SUMMER HOLIDAY
27 December 2005 - 8 January 2006

Part 3 - Cape Reinga, Waitangi,
and the return journey


Thursday 5th January ...
Heading in the direction of Kaitaia and Cape Reinga after a relatively early start.		 We drove to Kaitaia from Paihia, about 90 minutes worth, in time for the 9am Harrisons Cape Runner bus (coach) excursion along Ninety Mile Beach to Cape Reinga at the very top.
Heading up the firm sands of Ninety Mile Beach (actually about 90 kilometres, less than 60 miles). We spent just over an hour travelling along the beach. Three buses had stopped at this point and disgorged their passengers to view this little penguin.
There's a knack to driving on the beach and one must beware the incoming tide and various other pitfalls, otherwise this is what is likely to happen! Tobogganing down the giant sandhills just off the far end of the beach is part of the 'package', although the stop (for 20 minutes or so) wasn't quite long enough.
The lighthouse at Cape Reinga - the northernmost (accessible) point in New Zealand. Quite popular with the tourists. We might as well pose for a shot too!
"The calm blue Pacific Ocean and the tempestuous green Tasman Sea (at left) meet just below the Cape Reinga Lighthouse in a boiling, turbulent battle of the waters." Looking in the direction of Cape Maria van Diemen - with the Tasman Sea at play.
Another spontaneous shot! Our bus stopped at a certain store on our return route to enable us to buy cone ice creams at (possibly) the best price in the north. This was only $1.
Passengers enjoying the view as we travel along, or perhaps they were just momentarily distracted. A seat carved out of ancient kauri (45,000 years old, or so they'd have you believe) at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom where the bus pulled in at Awanui, not far from Kaitaia.
The road back to Paihia took us through this bush reserve about 20 kilometres from Kaitaia. Roadside scene further along the way.
Friday 6th January ...
A few hours at the newly-opened Waiora Adventure Park (just out of Paihia) with some rather novel attractions like a trapeze, Tarzan hoops as above, etc.		 Shooting down the inflatable slide.
About to try out the tightrope. Some managed a few metres, others less than that Racing around the course on a self-propelled cart.
We lost count of the number of times she went down the water-slide. It usually finished in a rather impressive splash. The same afternoon ...
A visit to the Treaty House at Waitangi. It began life in 1933 and is now New Zealand's most-visited historic building, being where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in February 1840.
The attractive 'back end' of the Treaty House. Treaty House with visitors taking a break.
The Treaty House is set in expansive grounds which lead down to the Bay of Islands waterfront - a very picturesque setting. Maori meeting house - Te Whare Runanga - in the same grounds.
A rather large Maori waka (canoe), the 35 metre long Ngatokimatawhaorua, in the Waitangi grounds. A minimum of 76 paddlers are required to handle it safely on the water. Next door to the canoe, the stump of an old and sizeable kauri tree.
Saturday 7th January ...
The start of the journey home. Traffic wasn't too bad on the whole, just a little slow passing through a couple of towns. This is Warkworth with a backup of traffic at the lights.		 Heading south through the centre of Auckland.
And so to Christine & Murray's farm, not a long way from Morrinsville in the Waikato. We stayed there the Saturday night. View from the house with Mt Te Aroha in the distance, the lads racing around in the foreground.
Youth of the 21st century on their laptops. Sunday 8th January ...
Playing happy families at the Morrinsville Domain.
Heading home along the Desert Road on Sunday afternoon. Great view of Mt Ruapehu. And in case you missed it the first time, Mt Ruapehu again - 15 minutes later.


See Summer holiday 2006 - part 1
See Summer holiday 2006 - part 2

Page compiled by Malcolm Sparrow - mid-January 2006