Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga
Trip Start
Sep 22, 2008
1
4
Trip End
Feb 12, 2009
Paihia,
North Island,
New Zealand
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Spike was our driver for the day - crazy guy, really enthusiastic & funny, always making comments like 'happy as pigs in sh!t!'. He told us he was glad to get out of Auckland as they're all miserable - shouting 'Gudday mate' out the bus window to people, only to recieve shocked un-amused faces; saying to us all 'I told you so'. He calls them JAFA's - Just another f-ing Aucklander - he certainly was a character to say the least. He left me in charge of everyones' boat pass ticket for later in the day, naming me as favourite for the day - oh dear! Clearly didn't know me well to save the tickets - never been the most organised!
We headed through coastal towns of Orewa & Waiwera. We stopped in Whangarei for a quick break before heading up to the Bay of Islands - stunning place! We checked into the Pipi Patch Base hostel & then hurried down to the harbour for our free Dolphin discoveries & 'Hole in the Rock' eco-cruise - to cruise amongst the 144 islands which make up the Bay. Set to begin the worst afternoon I've had since being away. It started out lovely, taking in the views, absolutely beautiful. But then as we left the bay & headed for the hole in the rock, it began to get extremely choppy & I quickly got the worst sea sickness I can ever remember having.... sitting on the floor at the back of the boat, feeling horrendous, completely green & nearly passing out.
