Exploring Inland

ABrocke

I haven't mentioned this previously but every aspiring architect in New Zealand must start by designing public toilets. Here are three that we have admired from Rotorua, Napier and Paihia.

We had not done anything to acknowledge the traditional owners on this trip so we felt a bit guilty. As penance we went to the Waitangi Treaty grounds and did the tour. It was slightly informative, sanitised (except for the bit about Russell) and rather dull. The best bits were the spectacularly carved canoe and Meeting House. 

Lyn liked the carvings too. While we were snapping our pictures, two large Maori performers in full regalia and armed to the teeth walked out. The effect was a little spoiled when one fierce warrior said to the other, "I really need to hydrate".

Oh - the bit about Russell. This area is the first area of European settlement. There were missionaries, whalers, traders and escaped convicts from Australia. Today the latter were blamed for Russell gaining the reputation of being, "the Hellhole of the Pacific". This would sound more serious if the locals didn't keep pronouncing it, "Hullholl of thuh Pissifuk".

Then we drove off inland. First we saw Haruru Falls (see above).

Then we saw the two oldest European buildings in New Zealand. They are in a beautiful recreation reserve in Kerikeri. The most impressive is a stone store called the "Stone Store". 

The Stone Store is in the background. Lyn is looking at the ducks.

Happy to be near ducks.

Happy to be near Lyn

Then we saw the beautiful Rainbow Falls which have a rainbow.

Then we went further inland to Pukenui Forest to see big Kauri trees and saw them.

If Lyn looks grumpy here it is because big trees are scary (apparently) and she was afraid of getting lost. You can see that the path is very faint ... it was also a circular path ... but she was not happy.

Back in Paihia Lyn went for a foreshore walk while I powered up the mountain behind Paihia. I was nearing the summit, feeling mightily pleased with myself, when a young couple with two children about 7 and 8 walked past me on the return journey. At the top another couple were there with their dog. I felt a little deflated. Still, my iPad had recovered so ...

Then we had a last Bay of Islands swim. 

Tomorrow we head South.