Pickled Parrot Backpackers Paihia

... We just
sat mesmerized by the color and the power of the water. After the
hike it was time to hit the road southbound.

For lunch we hit a great fish and chip
shack right on the docks in Mangonui and took a break from driving.
The sun was warm and pleasant and we watched the boats moored in the
bay as well as a family fishing from the pier.

... a peaceful, calming place where people sail and kayak and pay too much to swim with Dolphins. We park up in the first campsite we see. The tourist info lady said we'd be lucky to get somewhere at this time of year, and she tutted a lot. The campsite man said he had approx. 37 sites left. We camped right next to the water and calmly (this time) planned our next few days.

... a cruise of the bay, recommended by a scouse girl who gave us some good info on where to go further north and a route out west too plus gave us discounts too. The cruise of the bay circles many of the larger islands and takes you into a selection of the inlets, nicer beaches and a running commentary from cappy provides the low down on the history of the islands. The bay is home to several pods of Dolphins and as such you can pay to swim with them, we had wanted ...

Leaving 'Tutukaka' on a bright, frosty morning, we headed north on the 'Matapouri road' and then east towards 'Whananaki South'. Passing through woods and fields of cattle, we spotted a bunch of wild peacocks, which scattered as soon as we got near to them. We had already seen several groups of wild turkeys in the previous few days. Near 'Motutara Point' we walked over the 'longest footbridge in the southern hemisphere', crossing the shallow estuary where ...

... orange juice. We have found out the hard way that they will make fake orange juice (that tastes like Tang) in New Zealand but then add pulp. So all of you who don't like pulp in your oj...have no fear, the pulp is not wasted. Yah, needless to say, we didn't drink much of it. After our not so filling breakfast, we set out on the long journey to the Bay of Islands. Road tripping is such a blast, especially when you are in another country ...

... positively thrived on the poison Marty laid out for them, in enormous doses, sellotaped to long sticks and shoved up into the holes in the ceiling. Come sundown the little buggers would throw off their pretence of shyness and romp about the roof space, tear around behind the kitchen cupboards, and leap like salmon across the corrugated plastic roof which bravely, but inadequately, defended the bathroom from the elements. They were so noisy ...