Tropicana Motel Whangarei

... that swayed with the swell. there were also some really big snapper.

Back on the boat we sailed into a huge sea cave and then had our lunch. We moved further up the island to the next snorkle sight. This sight was much deeper and was dominated by a large arch. Again we swam around and under the arch... I saw lots of fish and kelp and Jon managed to spot a stingray.

The boat trip back was calmer but there were still alot of ...

... in some way, but up to now they seem totally redundant... which is fine because all I really need to do is bring out my hippie side and "just go with the flow man"(stereotypical hippie voice). I'm kidding but flexibility has been heavily-used tool thus far. So, I'm dropped in Whangarei and with my handy dandy... notebook! (blue's clues reference) I find a decent hostel to stay in called the Bunkdown Lodge. It's an amazingly beautiful place that ...

We definitely saved the best for last! After watching the lion man on tv for months we couldn't wait to visit his Zion wildlife gardens in Kamo, Whangarei. What a gorgeous place. The animals are cared for by amazing people and their hard work has paid off, they've got a park to be really proud of.

Most of the large cats in the park are either endangered or extinct in the wild. The white lions among others are only left in captivity ...

... the only people that come to tutukaka are scuba divers. and since the Poor Knights Island is the #7 ranked diving spot in the world by Jacque Cousteau, we decided to fork out the money and do our advanced scuba course through DIVE TUTUKAKA. the weather wasn't ideal and the first day of the course, we threw up on the one hour boat ride to the islands. the second day was MUCH better. the poor knights island is a marine reserve and has been since the better part of ...

... shopping trolleys. * I crossed with great care, looking out for crocs and waiting for my foot to fall throw a rooting plank, which to my surprise it didn't, proving once again that life is not alot like TV. * Once on the other side, the grass was not all that much greener and there still wasn't much to see. * I continued to cycle and it rained on and off which is surprising what it was forecast to do. The exact forecast was 'periods of rain' which as far as ...

... was bit spike and i don't have hard NZ feet yet, many people here think nothing of wondering round town barefoot.) Then it was back towards the hostel down a unsealed round which, zigged and zagged its way across country and hat off to Kate who was driving, i would have gone to pieces what with the gravel and the bends the signs about flooding and falling rocks, it started to get dark but she took it all in her stride! This day was random but alot of fun!

I got up fairly late and was feeling heaps better thankfully. I switched on the TV and In the Night Garden was on! I watched it purely as research of course so I could learn the character names for when I babysit Hattie ;-) Then I had the Igglepiggle song in my head all day, hehehe. I got on the road about 11am and straightaway the motorway was closed. They diverted us off and then that's where the signs ended! I thought it was best to head for the centre and then hope ...

... Whangarei branch, though, was a pleasure to deal with. While the branch is located in town, Willie was waiting at the airport for us with the car parked curbside. He thoughtfully went over all the details, took time to make sure we knew where we were going, gave us a number where we could contact him 24 hours a day, and sent us on our way in no time at all. On the way back we get to leave the car in the ...

... hes palju kiidetud restoranis, millelt avanes vaade otse ookeanile. Võtsime eelroaks mitme peale taldrikutäie austreid ja saime päris palju naerda, kui Agur ühte maitses. Ütleme siis nii, et talle austrid ei maitse ja ta otsis paaniliselt võimalust, kuhu see suutäis poetada. Kusagile palmide vahele see siis maandus. Järgnev õhtusöök oli mõnus ja istusime päris pikalt. Koju jõudes tegime veel paar ringi täringuid ja kobisime magama.

Another new driver today, Nancy (described by Ali Baba as 'the token Maori'!) who is slightly bonkers but lots of fun, to take us on the road to Paihia. That is except for me as I will be gettting off at Whangarei for diving at the Poor Knights Islands. She hadn't heard about the burning Kiwi bus but was able to tell the story of another Kiwi Exp. bus that went off the road between Franz Josef and Fox. Apparently the driver was reaching for something on the dash ...