Hotel Paihia

... haven't packed the right kinda clothes because we didn't actually expect it to be this cold, but I think we spend a good amount of time each day taking jumpers off, putting them on, getting jackets out etc. With the random hole in the ozone it's really easy to burn too, which is an annoyance. <br><br>...Anyway, back to Cape R. We passed a house on the way up which is the last house in NZ: about an hour away from the actual cape: the house was a ...

... We just<br>sat mesmerized by the color and the power of the water. After the<br>hike it was time to hit the road southbound. <br><br>For lunch we hit a great fish and chip<br>shack right on the docks in Mangonui and took a break from driving. <br>The sun was warm and pleasant and we watched the boats moored in the<br>bay as well as a family fishing from the pier. <br><br><br><br><br>

... that means ding-a-ling-ding-ding line dancin', stetson wearin', beard growin' 60+ year olds camped out in their recreational vehicles (mobile homes). The town is swarming with the casst of Deliv**ance. Lizzy and I book on to a boat tour of the islands immediate for risk of death by Dolly Parton fans. The boat tour takes us out to the Hole in the Rock - which is exactly that. We tour the islands and look for dolphins and orcas - 95% success ...

Got picked up at the crack of dawn, so could make most of our day! Stopped half way for a lesson in bee's and honey making! Even got to sample a few flavours, random ones like liquor, bosenberry, mocha, chocolate wild! v.sickleh! Got into Paihia around Midday and had to succombe to a Base hostel... boo! Although this didn't feel like your average prison style one! Did uasual trick of getting a double between 3 but unfortunately did bite us in ...

... bit of Paihia which is the gateway to the Bay of Islands. We had a nice room with a little balcony at the front and went straight for a quick swim in the bay. Hannah joined us later at the hostel and we got fish and chips and ate them by the lovely beach at sunset. Next day we went to Waitangi just up the road where the treaty was signed which declared joint rule between the Maori and the Brits. We watched a Haka ...

... and then burst out laughing when in my head I heard "One slips..." Since there was still no-one within earshot, I then said "Mahhhhh". After admiring the lighthouse (and the incredible view beyond it, which knocked everything else into a cocked hat), I reluctantly made my way back to the car. I had driven for three hours to only spend one at my actual destination, but isn't that the point of having the damn car? Being able to ...

... wet? OH YEAH! was I first to answer. In the pocket a free 192 meter jump of the Auckland Skytower! After the jump we visited some lookouts and the headed for the Harbour bridge to climb underneath it and see some bungy jumpers falling for 40 meters. I'll wait for the biggest one in NZ, no need for me to do this small one at the moment. Although the views from the bridge over the skyline were pretty awesome as well. Tomorrow catching the bus towards Hahei and the hot water beaches.

... have been a treat. There is not much to do up there, when it's raining, everything happens on the sea! So, we drove back to Auckland. Right now we are in a big internet cafe which looking around might as well be in the middle of Tokyo ... only Asian people around... pretty interesting... We have finally crossed the 4000 km margin with our car today...wow! Two days to go!! How sad is that!

... suletud ja me saime vaid tiba ringi vaadata. Vein jäi kah maitsmata. Kuigi jah, eks reisi jooksul ole seda nüüd ikka maitstud kah juba. Ja Uus-Meremaa veinid on head. Õhtupoolikul otsustasime mina kala sööma. Leidsime ühe tiba kõrvalisema resto, mis oli rahvast pungil. Õnnestus saada vist viimane laud. Ax tellis lobsteri, mis nägi suurepärane välja olevat ka maitselt suurepärane olnud. Me ülejäänud jäime "fish of the day" juurde ja ei pidanud samuti pettuma. Kõike seda rikastas hea valge vein.