Bay of Islands

Howdy all.

Have just arrived in Auckland following 4 nights in the Beautiful Bay of Islands and I have to say our time in the North was one of the real highlights of the whole trip.

We stayed in Paihia (the main town in BOI) which is a gorgeous setting right on the beach and with numerous cool Restaurants, shops and Bars dotted around the town.

That said we have been out and about exploring.

Wednesday was taken up with a boat cruise around the Islands going through the Famous Hole in the Rock and stopping at one of the Islands for lunch. On the journey back in the afternoon one of the high points was where they chucked a net out of the side of the boat (the net is still attached to the boat), you then jump in the net with several others while the boat takes off and you have to cling on to it for dear life...I thoroughly enjoyed it although I suspect the two Maori Girls behind me did not have such a good time. The power of the water had the effect of pulling down my shorts slightly, thus exposing my bare, white, fat, Scottish Bum for them and several others to see. I can only hope that this is a friendly gesture in Maori Society and not an act of aggression.

The high point of the cruise was the inpromptu show that a School of Dolphins put on for us. Watching them jump out of the water doing their various twists and turns is really quite astounding. We had hoped to go swimming with them but unfortunately were not allowed as NZ Maritime Law prevents people from swimming with Dolphins where there is a Baby dolphin in the School.

I can't say I was that upset as the Captain of the Ferry did say that apparently a Hammer Head Shark had been seen happily swimming with another School the day before. That said I am sure one glimpse of my backside and he would have backed off.

On Tuesday we did a coach trip up to cape Reinga at the very far north of the North Island. The scenery up there is fantastic and we stopped at a beautiful beach with cracking waves for lunch. The high point of the trip though was on the way back where the coach stops at these enormous sand dunes and after a quick walk up to the top of them (ok a long and wheezy walk in the case of myself and Aoifa) you then get to surf down them. After that the bus drove along the beach for a further 60 miles only stopping to point out various other vehicles which have been caught in the incoming tide and stranded forever. The busdriver even managed to do his bit for international relations by loosing a Korean couple on the trip.

thats all for now, talk soon