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Paihia (Bay of Islands) 90 Mile beach and Cape Reinga
all done from distant memory. so bear with me. may whitter a bit.
First eve in Paihia
Arrived in Paihia (said pie-he-ya) at Mayfair Lodge. In room with 6 others. By far the biggest place we stayed so far. Lovely and homley tho and decorated with lots of bright fish. Dutch couple also stayed here which was nice as no got travelling friends. Eveing bbq at nearby Pipi Patch ( all the lame brits all stay togeater here in piss-ville) arranged by Magic Bus. Me and em turn up late as usualy and our food is not to be seen. Get food which is really nice and me and em decided it would be a fantastic idea to get drunk(at the time). To cut a long story short we get incredibly drunk on lots of beer and are just generally lairy brits (oh the SHAME!!). Meet lots of people and a british guy, and end up in the club next door. Stumble home and probably wake up room mates(oblivous at time), after just maaging to drag sleeping emma off sofa and into top bunks. To this day will never know how we survived.all fun and games tho.
Paihia day 1
Wake up with stinking hangover , think WHY??!! again. Miserable, grey, wet and cloudy day so take an amble along the beach and into town where we have a hot choc in cafe by beach and take moody black and white photos. Had jacket kumara for tea which was nice and nice (getting into these nz foods). James Bond films ( no you cant keep me away) with dutches in eve and early night.
Day 2 - day trip up 90 mile beach and Cape Reinga
Up far too early in order to catch bus up to the Cape (northern most point). Stuck with annoying bus driver ( not colin) called Tye who kept saying so then,yea.. and repeating everyting about 5 times (eg. 'we will be dropping of at ancient Kauri kingdom' x 500 in hot bus which you can imagine is HELL). Any way when we did get to 'Ancient Kauri Kingdom' they had this massive spiral staircase which is carved out of the middle of a kauri tree. That was fantastic, and it shows how big the trees are!
Headed on and up to 90 Mile Beach ( which is actually 64 miles but it sells more tickets called 90). Its actually not as big as the one we went on down at Balys beach but its more well know as a tourist destination. The tours actually go on the beach and drive all the way up them, another crasy think you can do in NZ and no way at home. The beach itself is actually quite dangerous because its quite rought and windswept, quite far from much civilisation and the tide rises and falls at some rate. We were driving through the waves and it just looked so rough. Tye the bus man semmed to like this bit of his job and sounded less bored as he went to to tell us how he was a great driver and knew the beach like the back of his hand etc. etc. He told us how peoplke who drive cars on the beach are idiots and so many get wrecked... and the busses drive on past, and say "I told you so". OK cockey, lets hope his bus never get trapped. ha ha
Made it safley up the beach and then the bus drove up a quick sand stream where Tye told us the secret is not to stop, just keep moving. Get out at the massive dunes where we went sandboarding. We didnt take any photos of it because we were too busy running up and down, but it was wicked. You are given and bodyboard and launched off the top of this great drop and speed down the dune. I found if you keep your legs up in the air you go super fast and end up in the river at the bottom, with a face, eye and every possible bit full of sand, but none-the-ess, buzzing. Sweet! kiwis would say. back on the bus to Cape Reinga.
Now the Cape is the spiritual gateway for the maori spirits. Apparently when you die your spirit will travel up the coast to the cape and down to a tree at the tip, which is the gateway to Hawikiki, their origional homeland, which no one really knows where it is! S this is a special place and we wernt allowed to eat food there. You can see the tree in the photo album, which if you ask me look like a newly planted shrub. Nice story tho. The light house at the end is like lands end; sign post and lots of sea. The light house is powered by sloar power, which is something the kiwis are really concious of, having a massive whole in the ozone here). The two seas that meet at the tip are the Tasman and the Pacific. One side is relly calm and the other is rougher, and apparently on a good day you can see the two different colours. From the cape we went down to a georgeous little beach where we had luncheon. I nearly got left behind as i was too busy trying to get the perfect photo.
Fish and chips later in the afternoon which was lovely, kind of a cross between cod and machrel, a little oily but lush. We then stopped on the way back at another sub tropical rainforest and took a quiet walk in amongst the kauri trees and ferns. Then back on the bus in the capable hand of Tye who we had grow quite fond of throughout the day despite his ways. Arrived back tired and in need of another early night.
Day 3 - Kayaking and Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Up at the crack of dawn in order ot get the kayaks and get out on the water. Hearty breakfast in lunch in one then with a kayak in one hand and lifejackets and vague map in the other we are sent on our way. Now, we borrowed the kayaks from the hostel for free (yes, sorry i must go on about the lax kiwi attiude again-in a good way) and not only did the guy not ask if we could swim, he gave us a vague ides of where we were going and that was it. To be fair he did check the tides with us but apart from that he semmed to think we would be fine. If we were at home not olny would we ahve been the third degree about water rules, but we would probably have had to have a lesson in how to put on a lifejacket. Rediculas!! God i love it here.
So we launched the kayaks just down the road at the beach and paddled upstream to the waterfalls. It was so lovey and peacfull, lots of fish and shags close up (which are very common and nest togeater in the same tree) and only our aching arms to keep us company. I realised how unfit i was and at one point i decided to paddle knealing up, somewhat like a zulu warrior much to my amusement. We got abuse shouted at us at the waterfall by some prats in a boat. Then back down river into the mangrove swaps and back to shore. Our two dutch mates spotted us and found over little footprints quite amusing and said "looks like some traps have been sleeping under the bridge". To be fair i am looking quite rough at the mo.
In the afternoon we strolled up to Waitangi Treaty Grounds which is where NZ came under british rule, ironically uniting the maori and europeans (how unfortunate for them). The grounds were stunning and are home to the biggest maori war canoe, the Treaty house and Maori hut. I cant remember what the hut is called but its really special because it is constructed from the weavings and carvings from all the tribes, united in one place. Inside you have to take your shoes off as a mark of respect, and the carvings are exactly like the guys doing the Haka, all sticky-outey tounges and wide eyes. From here the view over the bay is stunning and the gardens are beautiful. On the walk up we saw a brighty coloured parakeet which we have since found out was introduced from Australia.
Back at the hostel we packed up and had a BBQ of bacon and charred peppers onion and tortilla chips. Chatted to dutches and english lady, then to bed.
Day 4 - Cruise
Hopped on to boat early dressed for some heat. Set off over the blue seas to Russel and the other islands to check out the scenery. Went out to hole in the rock and sailed thru it ( iam surprised we could fit) and went on in search of dolphins. Unsucessful full tho but who cares. Froze to death out in windy waters, but due to our stubbornness had to sit out the front untill we got off. Not sacrificing the view for health reasons. Packed and departed, saying bye to our dutch friends.
On the bus to Whangeri thanks to some stupid german girl, we had to stop off at some famous public toilets as they were deigned by some great archetect. So glad we did get off as they were wicked! ( will find out what called and by who). Outside it appeared like a tiled indian temple thingy, with vegitation on top. Inside was smooth concrete walls and arches covered in brightly coloured tile mosaic. The walls were full of coloured glass bottles which produced an amazing light. Its not oftern you rant about a public loo, but it was just like and indian hobbit hole.
Back on the bus smelling of wee, on to Whangeri.
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