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Beautiful Bay of Islands

It is truly stunning here with native bush covered islands breaking up the blue sea.  Scott and I are already making plans to return with a boat so we can potter around from beach to beach. We are booked on the ferry to go out to the Hole in the Rock.  We have also booked to swim with the dolphins and are the only three people at the safety briefing.  The boat is quite full so it must be the cold temperatures which are putting people off.  It’s a great cruise and we see seals basking on the rocks and playing in the water on our way out. Monday is also mail day so we pull into two private islands to deliver mail. We pass through the rock at the top of the trip and on returning home another boat radios in to say they have spotted a humpback whale. We are full speed ahead to the place they were spotted.  We are then treated to a baby humpback playing in he water including a full breach which is where they leap out of the water and turn.  It was quite incre...
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James has discovered there is a spectacular local waterfall so that is our first stop of the day. The Whangarei falls are a short walk from the car park and very impressive.  James is the official photographer today so takes lots of shots.  Then it’s onto my Manaia for a picturesque but challenging walk up the my for some spectacular views of Whangārei heads.  Scott’s phone later reveals we have walked up the equivalent of 144 flights of stairs today.... Lunch is a picnic on a windswept beach.  Then it’s onto the toilets at Kawakawa.  Emma has already learnt about Hunderwasser at school so we take some snaps to share.  Emma shows me how the artist hates straight lines and how the tiles are all slightly askew.  The toilets are followed by an ice cream  and then onto Paihia. It’s stunning here and the kids enjoy the pool briefly and we head down to the beachfront to enjoy happy hour at the local bar.  It’s a live band on Sunday night and th...
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It was an early start to our holiday as the children are keen to make the most of the Koru lounge.  We enjoyed a leisurely two hours there before boarding our plane to Auckland.   To my horror I discover that I have my car keys in my bag and uncle mike has driven off keyless.  Fingers crossed he didn’t stop on the way home or he will be stranded! We pick up our rental car and head to the north shore to have lunch with the Changs. They have a beautiful home with great views of the harbour.   We are thoroughly spoilt and treated to homemade dumplings, sushi and pizza.  Reluctantly we have to leave and drive to Whangarei which is our first stop. We drive to the town basin and play in the playground, admire the waterfront and ogle a few large launches.    We are starting to get hungry (but only a little as it has been a day of eating) and come across Jimmy Jacks rib and craft beer.  Busy, family friendly and fast service it ticks all the boxes. ...
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