auckland was rather slow going especially around Hamilton but we finally arrived at our friend’s house late in the late afternoon. On Saturday we spent the morning pottering around Titirangi and visited the relatively new art gallery before heading to Piha beach for a surf carnival. Unfortunately the carnival had finished early and we didn’t get to see any of the racing but instead sat of the beach whilst the kids swam and surfed. After lunch we drove into central Auckland and had a bit of a wander around the Viaduct checking out the Volvo Ocean Race village and all the new restaurants and bars that had opened since we were last there.

Piha Beach.

Piha Beach.

Checking out the Viaduct in Auckland with friends.