Day 65 – The Northland

We were picked up from our Hostel, The Pipi Patch Lodge, around 7 by the tour guide, Spike, in the coach. We immediately warmed to Spike’s humour and constant light swearing. On the way to our first stop, a boardwalk through the rain forest, spike gave told us some background about New Zealand and the area we were driving through. He continued to do this throughout the day and I feel I’ve learnt a lot about the lands I’m about to explore.

The boardwalk we took was originally built for the Queen but she only stepped out on to the first part when she visited. The 15 minute walk took us through some of the New Zealand rainforest, or bush as Spike called it. Got to see some huge native trees that are thousands of years old.

On the way to our second stop, giant sand dunes, we pulled over to assist a lady whose car had rolled over into a ditch; she was fine. Nearing the dunes I could see them rise out of rolling green hills in the distance. To reach the base the coach was driven off road down a sand stream. Wish I’d have been driving!

Collecting body boards from under the coach we had a quick safety briefing before trekking up one big dune. For our first run Spike set us up and pushed us off. The first few people hit bumps and wiped out everywhere but luckily I made it to the bottom. With each of the four runs I did I got more daring to the point where I was sprinting at the top before diving head first down the dune. When we were done I had sand all over me and as Spike put it would be “shiting sand castles for a week”.

We took lunch at one of the few north facing beaches to be found on the North Island. The water was too cold for me so I opted to relax and read a book and take in the sound of the sea.

Heading the final few miles up the beach we reached Cape Reinga. This part of the country is regarded by the Maori as the most sacred land, where the spirits depart the islands on their way back to their homeland. The view from and around the lighthouse that marks the cape are akin to some of the rugged coastline of North Wales. What stood out was the convergence of the Tasmanian Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Waves travelled in opposing directions and curved around the headland.

Heading back south we took a drive along drive on 90 mile beach; actually its 64 miles but originally its distance was estimated from the time it trader’s oxen to cover the three day walk.

The next few stops were touristy and consisted of an ice cream shop where, for $2, we got several scoops and a wood craft shop whose only interesting feature was a staircase carved inside a tree trunk.

Next we picked up fish and chips en route back to the Bay of Islands. Hmm, fresh fish and chips!

Really enjoyed the tour and learnt a lot along the way. We covered more than I think we could of in the car and I don’t think I’d have liked driving the twisty and gravelly roads.

On return to the hostel I went out for a run to the place where the first treaty between the British and the Maori was signed. Felt good to get some exercise and I noticed the time at altitude has made a noticeable difference.