Bay of Islands and Cape Reigna

Up very early (5:15) to drive North, stopped in Kawakawa which has a Tourist brown sign saying toilets ! it was designed by a famous Austrian artist, place also had a steam train but it didn't run until an hour later.

We had lunch and then went on a cruise around the Bay, it has 144 islands, all found by Captain Cook (he gets everywhere). During the cruise we fiound some dolphins and sailed through the 'Hole in the Rock'

Our hotel was next to the Treaty Ground which was were the Treaty between the Crown and the Maoris was signed in 1841.

We drove up to Cape Reigna which is the northernmost tip of New Zealand which has a Lighthouse and is a Sacred Ground for the Maoris, they beleive that their spirits will pass through here on the way back to there Ancient Homeland of Hawaiki.

It is also the meeting place of the Tasman Sea (cold) and the South Pacific (warm) and whirlpools can be seen.

We then went to 90 Mile Beach, and Gwen decided to have a go at Sand Boarding.

We the drove down the beach for about 50 kms and at the end ran acfross a group of wild horses which were free to all if you could take them away.

As we left the Bay of Islands, a small cruise ship was in and the Maoris were making loads of money ferrying some passengers to shore on their traditional transport the Waca.