Paihia, New Zealand
I was determined to watch the sun rise in the paradise which we had found and at 645 I headed out onto the pristine white sand, only to be greeted by the wall of cloud. This squashed all hope of a postcard sunrise but did make for a much less sweaty run along the shore.
On my return a local fisherman pointed out the sacred burial caves of his forefathers high above him on the volcanic peak, a clear reminder of just how sacred this region is to the Maoris.
The o...