Trip to Northland - dunes

Awaking in Spirits' Bay on a shelly beach

Being in Spirits' Bay we left a message for Jim

then...

back on the road, just south west of Cape Reinga to the Giant Te Paki sand dunes!

They just wouldn't fit my camera. So here's a shot of Mano climbing one, his surfboard in hand. You can count about the same height he already climbed that I've chopped cos we were the only ones keen to touch the sand!

Going back for more!

 The dunes are so massive that they've started indurating in places.

Although not as spectacular as the Te Paki dunes, there are a number of dunes along the west coast, below is Opononi. A village where a female doplhin used to come and play with people, letting the kids ride her back!

Trip to Northland - touching the Cape

First encounter with "mimosa", just out of Pahia 

 Kerikeri - historical building.

 Kerikeri used to be a trading post. The building on the left has been kept as a museum/shop. You can see lots of things from what Mano calls "the olden days". Nail mills, strange portable harps, ink and feathers to write...

 Need I say that there are such things as the Kerikeri volcanics?

 Mano feasting on the botanic garden. He loves taking pictures of flowers.

 Back on the road for an hour or so, Mangonui

 We looked but this time the hermit crabs were mega quiet.

Another couple of hours furhter, through Kaitaia, then following the Ninety Mile Beach.

Last couple of hours in the sun at Cape Reinga. Cape Reinga is a very significant place for Maori, and believe to be where all soul go to leave the island.

 Before reaching the lighthouse, the road wind and gradually get straigther and on the last couple of kms, one can see both shores  round steep-sided shores.

I know it sounds a little far-fetched, but you can actually see the Pacific meet the Tasman Sea.

Special place.

 Slightly to the South the eastern/north coast shelter Spirits' Bay, where we pitched our tent in the very last rays of sun. The camp extends about to where the car is located. The hill on the left is inhabited by wild horses and not open to the public. It is a sacred Maori site.

Team South :-).

Trip to Northland - getting to the Bay of Islands!

Starting in Whangarei to visit the boardwalk amongst Kauri trees

The crew next to a Kauri

Stop along the magnificent Tutukaka coast, this is how you get to the light house. 

Had to U-turn 'cause of high tide!

 The carrots "sont cuites"

 Tutukaka

 Jupming the ferry in Opua to reach Russell, formerly the equivalent of the Tortuga Island of Pirates of the Carribbean (i.e. lots of lawless individuals used to live there)!

 Mano setting camp

 No I did not copy paste this from a brochure about the French Riviera...

 Late swim for Mano at Long beach, Russell

Apero!

Trip to Northland - Winding around the east coast

The tablet trying to find a free wifi in Whangarei

Trying out bodyboard at Uretiti Beach

 Stopping in the shade in the warm hours at the Waipu caves

Ending day 2 in Whangarei

 Whangarei Falls

Trip to Northland 2

First stop "above" Auckland: Warkworth

 Setting camp at Sandspit

Road trip to Northland 1

Sculpture garden - Tauwhare, on the way to the 'land.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama