Thursday 10 June 2010

Thursday – Whangarei to Paihia (123kms)

After an early start we moved the van to the camp site parking area and set off towards the Whangarei Falls.  The Falls were just off the main road and as we looked down over the 26 metre drop into the deep green pool below you could start to understand why these are the most pictured Falls in New Zealand.

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A quick photo opp at the base of the falls, and then we were off on a ‘tramp’ along the Hatea River trail to the AH Reed Memorial Kauri Park, where we walk on a raised canopy walkway next to 500 year old Kauri trees.  A tree native to NZ and known for their tall majestic features.

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Once we had walked around the Kauri forest trails we doubled back along the Hatea river and picked the van up, starting our journey north.  We took the scenic coastal drive, which gave us stunning views across Tutukaka harbour and out to the Poor Knight Islands.

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After a brief stop at KawaKawa to see the famous Hundertwasser toilets (google them…we are afraid there was no photo op, as they were fully operational public toilets), we continued north to Paihia, the gateway to the Bay of Islands.

We booked ourselves onto a couple of tours which we had been eyeing up; one to Cape Reinga (the most northerly point in NZ), and the 2nd out around the Bay of Islands.

Next stop was our camp ground for the next 3 nights, Twin Pines Tourist Park (where we are the only occupants!), which overlooks Hururu Falls.  As we parked up for the night we decided to try the spare bed out…Tracy are you ready for this?!

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