New Zealand Continues click photos to enlarge

Cape Reinga and the Lighthouse

After Guinevere and Amanda arrived we took a drive up to Cape Reinga, the Northern most tip of the North Island. It is wild and wonderful. As part of our trip up there we took a bus tour that not only took us to the lighthouse on the Cape, but also to Ninety Mile Beach and the giant sand dunes near by. We all had a blast sledding down the dunes.  Heading back South again, we stopped and took great hikes along trails leading to the great Kauri forest. The Kauri tree is indigenous to New Zealand  and the oldest one living today is 2000 years old. They call it "Tane Mahuta". The Kauri wood was used a lot for boat building in the early days before fiberglass because of its massive size and straight, knotless timber. We loved these hikes in the Kauri forests so much that when Ariel arrived we went back again to share the experience.

Giant sand dunes near Ninety Mile Beach

"Tane Mahuta"

Amanda & Guin slide down

Probably our most historic stop along this touring venture of the far North was the visit to Waitangi, where the treaty between the English and the Maori people was signed back in 1840. At the time of the signing most, if not all, of the 50 Maori cheifs put their name on the treaty. Relations between the two remained relitively harmonious for many years, but apparently, with the differences in interpretation, misunderstandings arose. Controversy over the treaty still continues today.

Ariel rests for a drink on the trail

While we traveled by car we decided it would be best to stay only in bed and breakfast lodgings. There are a few different types of B and B's. There is the traditional type, then there is a homestay, and a farmstay. We liked all three and found it to be the best way to meet and make friends with local people. We got first hand knowledge about the area and we were always received with a warm and hospitable welcome. The

Inside the Maori carved  Meeting House, on the Waitangi Treaty property

Maori war canoe, displayed at the Waitangi Treaty property

The outside of the Maori Meeting House.

After visiting the far North and the Treaty Grounds, we continued South and took the ferry across to historic Russell. It's an old whaling town and very charming. We stayed in a B 'n B be-fitting the character of the town and took a hike for a fabulous view of the village. The next day we treated the girls to a high speed boat ride around the Bay of Islands. It was thrilling but I wouldn't recommend it as a way to see the Bay.

breakfasts were always terrific and if we requested it in advance, we could get a warm, homecooked meal in the evening, that we often shared with the hosts.

"Russell" in the Bay of Islands

The KeriKeri River a wonderful view from our B n B

Amanda & Guin don their lifejackets for the high speed ride

An often typical scene near the Bed and Breakfasts we stayed at in the far North

"The Kiwi" Kiwis are largely concentrated in the warm Northland forests, but "Stewart Island", the third largest island in New

Guinevere has a peaceful moment kayaking on the KeriKeri River

Zealand, boasts to be the home of the Kiwi. The Kiwi is an endangered, indigenous bird and is very rarely seen. Although primarily nocturnal,  they have been known to have been seen, even in the twight hours, foraging for food with their long beaks in the forest on Stewart Island. This one, pictured  above, we met at the wild bird hospital near Whangarei. He was very shy and had an injured foot so he was well protected by his keeper, Robert.

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