Big sand dunes, big trees and big boulders

Welcome back to our trip around the Northlands of North Island, New Zealand.

Our last three days in the area featured the largest sand dunes in the world, enormous boulders and the second largest trees in the world.

Sadly this photo doesn't really do justice to how tall these sand dunes actually are.

We drove along the tourist drive until we came to the Hokianga Ferry.

This took us to Rawene where we booked into a B&B.

This is is the pretty front door of the B&B The Postmaster's Lodgings.

We visited Clendon House arriving just as the guide was beginning a talk about the history of the place.

Then we took a drive to Wairere Boulders.

The path around the site is mostly well defined although there were some narrow places to get through

and sometimes the path seemed to disappear.

I earned my 'mountain goat certificate' scrambling over some of these large boulders.

The next day as we travelled we stopped off at different spots to view intersting landscapes, a waterfall and view the large Kauri trees.

These were still sand dunes but some of the sand seemed to have hardened into rocks.  I always though rocks eroded into sand but there you are!

The Waiotemarama Waterfall.

Then on to the Kauri trees.  This tree is thought to be at least 2000 years old.

And a walk through the forest.

We spent the last morning in New Zealand visiting the Kauri Museum.  It was a very comprehensive museum about the Kauri tree and the amber that is taken from it.  I spotted these in the room displays.  I was supposed to be looking at the amazing furniture!

Then we were off to the airport and our flight to Sydney.  Next time - In and around Sydney, Australia.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

North in North Island

We flew into Auckland, collected the hire car and stayed at a not particularly glamorous motel for the night.

The next morning we started our road trip around the area north of Auckland.  Our plan was to drive up the right side of this map and back down the left without going to the long narrow bit at the top (geographical term!)

 We drove around Auckland and up towards Whangarei with detours to coastal places.

We had lunch at Mangawhai tavern looking at this view.

Next day we went to see the Whangarei Falls which were in a public park on the edge of town.

We drove along a beautiful winding road and stopped at Helena Bay Hill for lunch at an art gallery.  Such a great view whilst having lunch.

When we arrived in Russell we walked up a very steep hill - and I mean STEEP - but the view over the bay was worth it.

This was the view from the front door of the hotel.

The next morning we got up early and went on a boat trip.  As the season hadn't officially started, we were the only customers!

The Bay of Islands was beautiful and I took lots of photos.   We took the ferry across to Paihia and drove along the coast to Kerikeri where we visited the Stone House and had lunch at the Pear Tree cafe.

Continuing along the coast we eventually came to Mangonui where we found the rather lovely Acacia Lodge Motel.   Roger went for a walk and took this photo looking down on the town.

There was an amazing restaurant in Mangonui where we had dinner.  We were so impressed we went back there for breakfast the next day.   Then we did the Heritage Walk around Mangonui.   This was the oldest building.

And the view of the bay

We drove on visiting Karikari Beach.

We stopped off at one of the access points to 90 Mile Beach at Waipapkauri Beach.  90 mile beach is actually only 55 miles long and rental cars are not allowed on it.

We drove to Ahipara and booked into the Ahipara Bay Motel where we had dinner.   One of the things we found as we travelled around was there was less accommodation and far less places to eat once you went away from the tourist areas.

At one end of the beach were rocks with lots of the green mussels.

The view along the beach back towards the motel.

We were just over half way through our road trip so I'll finish there for today.  Next time:  big sand dunes, big trees and big boulders.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice