Whangerai delivered a pleasant surprise by way of its river setting and a spectacular garden created within a disused quarry. After strolling along the river bank into the harbour area and indulging in a massive ice cream

we made our way to the quarry garden located on the outskirts of town, a walk that proved longer than anticipated ( one of those where you hope your destination is just around the corner and your heart sinks to your boots when it is not) Soon forgot how tired we felt when we started to explore, plants that we would take home from the local garden centre and nurture lovingly growing naturally into trees and large shrubs paths weaving you here and there until you end up at a lake and small waterfall, BEAUTIFUL!

From Whangerei we headed to the Bay of Islands leaving the main highway to take the coast road to a small town called Russell. A spectacular drive up and down a mountainous rd that ran parallel to the sea the occasional bay coaxing us in to take a closer look finally arriving at our destination late afternoon. We took a stroll around the town and promenade which boasted a swish looking hotel and a fig tree approx 200 years old. There were no facilities for parking the camper van overnight so we found a quiet lay by on the ferry road parked and set up our table and chairs, turned out we were next to a conservation area and the start of a nature walk. Quietly sipping our wine we were joined by a small family of what we thought were long tail tits then low and behold as they alighted on the tree branches their tails spread up and out like fans, unfortunately we were to slow to get a photograph. But we did photo them another day and this is them.

The ferry crossing next morning was really short as we were only crossing a small estuary which linked Russell and the main Bay of Islands town called Paihia which lacked the elegance of Russell and was obviously catering for the tourist trade. We made our way to the nearby Waitangi treaty grounds sited on a headland where the Treaty house was built in 1832 for a British resident and Crown Representative named James Busby and where forty three Maori chiefs signed the treaty of Waitangi with the British crown thus becoming part of the British empire. Across the lawn from the house a Maori meeting house was built in 1940 to mark the centenary of the treaty, the entrance and interior were beautifully carved. We and other visitors were treated to a typical Maori welcome and inside entertained with a Maori song and dance display.

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From Waitangi we headed for the lakes on the west coast but not before stopping to see Tane Mahuta ( the largest Kauri tree alive at 51.5 metres tall and a girth of 13.8 metres), this tree is estimated to be 2000 years old. The Kauri are an endangered species due to a disease that is decimating the forests, therefore the authorities are very strict on you cleansing your footwear before and after entering the forests and that you stay on the designated tracks. (On entering the country customs were very keen that anyone with hiking boots that had been hiking in foreign parts declared this as they went through or face a hefty fine, thankfully we passed muster. 😁

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We arrived at the lakes in time to snap a fabulous sunset and engage in a friendly conversation with a fellow camper who gave us plenty of tips on places to visit on South Island. Not somewhere that enticed us to stay longer so headed across to Napier on the east coast.

Stopping off on the way at a place called Dargaville as the local museum intrigued me. What a gem for a small museum it was jam packed with loads of interesting items all donated by local townsfolk. The highlight was the history of the gum diggers from which the town has grown. They were mainly immigrants from Dalmatia (now known as Croatia) and what a hard life it would have been. The gum was dug from the ground by hand then cleaned and sorted, some of the pieces on display looked very similar to amber.

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