The weather really packed in and we had a wet first day at Paihia. The next day was clear in the morning so we headed off to Waitangi and spent most of the morning exploring the treaty grounds, meeting house and treaty house including an audio visual presentation of the signing.

For NZers this is all FREE. ($25 for foreigners) We went into Paihia and looked around (not very inspiring) and had lunch, deciding whether we would catch the ferry to Russell. The weather made up our minds as it started raining again. Back at the camp and after it cleared we walked to the top of the Haruru Falls. A couple of guys gave us a huge piece of king fish fillet. Great eating! As the weather was still not great the next day, we decided to bypass Russell and move on to Kerikeri where the Old Stone Shop, the Mission House and St James Church were well worth a visit.

Our next camp was at Matauri Bay Camp. What a fabulous beach and setting. We are right

 

on the beach again and we decided to stay 4 nights here as there is a deal ($100 for a week). There are about 10 large motorhomes and caravans parked up for the winter. The main activity seems to be fishing (from boats). We have spent the time walking the beaches (2), reading and watching the activity at the boat ramp. Off this beach (on the next island) the Rainbow Warrior and the HMNZS Canterbury have been sunk as diving sites. There is a great memorial to the Rainbow Warrior at the top of the headland which offers a 270 degree view of the coastline, islands and the site of the wreck. The weather has been warm and sunny but every so often a shower of rain comes thru.I went fishing with an old guy in his boat

and caught a small snapper (not a keeper) and a trevalli which we ate.

Vey enjoyable! We woke one morning to the tall ship, the “Spirit of New Zealand” moored in the bay.

Following a tourist route we stopped at Mahinepua Beach for a nice walk out to a headland and a picnic lunch.

On thru Mangonui (very cute) and Coopers Beach to end up at a POP at Taipa, run by an old couple, backing onto the river with a great view. We drove out onto the Karikari Peninsula, which forms Doubtless Bay, to a DOC camp at Maitai Bay. We spent 2 days walking the beaches including a great 3 hour walk along the shore, up a bushy gorge and out along a ridge back to the beach. The views from the cliff tops were spectacular. The weather has been cooler the last few days with a southerly. After a shop up at Kerikeri we headed north to a camp at the ramp leading onto Ninety Mile Beach. We rode the bikes 10kms up the beach on rock hard sand. A nice ride but a bit boring!. Tomorrow we will head up to Cape Reinga and will explore the area for about 5 days and we’ll probably have no internet or cellphone coverage. The weather has warmed up again but there is no one around to enjoy it. We find it surprising that there are very few campervans around.