We are Hitchhiker in NZ

Today is an adventure day, Zenki & I decided to do our hitchhiking for the first time. Hitchhiking is a great adventure and challenge that we can do in NZ. For us, hitching is a way to meet interesting people, companionship, or to challenge ourselves.


We decided to hitchhike to Tauranga from Te Puke main street. We went out to main street by Terry’s car, then we started to spot around for car that going to leave at street car park area. After asked for a few car owner, they all not going to Tauranga. We decided to move to further down of the main road and point our thumb up beside the road. There was no car stop after 10 minutes, a kid told us that the place we stand is a restricted area to stop. Hence, we move forward to in front of a motel. Few minutes gone, a car stop in front, 2 Indian guys sit inside. We told them we want to go Tauranga, he told us that he can only drop me on half way. They stopped in front of a roundabout, we walked further down, another car saw us and stopped. The gentleman gave us a ride to Tauranga town because he worried about our safety beside the road. What a nice guy.


We reached i-site earlier than Eric them whom took the bus. We all hang around in the town while they are searching for 2nd hand car at used car center. We went to a second hand book store, having a cup of coffee while reading books. We went to Pak N’ Save supermarket to shop for groceries before we left.

Tauranga is the largest city of the Bay of Plenty
Tauranga town center

..................Railway .......................Water front......................


Tauranga is located around a large harbour which extends along the western Bay of Plenty.


Restaurant floating on the water

Again, Zenki & I have to hitchhike back to Te Puke. We were unable to hitchhike any car in front of the supermarket, a car stopped and offer to give us a ride to the town center, we follow him because thought it’s easier for us to hitch-hike car to Te Puke. A colleague girl stopped after we put our thumb out about 20 mins. She brought us back to the roundabout where we dropped by this morning. We walked along the road with the groceries for a km as there is no one willing to stop. We thought maybe is because they saw us carried bags of groceries. Finally a man stopped and gave us ride with a dirty truck, he told us he just threw away some garbage from his truck, we still can smell the bad smell. He dropped us at Te Puke town and we met up with the Trevelyan’s van.

Lastly, we successfully hitchhike 6 cars along the way to Tauranga and return to Te Puke. Thank god we back to the hostel safely. It’s an adventure and special experience that we never have before.