New Zealand - On route to Bay of Islands

Heading North, we took Route 1 North before the Route 12 round the West coast (Mr Lawson's top tip). There's some amazing rural scenery with mountains in the distance, regular glimpses of sea or mangroves and for me the GOTD (Geek of the day) moment was getting excited about the Tree Ferns...they are just brilliant!


We stopped at Matakohe to visit the Kauri Museaum - interesting if somewhat rambling set up of early pioneers to the area who made a living from timber and digging for gum (amber). Pretty much sounded like the wild west but without the saloons. Also points to the quality of the Kauri tree timber and why it's now desperatelt being protected to stop the remaining bits of forest being destroyed. It was fairly wet and miserable again on the way up though so we didn't do any of the little walks.


We did disembark in the Waipoua Forest to have a look at Tane Mahuta - a tree of no great height but significant girth (no sniggers at the back). Reputed to be the biggest known Kauri tree in New Zealand. As it's still early season and it was a little damp, it was pretty quiet.








Then it was off through a road totally enclosed with native forests through the twists and turns before emerging near Hokianga Harbour.

Again our forray out from the car was limited - mainly as it started to lash down and was blowing something of a gale. Pity really as on a clear day you can imagine it being a beautiful spot. From there we headed East and finished our five hour journey in our destination of Paihia. We were looking forward to the peace and quiet. Therefore delighted to see our hotel was the finishing point for the North Island Rally Championship. Technically the Mean Green Machine was the first to get the chequered flag so we felt we earnt the shower of champagne we somehown managed to end up in.