After a full night’s sleep, we packed up and left around 9am for The Bay of Islands. Breakfast was croissants and juice in the car, the weather was overcast and drizzly.

Pitstops along the way 1) Parry Kauri Park to see the 800 year old Kauri tree, a few of you have stood by the tree but it is now fenced off. 2) Piroa Falls, these are fairly small in New Zealand’s standards but nevertheless still impressive. 3) Haruru Falls, larger than the previous ones. We also walked part of the Waitangi Track Walk whilst here.

We we’re now only 10 mins from the hotel so we parked the car up and checked in. Btw the weather was now very hot and sunny in case you were wondering.

A short walk down to the bay front and we booked tickets for the passenger ferry to Russell, had a little stroll around, we took in the oldest Church in New Zealand (1835) and then found the Duke of Marlborough for a beer. This place holds NZ’s first liquor license and has been “refreshing rascals and reprobates since 1827” (which one are we?)

Took a very steep walk, clue’s in the title ‘Flagstaff Hill Walk’ up to a 360 degree viewpoint, it was stunning. We thought we saw our first Kiwi bird but it turned out to be a Weka, the bush chicken! Then a very quick walk back down to catch the 7pm ferry back to Paihia, didn’t take long to find ‘The Crafty Local’ for another beer and dinner with a lovely view over the bay front.