SUMMER HOLIDAY
27 December 2005 - 8 January 2006

Part 2 - Paihia, Kerikeri & Russell


Monday 2nd - Friday 5th January
Paihia and Waitangi are right next door to each other.		 Our cabin at the Beachside Holiday Park, just outside Paihia, where we stayed five nights.
The view from the holiday park. Any promotional material shows the tide in, as it appears here. When it's out, some of this is mudflats, not nearly as 'attractive'. Looking back at the holiday park - the tide isn't in on this occasion!
The main part of Paihia. The pier is opposite the main shopping street which is behind the trees at the left of this shot. Looking back on Paihia from the other direction.
A lot of watercraft leave the pier at Pahia to carry tourists out into the Bay of Islands. This shot was taken from the same vantage point as the shot above, and the one immediately at right. The main swimming beach at Pahia.
Throwing the vortex on that same beach. And a late afternoon paddle. The water was colder than we expected it to be this far north.
Mudflats in the inlet between the holiday park and Paihia itself. Early morning setting closer to Opua. The holiday park is situated between Paihia and Opua, and this shot was taken from an elevated part of a track which runs between the two. Note the car ferry at centre.
Tuesday 3rd January ...
A half-day Bay of Islands excursion with Kings Dolphin Cruises & Tours. At this point more than one boat had stopped to watch a few dolphins doing their thing.		 This was my best shot of the several I took (or endeavoured to take) of the dolphins.
Approaching the 'Hole in the Rock' at Cape Brett, the furtherest point on our cruise. The 'Hole in the Rock' is just that, one big hole - like a cave that comes out the other side. Boats go through it. We did. It's okay but possibly slightly over-rated.
Heading back to port, we passed this classy vessel, 'Spirit of New Zealand'. By the time we stopped at Russell (shown here) to drop passengers off, the sun was shining again.
The same afternoon - a visit to Kerikeri. Shown here is the Old Stone Store built in 1836. It is New Zealand's oldest stone building. Right next-door is Kemp House built in 1822. It is the oldest European building in the whole of the country.
Up a short track across the road from the Old Stone Store is St James Church (1878) built on the site of the original church erected by the first missionaries. A reminder of the cicada chorus which is so noticeable in warmer climes such as this. In some parts of the bush, the noise was surprisingly loud.
Wednesday 4th January ...Driving on to the car ferry which in 5-6 minutes takes you from Opua to the 'other side' from where it's a 7-8 kilometre drive to Russell.
 Russell, known as 'the hell-hole of the Pacific' in the rough early days of European settlement. New Zealand's first capital was nearby.
Christ Church, built in 1836, is the oldest existing church in New Zealand. Its outside walls still sport some of the old musket ball holes from the early wars. The Duke of Marlborough pub on the waterfront is the fourth hotel on the same site. Earlier ones were burnt down. It holds New Zealand's number 1 licence dated August 1827.
Passengers alighting at Russell on a day not as calm as some. Returning on the ferry later that afternoon. The fare for the car and four passengers was $22 return.


See Summer holiday 2006 - part 1
See Summer holiday 2006 - part 3

Page compiled by Malcolm Sparrow - mid-January 2006