Waitangi and Russell NZ

Bidding farewell to Jo & Paul(hopefully we'll see them again before another 44 years passes!), we pushed on up North to the Waipoua Forest where the finest Kauri trees in the world are being conserved. stopped of at the Forest to view 'Tane Mahouta' a huge, sacred Kauri tree which the Maori's call their 'God of the Forest'.
Lunch at Opononi and then on to Pahia to one of the finest hostels we've stayed in. Clean, comfortable, towels provided, herbs in kitchen...the list goes on, and to cap it all, it's position in Pahia Bay, a comfortable little town is lovely.
After a 1 night stay, we visited the Treaty House at Waitangi where the Maori's signed an historic document which promised them protection and continued rights to their land(another case of the British Government hood-winking native people!!). Brilliant exhibition and museum.. highly recommended.
On then to Russell on the car ferry to view the now quaint little town that used to be called 'the hell-hole of the Pacific' due to it's reputation for drunkeness, violence, debauchery and prostitution..(sound like Glossop doesn't it??)

Red Coast NZ

A long overdue re-union with a cousin I hadn't seen for 44 years saw us roaring up north in our hire car to meet Jo & Paul in their lovely house overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Hibiscus Bay. It was brilliant to catch up on family news after all those years("ee!! she hasn't changed a bit"), and we were treated like royalty yet again for 2 days.

A visit to their son Mark's restaurant followed that evening, and lots of good food and great company saw us in the lap of luxury once again!

The following day we drove over to the west coast to Muriwai Gannet colony where we enjoyed great views of the rugged west coast and fascinating behaviour of the Gannets who were just starting their breeding behaviour. In the evening Paul cooked a delicious Thai curry and copious amounts of alcohol were consumed!!(well...by me anyway!!).