Copthorne Bay Of Islands Paihia

... hour, then we got a lil lost but were soon on the right trak. We were walking<br>through forests and swamps were there were geckos, popping shrimps and a family of cormrents in the trees. This walk<br>went on and on and on and a couple of hours later we arrived at the falls which to be honest i was pretty imprerssed with<br>as it was more than just the trickle I was expectin. I'm sure there are better falls around but this bein the 1st one i've ...

... please note however that is not an invitation to the French Secret Service (who are obviously not very good in any respect).<br><br><br><br>We then headed on up to stop at Paihia where we stayed a couple of nights in a motel run by a lady who had left Grimbsy when she was a young girl some fifty or so years ago....clearly a lucky escape. We used this as a base to explore the Bay of Islands which is one of the supposedly "must do" places ...

... about 35 days before I head to French Polynesia for some sun. And boy will I need the sun - aft** the heat of Australia, New Zealand is bloody "cold as". Ev**ything is something "as" h**e - like this blog is "sweet as" and Janet Street Port** is "toothy as" - you get the picture - don't you - "cool as" - let's continue. So I expect I'll meet some friends along the way who may be doing the same jaunt as I am. The first trek is up to the north ...

Paihia - ace! We only stayed one night here at a place called The Casa Bella Motel and it did look very Spanish, but was lovely! The weather was hot hot hot the entire day and we arrived quite early as it wasn't too far from where we had been the night before, but we both loved this place the last time we were in NZ and wanted to stop off again to see it and visit old haunts. When we arrived the saturday market was in full bloom and you know ...

We got up early as we had planned to go on an all day boat trip departing early from Paihia. There was mist in the valley but you could already tell that it was going to be a beautiful day. On enquiring about the boat trip we had chosen the evening before, we were told that there was only one place remaining. So we booked for the next day and caught a ferry to Russell instead. Russell is connected to the mainland ...

... dodgy coming up to Northland, but as I get nearer Auckland it should be okay). I'm surprised at how much English stuff they have on there - we really do making cracking music. Go UK. Then I don't fly til 9pm, so think I should nip to Borders before I go - my Priority Pass is no good anywhere in NZ, it would seem, so I'll have to wait until the return flight to Sydney/Heathrow before I see the delights of a business lounge again...

... The next day we headed for Cape Reinga. First visiting a ancient Kauri forest, the big old native trees in northern NZ. After that small walk we moved with our bus over the 90 mile beach towards the sanddunes just before Cape Reinga. On the way we saw a lost sealion on the beach looking amazed at the bus full of tourists. Then real fun started sandboarding on the sanddunes. The climb was rather heavy but really worth the views over the sea, white sandy hills and green ...

... highlight of the day as time for sandboarding. The bus hurtles down Te Paki Stream, a quick sand estuary to get towards 90 mile beach. It cant go too slowly or the bus will begin to sink. the bus pulls in by a HUGE sand dune. We pile out and grab a boogie board type thing with a shiny bottom, and start the hard work, the climb to the top. A bit freaked out at the top, it looks a steep long way down and the stream/road at the bottom doesn't look too inviting, but kneel ...

... but the waves did make intricate patterns on the beach when they broke! And being at the northernmost point of any country is always interesting (although the cape isn't actually the northenmost point either - doh!). Most importantly the cape is one of the most sacred places in Maori culture, and is where the departed are brought to complete their journey to the other side. After which solemn reflection we scooted off to Tapotupotu Bay for a paddle, as ...

... Paihia is so peaceful, I really like it, especially after the hustle of Auckland, its a nice place to just sit back and relax. An early morning was needed on the 1st June... I actually cannot believe that it is already a new month and that I have been in New Zealand a week already. So the early morning was needed because Tara and I were going on a tour up to Cape Reinga the most northerly point you can drive to in New Zealand. So the trip started really early, and on the ...