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Big Changes Are Coming (what’s next & passage planning)

We’re in for some cool changes and not just because we’re about to drop 20 degrees in latitude and Fahrenheit!

A while back we applied for entry into New Zealand and they’ve approved our application!  It’s exciting and intimidating.  Not only will we be sailing into the roaring ’40s, but it’s also the start of winter in New Zealand.  Which isn’t ideal but we’ve got good reasons as to why we’re gonna go for it.

What’s next, why, when, and how are all divulged in today’s video along with another exciting announcement!

 

Passage Planning & The Roaring 40’s

Some of you are probably thinking the salt has corroded our brains, but we are excited about entering the Roaring 40’s.  And not because the old maritime sayings inspire confidence; “Below 40 degrees there is no law, beyond 50 there is no god”, because they don’t!?!  But, extreme weather usually comes with extremely beautiful landscapes and sporting conditions.  We’re cautiously optimistic and looking forward to the challenges!

Luckily with today’s advanced weather technology, it’s easy enough to (mostly) avoid those wicked 30ft waves and gale-force winds.  Even in the wilds of winter.

Resources

Here’s a quick recap of the books/websites/apps we mentioned that we use for passage planning.

15th Wedding Anniversary Road Trip

anniversary road trip

It all started with a road trip 15 years ago.  We drove our ’85 VW van from Texas to Florida to get hitched and spent our honeymoon taking a different route back.  Seems only fitting we should celebrate with yet another epic road trip.  This time, around the north island of New Zealand!

But, we need your help!  This is our first time in New Zealand and it’s winter.  We’re looking for your tips on where to go, stay and what to do?  Help us plan the trip and we’ll take you along for the romantic (hopefully) adventure!

We’ll sail into The Bay of Islands, check-in, and quarantine in Opua.  So, our trip will start and end on the boat there.

Here is a link to our trip map on Roadtrippers so you can see our tentative route and what’s around.  As your tips roll in, we’ll update the map!

 

What’s Roadtrippers?

Important disclosure, we are long-time fans and friends with the humans behind Roadtrippers and they are sponsoring a video for our road trip in New Zealand (So stoked, thanks guys!).

Roadtrippers is a FREE app that came out right about the same time we hit the road full time in our RV circa 2011 (couldn’t have been more perfect timing).  We hit it off straight away and have been friends ever since.  It’s been our go-to app for discovering weird roadside attractions (hello Cano’s Castle) and unearthly places to explore (Trona Pinnacles).

It works great on a desktop and is available as an app on android and IOS.  The free version is awesome. But there is a paid “Plus” subscription that gets rid of the ads and unlocks additional features like live traffic and offline maps (very useful during the road trip).

 

🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO

🎶 MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:

  • Source – Artlist, Get 2 Months for FREE: https://bit.ly/artlist-GWTW
  • Artists – Kipp Wilde, Be Still the Earth, I Am Fowler, The Hunts, Oliver Dodge

 

🙏 THANK YOU!

Ups, downs and all arounds, we share it all. We’re able to do so because people like you show up each week, read, watch, comment, share, shop our gear store, and toss a tip in our production jar. If you like what you see, there are lots of ways you can show your support.

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (68)

  • Keally Duvalle

    Hi guys. Just be really careful next time you get down on the rocks where those big waves were breaking. Just takes one freak wave to crash and you guys in a wold of trouble. Take CARE.

    reply
  • Mark Locatelli

    Aloha!

    Hope you guys are doing well in New Zealand! You asked for some advice for travel in winter on the North Island. Our main advice is to check out https://nzpocketguide.com and their YouTube channel. Their biggest gap year video series had lots of great ideas. Our favorite suggestion was Tiri Siri Matangi, https://youtu.be/LERTu4dUqXg.

    reply
  • DOMINIC

    Hello, Mr and Mrs Wynn,
    I just started watching your youtube channel and am currently binge-watching haha as it’s such a great channel and so well shot! My dream is to do exactly what you are going one day, travel Polynesia by boat. You guys offer excellent insight and advice on this lifestyle. Anyway, I live in New Zealand and I know you both were interested in getting tips on road tripping in NZ. Yes, it’s true summer is the best time. However, winter offers some special treats. It’s a unique time. The light is different and the days are cold clear and windless. This makes the scenery is more intense and breathtaking.
    There are great hiking tracks. I would aim to visit the south island purely because of the beautiful winter scenery. But if so, be prepared for colder, darker days. It’s totally worth it, though!

    reply
  • craig hayman

    When you get to Opua, there is a coastal walk you can take to Paihia then a ferry to Russell. The Russell top 10 holiday park is a great place to stay ( if you are not living on your boat). Being winter some places might not be open but the French cafe beside Pompellia house is very romantic and enjoyable. If you are looking for a great place to eat & celebrate The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell is worth enjoying. The coastal walk then heads back to Opua past two great wineries, Omata Estate Vineyard & Kitchen is worth visiting. Then you can walk to catch the car ferry back to Opua.
    If you are sailing in the Bay of Islands (& you should) Urupukaupka island is worth stopping and walking around, you will see rare NZ birds in the open & the tracks are easy to follow.
    I strongly suggest you dive at the Poor Knights, the will be lots of info around different places to dive but any where is good depending on the weather.
    If you are going through Whangarei drop us an email if you need somewhere to stay. Or if you are using our fantastic boat refitting industries.
    If you are going to Cape Reinga, there are some great walks (Tramps) around there. You can camp at Spirits Bay D.O.C campsite or Tapotupotu bay (if open) both lead to great tramps.

    reply
  • Jordan Olaffsen

    Hey Jason & Nikki,
    I know some fans (who told me about you) here in Wellington, if you get down this far we would love to show you some hospitality. As for me, my first sailing course starts this month, so I’m learning everything I can. Meeting you would be an honour!

    cheers, Jordan

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  • Gary Jones

    Opua area has some wineries you might want to check out. Since it’s winter you’ll need to verify their hours. As a fellow Texan, I suspect it’s safe to say you haven’t bought too many New Zealand wines. So, a few winery visits may be interesting.

    reply
  • Angus Lock

    Love your videos. we’ve been following since the road trips so seemed appropriate that our first comment is on your NZ anniversary adventure!

    We were meant to be there last May for a 3 week trip of our own…unfortunately, for obvious reasons, that is on hold! Anyway, we put together a plan for a north island trip of our own and I thought it might have some gems you may have missed:

    https://maps.roadtrippers.com/?a2=t!28218306&lat=-35.0059714156992&lng=173.31439449977188&utm_campaign=trip&utm_medium=share&utm_source=copy&z=8.010468445335025

    And a Google Maps list:

    https://goo.gl/maps/HQTj9HgBkPkAje5EA

    Happy traveling!

    Angus, Jo & Callum

    reply
  • Mark Letendre

    Enjoy your kiwi vacation. Safe travels. Y’all need to embark on a Mediterranean sailing adventure someday.
    You bring smiles and natural beauty into our lives everyday. Wishing you safe travels, health, and joy. 🍀

    reply
  • Mark Letendre

    Enjoy your Kiwi exploration. Great people.

    reply
  • Paul

    Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary!

    Love, Dad

    reply
  • Glenn & Nadine

    Hello from New Zealand, Wynn’s,

    Wishing you safe passage to our beautiful country. You’ve already got lots of great guidance on things to see and do. So, I’ll simply add that should you be travelling further afield than Northland and Auckland, and want to stop in lovely Cambridge, it would be our pleasure to host you. We are close to Lake Karapiro, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, and many fantastic walking and cycling trails.

    Also, to satisfy your chocolate craving, you shouldn’t go past Whittakers Chocolate, available everywhere. 😉

    Best wishes.

    reply
  • Linda Howarth

    Hi Niki and Jason from NZ.
    Congratulations on your 15th wedding anniversary, lots of places to celebrate your special occasion over here.
    As you will be going to the Bay of Islands, have you checked out The Sailing Familys trip to the Bay of Islands just before and during our level 4 lockdown last year. They had some wonderful adventures there, will give you some good ideas on what and where you can go. Russell is a must by ferry.
    I think you mentioned you suffer from vertigo. Have you used the Epley Maneuver? It works really well when you do it properly, which I finally did in December, better after 1 day.
    The west coast of nz is rugged and wild and less busy than the east coast
    Lots of places to see, South Island is amazing.
    All depends on how much time you are planning on staying and how much boat work you are going to do I guess

    Love your channel guys, safe sailing down to NZ.
    Keep safe and well

    Linda

    reply
  • Fiona and Ray

    Well the trip you have planned for here in NZ is … short! Seriously there is so much to see and do here and what you have covered is such a tiny portion and misses the best bits. The South Island is the best from a scenery point of view and mustn’t be missed. West coast south island is divine – glaciers, seal colonies, Milford sound, Doubtful sound, Tranzalpine railway, Homer tunnel, Skippers canyon and don’t forget our Keas! Funny and intelligent parrots that just make you smile.
    Here in the North Island – Hot water beach is a must, Rotorua, Taupo (which we would happily show you around as we live here), Waitomo caves, Forgotten highway, Tongariro crossing, Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe. We could go on and on and on so don’t confine yourself to one tiny section. We Kiwis are a friendly bunch and are proud of our teeny tiny country so do see as much as you can and if we can offer any help or advice at all just let us know.

    reply
  • Daniel Conklin

    Our daughter Tracy is an Entomologist (worked with bees), and she wrote some blogs about her trip to New Zealand. The Manuka Honey may be good medicine for whatever ails you. Day 2 NZ – Arataki Honey Center
    http://christian-grads-in-australia.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-2-nz-arataki-honey-center.html

    reply
  • Diane Sanderbeck

    Hello Nikki & Jason! First, Happy Anniversary and may the next 15 years be as exciting as the first 15! I’ve loved your videos since your travels in your Class A motorhomes. You’ve provided so much inspiration to so many. Now on to New Zealand, my favorite country on Earth! I’ve been there three times, to the North, South, and Stewart Islands. Just a fabulous country! The natural wonders are spectacular. So in no particular order I’ll give you some N.I. tips. Make a stop at Kerikeri for the best honey you’ve ever tasted at the biggest bee hive you’ve ever seen. One quirky spot is Kawakawa to see the Hunterwasser toilets. I know, kitsch, but you might as well make a pit stop there. It’s a pretty cool story about Hunterwasser. You can Google it. And it’s so close to Opua. From Paihia, you can take a ferry over to Russell, an historic NZ town. It’s a nice day trip, in case you miss being on the water. South of the Waipoua Forest is Dargaville and little further south of there is Paparoa. Here you will find the incredible Kauri Museum. Not only do you see the gorgeous kauri wood found no where else but New Zealand, but all the items carved from the golden gum of the trees. We went here on a lark. Glad we stopped. It’s good you’re going to make the trek to the top of the North to Cape Reinga. It’s humbling to stand and watch the power of the Tasman Sea meeting the Pacific Ocean. Good call. I don’t know how many words I’m allowed to comment here, so I’ll try and finish up. The most favorite thing I ever did was walk the Tongariro Crossing. It’s the most breathtaking one day walk in the world. I don’t know if it’s feasible in winter, we did it in November, their spring, and it was simply life-changing. Also don’t overlook Rotorua (go to a hangi), Waitomo Caves (abseiling and glow worms!), Wellington (the Te Papa Museum is a must do!) and everything Auckland (yes!). Take the ferry over to Waiheke Island and spend a few days. It’s wonderful there! I highly recommend Kiwi House on Waiheke! For other accommodations around NZ, especially in winter, you may not even need reservations. Believe it or not, we did one trip with no reservations! We relied on the awesome NZ “I-Sites” (indicated by a lower case italic i in a green square sign) to help us book a room when we got somewhere. But that may not be your cuppa tea. That said, on one trip we used the YHA lodgings totally and booked private en suite rooms all over the country. (yha.co.nz) It proved to be very economical and we met people from all over the world. YHA was super clean, priced right, and all over the country. Kiwis are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met! Airbnb is up and running in NZ, but the added fees pump up the nightly costs. Good thing for us, US$1~ NZ$1.37 so that helps. I guess that’s enough tips. I can’t wait to see your videos from the Land of the Long White Cloud, Aotearoa, beautiful New Zealand. Feel free to reach out if you need any more information or have any questions. I’m definitely keen to help people travel to NZ. Much love to you both. ❤️

    reply
  • JD

    I’m sure you’re getting tons of tips but your buddies on Keep Your Daydream posted such a great video of the bike trip they did while in NZ. I think it was on the Food Trail?

    reply
  • John Vance

    Take the ferry out of Auckland to Waiheke Island. Fantastic wineries and lunch spots. A great day trip with gorgeous views off the beaten path.

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  • sherry johnston

    We just love you guys. So cute, full energy & just generally entertaining. I have NO tips for New Zealand. But do want to wish you a very happy & special anniversary.

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  • Mary Van

    I can’t believe it has been 15 years! Who would have thought that old camper van would have been the beginning of a life time of so many great adventures! You have experienced more in 15 years than most do in an entire life! So happy that you are still best friends after all of this time. Your love for each other and sense of adventure inspires me.

    My stomach will be in knots until you get across the sea! Hopefully, the antibiotics are working for Nikki and she will be 100% during your passage. I hope the sea is calm so that Jason does not get seasick! You both need to be at the top of your game. Love you! Safe travels.

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  • Catherine Woodley

    Hope you have a safe passage to NZ. It may be cold here right now but definitely a great place to come and get boat work done and see our beautiful country by land or boat. I can recommend Omata Estate winery and Paroa Bay Winery in the Bay of Islands. Mcleods Brewery and pizza shack in Waipu Cove south of whangarei . If you are cruising the northland coast make sure you visit Cavilli Islands and Whangaroa harbour. If down our way on the boat visit Waiheke Island’s Man o War vineyard . You can anchor in the bay and row ashore for wine tasting and restaurant. Also Great Barrier Island and The poor knights are amazing cruising spots . So much to see and enjoy !

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  • Jonas Barvé

    Hi Nicki and Jason,

    Is it possible to track your sail to NZ? I wish you fair winds and a safe trip.

    Jonas

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      Hey Jonas! Thanks for wanting to keep up! There is a tracking option but it’s available to Patrons only (because the Wynns get charged for every ping, and with half a million subscribers that could get out of control fast!). If you’re interested in becoming a Patron (there are many levels of support and you can set a monthly cap for contributions, etc.) then check out the options here: https://www.patreon.com/the_wynns

      The next best thing is that you can get notifications whenever Curiosity checks into or out of a port of call. To do this, you will need to download a free app such as Marine Traffic (there are other free AIS tracking apps available) and do a search for Curiosity. You’ll need Curiosity’s MMSI# which is 367747880. If you add Curiosity to your “fleet” or list of vessels you’d like to track, you can receive a notification whenever their transponder checks into or out of a port.

      Hope that helps, and thanks for sailing with us!
      Curious Minion

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      • jonas

        Thank you!
        I will definitely look in to these options.
        I wish you fair winds, open seas and a safe trip.
        Jonas

        reply
  • Catherine Woodley

    Hey Guys. Hope the passage to NZ goes well for you . We live here sail the northland coast a lot . If you are after some good wines on your northland road trip I can recommend Paroa Bay and Omata Bay winery in Russell, Karikari Estate Winery and for a good local craft beer try McLeods Brewery and pizza barn in Waipu Cove . If you head further down the coast to the Hauraki Gulf definitely visit Man o war vineyard on Waiheke Island . You can sail your boat , anchor and row ashore to their tasting room and restaurant. It’s a magic place and even though it’s winter still some great cruising to be had around the Northland Coast and Hauraki Gulf . Safe sailing and hope to see you on water here in kiwi land

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  • Alan Solomon

    Hey guys. I am so excited for you both taking on this adventure.
    First off, Happy Anniversary. 15 years is an achievement. Congratulations to you both. Did you guys get married when you were 5? Just joking, You both look 20!
    Sometimes adventure, action and excitement can outweigh paradise!? I am with you all the way.
    However, Jason should be prepared for rough seas, stomach wise, if the occasion rises!?
    I do NOT have any advice or knowledge on New Zealand or the seas getting there but, I am definitely with you in spirit. 🙏 I wish I could do more.
    Safe travels. Calm winds. Easy peasy ocean waters all the way!!

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  • Miss Kitty

    I have a feeling that you will get a lot of suggestions, but here’s mine to add to the list, having lived for the previous 35 years in North Island, NZ 😀 Being winter will limit your options a bit, outdoors is always nicer in summer weather. Bay of Islands has some beautiful diving spots, most famous is Poor Knight’s Island. Rotorua is a must-go for both Maori culture and the thermal activity, and I would check out the thermal springs and Cathedral Cove in Whitianga as well. While you are in the area, do the Pinnacles walk from Thames. I see someone has already suggested Hobbiton, there’s also Waitomo caves which are overpriced in my opinion, but you can have fun doing blackwater tubing there. Mt Maunganui is a fantastic beach, and the Mount is a good short climb with an amazing view. The Karangahake Gorge in Waihi is another good place for walking. The Hamilton Gardens are also a great place to stop for a while. This is the area I am most familiar with, but some other suggestions for the North Island is Lake Taupo, where you can try trout fishing or just kayaking on the lake, the Tongariro Crossing through the middle of the island (but have to be careful in winter time, conditions can change very quickly), skiing on Mt Ruapehu, Piha Beach in Auckland if you like surfing, and there’s a lot of attractions around Wellington, I love the Te Papa museum, and Kapiti Island, and Putangirua Pinnacles are also worth checking out if you are heading that direction.

    Really there’s so much to see and do wherever you are in NZ! I really hope you get to see the South Island as well, in my opinion that is even more spectacular scenery than the North Island, and Stewart Island also deserves a look 😊 Wherever you go, I am sure you will enjoy it, and I look forward to seeing your adventures. One plus at the moment is that there won’t be a lot of other tourists around.

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  • Pat

    Congratulations on your trip to NZ and I hope you have a safe trip.

    reply
  • Tim Shaffer

    My wife Carol and I have been following your adventures since your RV days!
    We spent 5 weeks in NZ and 5 weeks in AUS six years ago, renting small RVs (called camper vans Down Under) in both countries for the entire time. The main thing that we would do differently if we ever go back: rent sedans instead of camper vans and stay in campground cabins. Why?
    1). No credit card that we know of covers damage insurance for camper vans in NZ or AUS and the rental companies require a cash (or credit card) deposit for this insurance. If one uses a credit card for this deposit, a large sum is withdrawn immediately as a cash withdrawal, at an exorbitant interest rate. One can buy their insurance coverage (what we did) but it costs about as much as the camper van rental so effectively doubles the rental cost. (At least one credit card – Capitol One I think – will cover the damage insurance for sedans at no extra cost and no cash deposit, just as in Europe and the USA.
    2). Both countries have many campgrounds of various levels of luxury; we stayed in all kinds but found that the chain campgrounds (Holiday Parks for example) were always the best organized, cleanest, and the best value for a slight price increase. Bonus: Most chains offer a membership plan for both NZ and AUS that pays for itself after a few nights because of lower member rates plus you accrue fuel discounts. Most of these better campgrounds also rent small basic sleeping cabins (no kitchen or bath) that use the same communal kitchen and bath facilities that the RVs use.
    Of course if you can afford to rent a larger self-contained RV, then none of this applies. If you rent a sleeping cabins, you would need to bring all of your own standard camping equipment. Camper vans come with all of this.
    On our next trip, we will definitely rent a much cheaper sedan and stay in these campground’s cabins, all at about half the price!
    Smooth sailing!

    reply
    • Tim

      Ok, never mind, looks like Roadtrippers is taking care of everything…

      reply
  • Mike Wodzinski

    Nikki should see an allergist rather than an Ear, Nose ans Throat (ENT) doctor. ENTs treat the symptoms of allergies whereas Allergists treat the root causes. One way to help the doctors diagnose your allergies is to keep a diary that notes the food you eat and the activities of each day and records how your allergies were that day. Also note the barometric pressure and direction of the prevailing winds. For example, if you are hooked downwind from an island you could be getting a shot of pollen from whatever was pollenating. Many people with significant allergies are also super sensitive to mold, dust and grasses. Your boat looked like a mold petri dish when you returned. If you have significant allergies, you should be wearing an allergy mask (respirator) – a paint respirator works also. The mold spores can cause a major problem with allergies. If you have the time, it might be a good idea to have Nikki tested to see what she is allergic to. The goal is to lower your threshold to a histamine response. All though an allergy immunology approach (i.e., allergy shots) can potentially significantly improve Nikki’s allergy problems, your nomadic lifecycle does not lend itself to allergy immunology therapy. There are some better medications available now but an Allergist needs to runs tests to determine the most effective medication. You need to find out which plants, foods, etc. that you are allergic to and find the best way to avoid them, if possible. It might be best to take a trip to Aukland to see a good Allergist. There are some apps that rate doctors in New Zealand that may help you find a good doctor for Nikki’s allergies.

    I was in New Zealand in 2000. I think everyone should visit New Zealand at least once in their life. The country is beautiful and the people are fantastic. One thing I found funny was the road maps have two numbers marking the distance AND time between milestones. I was driving around Lake Taupo and one point on the map noted a distance of 40 KM and a time of 1 hr. If you get behind a truck you might be only able to go 10-20 mph. Also be careful about plants and shoes – New Zealand is very careful about pests particularly if you were walking in farmland. They were confiscating shoes at the airport from people who had visited farms outside of New Zealand. They have very few pests in New Zealand and they like to keep it that way. I think all of New Zealand is organic – at least it seemed that way when I was there.

    I hope you have a great time in New Zealand. I hope Nikki gets her allergies under control. It took ten years of allergy shots to get my allergies from giving me severe migraine headaches and occasional vertigo.

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  • Peter Gasson

    Hi guys, I own a boutique hotel in Whakatane and would happily shout you a free 2 night stay in our honeymoon suite, I also own a Cuban restaurant next door, we have the best food, promise. Whakatane is 3 hrs south of Auckland, so if you get down this way give us a shout and we will show you some good old fashioned kiwi hospitality – also Ohope (next suburb) is voted NZ’s best beach and we have the highest sunshine hours in NZ, oh and lastly my friends own the local brewery Mata brewery. cheers and beers Pete and Mel

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  • Hugh & Lynn R-J

    Hey there you two,
    Finally you are heading to my home country…Yay.
    Prep well for the passage, and be safe.
    Will work on must see items (at least in our opinion) but one harbor you need to hang out in is the old whaling station at Whangamumu….which is around Cape Brett and heading south a wee bit. Pretty sure you cant get there by road, and even you you can now, its better as a Curiosity trip….
    More via email…unless I figure out the Road Tripper thing.
    We might watch tonight….
    Best to u both
    H&L

    reply
  • Beth

    Congratulations on the upcoming anniversary!
    Nikki, are you allergic to latex? Almost all of the fruit you have been eating has a latex protein in it. I look at all the wonderful meals you make and think how I would love them but I’m allergic to almost everything in them. I also saw someone else post about the area you are in and hopes for something specific to that island. I moved from the upper Midwest to the eastern slopes of the Wind River Range of the Rocky Mountains and my allergies to plant’s got worse because of how different everything is from where I grew up.

    But my main concern for you would be the latex because of all the rubber tree type fruits you are eating. Good luck! (With both your appointment AND sorting through all the advice you are getting! 😬 mine included! 😂)

    Happy Anniversary! 🎉🪢🎊

    reply
  • Craig

    You guys are having tooooooo much fun

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  • Michael

    Why not just kill time tacking?

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  • David Perkins

    Here are some suggestions:
    1) As divers, don’t miss going to the Poor Knights islands – The “northern arch” is one of my most memorable dives ever. The Islands are restricted, and I suggest that you stay at a nearby camper park, and use the dive operation Dive! Tutukaka (which was VERY well run). Here are some links:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Knights_Islands
    http://www.inspiredtodive.com/photo-blog/stingrays-return-to-northern-arch
    https://diving.co.nz/
    2) Maori welcoming ceremony – you will need most likely a local connection to create a real ceremony – but it will be worth it. Here is some info:
    https://www.spiritualtravels.info/spiritual-sites-around-the-world/new-zealand/the-maori-welcome-ceremony/
    3) Tongariro Alpine Crossing – you walk past active volcanos. In the winter, you might not be able to do it in the snow. Here is the URL to get more info
    https://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/tongariro-alpine-crossing/

    There are many other fantastic things I saw and did, and so many I wish I could have done. In general, it seemed to me that the whole island was setup for people to drive around in cars and stay in hostels (or drive and stay in camper vans). People seemed a little bit guarded at first, but then they will became your best friends. There were great museums in Auckland. If you are into Hobbits, there are places where parts of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbits moves were made that you can tour. A sad note – in almost every little village there was a memorial to the young men and women that died during WW I.
    I hope to soon return and bring my wife and son with me.

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  • Judy Goodson

    I’m so excited about experiencing New Zealand with you per “road tripping”! I’m sure it will be absolutely FANTASTIC. Nikki, as a sufferer of sinus allergies all my life, I hope you do get some relief from these very aggravating and uncomfortable problems. I take oral meds plus allergy shots, but probably the shots are not feasible for you as a world traveler. It can be helped somehow, I’m sure. Best wishes you guys! I’ll be watching.

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  • Shirley Gautreau

    The Bay of Islands is beautiful as is New Zealand overall. We were there 20 years ago and did both Island almost tip to tip on a road trip. We didn’t tour too much north of the Bay of Islands only to one destination for golf but I can give you some places to see going south. As for the Bay of Islands we stayed in Paihia. Russell is a short trip across the bay and is the oldest town in New Zealand. There are many many little Islands there to explore. Going south on the north island Rotorua and Taupo are a must see with the Waitomo Caves nearby with the glow worms. Mount Manganui is a resort town on the coast but very pretty and to us is with a trip. We stayed there and loved it. Another place that is worth a trip is Napier. It is an Art Deco town and is also wine country. As for the South Island I think you would like Abel Tasman National Park. You can hike a trail along the water for miles and hike back or get a water taxi back to Nelson. There are different pickup points for the water taxi. Also Queenstown is fabulous. They have bungee jumping there and the jet boats which are exciting and Milford Sound is right there as well. Now the last few things I have told you about may not be in operation when you are there as we were there in Summer. If you are skiers I think they have skiing in the winter. I hope this helps you and I am looking forward to seeing your travels in N.Z. as it is one of our favourite places. The people (kiwis) are amazing.

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  • Dan S Brown

    Hello folks,
    As you worked through your options for travelling to New Zealand, I thought you might have missed one.
    You could get a quote from: (https://tauruslogistics.co.nz/importing-boat/new-zealand ) and see if that worked out to be safer or more cost effective.
    There are other companies that ship boats but this one is based in NZ.
    Thanks for another fun video.

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  • About Creativity

    Very good, Keep going!

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  • Deborah Kerr

    Love the Bloopers – Nikki the director, Jason the pirate – grrrr 🤠

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  • John R Mathers

    I’ve very much enjoyed your adventures and would ask if you were ever to get a another boat would would you consider. A dear friend of ours in the Bahamas is a St Frances dealer another Cat made in South Africa and I thought they were magnificent.

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  • Cid Nerenberg

    Nikki & Jason

    We are in our mid 50’s (yikes ) and are planning on buying a Cat in the next few years, when our daughter graduates from college. We are really enjoying your videos!! You are inspiring and educating us!! Love watching you both!

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  • Michael D Causey

    Awesome as always, I’m really loving the new Seaspeak ..Nikkis voice is too funny, BTW I used to go to seagrove beach w/Family back in the late 70’s , stayed in a friends A frame house and baked on the beach…it was so small back then.

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  • Patricia

    I love following you two and all the adventures you share. I love the ocean and think I would love to do this traveling. However, it would need to be on a huge ship. I have been to the Cook Islands and Bora Bora on Windstar absolutely beautiful. Stay safe don’t let the cat’s fall over board. Safe travels.

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  • Rich

    Have a safe and fun trip. I just finished reading Heavy Weather Sailing (Peter Bruce) and I have a list of storm items I think we need. Sea anchor, series drogue, storm jib, and other stuff we can’t afford. People sail around the world without these things, or never use them if they are aboard. Other stories tell of boats that were saved by using a sea anchor once running before breaking seas became too dangerous. Especially a cat where being pooped could be a disaster.
    We also have a catamaran. A Broadblue 42. Not too different than yours, but not a nice as yours.
    I’ve read so much about storms in that part of the Pacific, my wife would never forgive me if we hit bad weather at sea. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about weather at sea to keep us out of trouble, but not everything is avoidable.
    How well does your boat heave to? What’s the heaviest weather that you have sailed upwind?
    You guys are a lot more brave than us.

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  • Malc

    Hi guys, I have to be honest. When I heard your road trip plan, I thought: Do you know nothing about New Zealand? Then as you kept talking in the video, you admitted you don’t really know much and haven’t had time to do a lot of research. Fair enough. But let’s be clear: you’re out of your minds doing a road trip around the North Island. It’s okay; it’s probably better than what some countries have to offer. But the South Island is extraordinary. I mean it’s a perfect ten. There’s unlikely to be anything better in Canada or Norway or anywhere else in the world. It’s unspeakably beautiful. Perhaps some other Kiwis will disagree with me how much the two islands differ. But many will agree. Now some might say, well, if you’re staying a bit, then do the south in the summer. But to miss it in the winter would mean you were robbing yourselves of something. AND also do the south in the summer. I mean, you ask most seasoned Kiwi travellers which island to see if you can only see one, and most are going to say the south. I’m not even a big fan of NZ – that’s the reason I’m an expat. But I don’t have any illusions how amazing the scenery in the South Island is. So if you can change your plans, please do…

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  • Marjorie Nehlsen

    Looking forward to your adventures on land. I hope a doctor can help with your alements. Happy 15 year anniversary. Stay safe.

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  • Debby

    Hey there, exciting times ahead I can see! I have friends in the Bay of Islands, near Russell, who have a power boat and go a lot of places around there, both at sea and land. I’ve reached out to them, and sent them the link to your blog, asking if they have suggestions for you to see in the North Island on your mapped trip. We met these guys in Fiji and have been friends since; and we live in Las Vegas. I have great confidence that you will figure out the issues with health, and make a safe, wonderful (if exciting) passage to NZ.

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  • Tom W

    As a Canadian I laugh at your concern for the New Zealand Winter. Seriously though, I’ve traveled to NZ several times and it’s a lovely country.

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  • Ann

    Nikki, might also want to ask the doctor about Meniere’s disease. My mom’s got it, and struggled with dizziness and nausea resulting from the loss of orientation. Diuretics keep it under control during allergy season, which is when her symptoms are the worst.

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  • Sunny Harvy

    We did a 9-week tour of New Zealand (both islands) in a (crappy) rental campervan a few years ago. My blog posts begin here: https://travelswithharvy.com/2016/03/04/kia-ora-from-new-zealand/ Where you plan to make land is a beautiful area and your tour encompasses some of our favorite stops on North Island as well. You are off to an excellent start. Feel free to peruse my blog.
    P.S. We met you in Alaska, albeit briefly. We were both camped in a free waterfront camping area on the Kenai Peninsula. Our vehicle was (and still is) a silver high-top Westfalia Sprinter.

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  • Wylie

    Hi again. Further clarification – look at possible mold ‘illness’ or ‘toxicity’, not mold allergy. Good luck!

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  • Robert White

    Fair winds and following sea. Not likely on this passage.😎. I always brought back all the wine I could carry. I am sure someone will point out Rotorua to you. Great area for learning some of the Maori culture. Have t been to Rotorua in a few years but they had a great helo tour over the sulfur fields

    Love going with you on your adventures if only vicariously. Life long sailor. Lived on my Wellington 47 for 4 years

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  • Gregory. Dobbyn

    Hi Guys,

    I assume you carry a storm drogue as you can’t heave to in a cat. Other than that, the waves maybe huge but the period is long, so wind chop in high winds will be more annoying than that. Over a 10 day period it will be hard to avoid a frontal passage since they are normal this time of year. Double check steering linkages, rudder connections and stay well reefed and you should be fine.

    Good Luck.

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    • Michael

      You can heave to in a cat. It all depends upon the boats characteristics as to how well it will perform the act.

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  • Steve Fremgen

    An adventure that the rest of us would love to do as well. Thanks for letting us vicariously travel with you guys!

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  • Louanna Davis

    You two are so much fun to watch. You’re both silly and sweet. I just wanted to say Happy Anniversary to you both and please travel safely. I hope Nikki is alright and the doctors will diagnose her quickly. Hopefully it’s just a diet problem. Love all your videos. Thank you so much for making me laugh this morning. Be safe.

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  • Virginia

    Congratulations and safe travels!

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  • John Gray

    You guys are truly amazing. I look forward to your weekly videos. I’m living my dreams thru your lives and I thank you for that. May God bless you and protect you on your upcoming journey to New Zealand! Congrats on your upcoming anniversary. All the best, I’m retired and living in FL.

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  • Sally

    New Zealand is just beautiful and has loads of sheep! Hobbiton is a great place to visit as well as Rotorua with all the bubbling mud pools. So many great places to visit. Enjoy your visit, send lots of videos wherever you go. Congratulations on your anniversary of travel. We love all your videos. Fair winds to you and safe travels. We love you guys and we love getting to see the world through your eyes!!

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  • Wylie

    Sorry for all the typos in my comment. Hope you can figure out what I meant to write. Shoulda proof read it. 🤷‍♂️

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  • Wylie

    Hey Nicki and Jason! Greetings from Taos. One thing to say at the moment. Nicki, sounds like you possibly have a growing case of mold toxicity. A friend experienced this a couple years ago and your symptoms sound similar. I’d guess that despite your careful and apparently thorough boat cleaning once you returned to Tonga from being locked out, there are books and crannies you missed it just could not get to. Possibly ‘in’ cushions or possibly ‘in’ your mattress. Who knows where, that stuff takes up no room. Also, some people are way more sensitive than others, which could explain why you are feeling it and Jason is not. Start researching mold toxicity or allergy. There’s a book by a woman who went on quite a ‘journey’ with this. Everyone thought she was a hypochondriac until she started tapping into the mold award network. She ended up going to a mold free retreat in the desert to de sensitize. Anyway, something to think about. Best of luck on your passage. Fair winds.

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    • Eric Hall

      It might also be some plant that is hopefully unique to Tonga and your days at sea might be telling.

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  • Elisa Stewart

    Congratulations on 15 years of wedded goofiness and bliss! I’, sure I am not alone with my enjoyment of the excerpts and bloopers at the end of your videos. When I first started following you a few years ago, I always wondered how you always spoke so eloquently in the videos, knowing how tongue tied I get when on camera… and how often I misspeak as well! Now I feel better knowing y’all goof up from time to time too! Movie magic 😉

    I wish for you safe travels, exciting adventures and a lovely time along your route. Best of luck figuring out the sinus issues!

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  • RickI Glander

    Welcome back!!

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    • caroline

      ricki

      (hi dad) – from caroline

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