http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , North Island , Northland , Paihia en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:32:04 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:32:04 UTC TinaHi everyone its Sunday today and you've guessed it another hangover two weeks on the trot however another fab party Anyway more of that later first off I'll start where we left off.Got to Auntie Jan's and Uncle Norm's last monday when we blogged and our plans were to go with them on the Tuesday to there bach pronounced batch and is the kiwi term for a holiday home however Uncle Nor http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-265918.html Saturday 1st MarchUp in time to get out to the Post Shop again and once again it's raining. Peter says that the dive boats aren't out today as it's too rough and when I get picked up by the Magic Bus apparently all the boat trips today have been cancelled at Paihia too there's a gale blowing in We're not sure what that means for my overnight boat cruise Rock the Boat tonight they haven't http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-251472.html On leaving Auckland we headed North to Paihi at the Bay of Islands. This is supposed to be a really beautiful bay and a must to do a boat trip around. It was really pretty for the evening we arrived there but then the day we had our boat trip booked for the weather was awful really cloudy rainy windy and so the boat was cancelled This happened to be Valentines Day so Rina Carrie and I decide http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-249442.html The Bay of Islands has a reputation a must see for visitors and I can see why. A beautiful harbour lots of islands and plenty to do. You can go fishing sailing or cruising for any length of time you like in a boat of any size you choose. Here you need to have savings unless you just watch others having fun. We took a mornings boat ride round the islands and through the famous hole in th http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-218828.html A superb day. We joined a small number ot others for a day trip into the Bay Of Islands on a large catamaran. The weather smiled on us. For fun I helped haul the mainsail which was hard work. It was georgous sailing through the bay. We stopped at a lovely island where we were ferried ashore by inflatable. A walk to the viewpoint at the top of the island gave us splendid vistas over the bays many http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-160547.html Coucou Malheureusement vous n'aurez pas de photos pour le moment... on a pas acces a un USB.... Par contre on a un peu de temps d'internet pour vous faire un update Nous avons quitte la grande ville de Aukland Samedi le 11 mai apres avoir pris possession de notre Maggie c'est le nom que la dame a donne a notre camper van et ... comme elle nous a dit She's a very good girl hehe Nous http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-158631.html Final leg of my little tour was Tauranga Mt Maunganui . I didnrsquot really do much there apart from lounge on the beach and read a few books. Riveting stuff ehh. By the way Bill Clinton my life 14 canrsquot go wrong. Anyone who can find a book with a better price per page email me. On the Friday I shot back up to Auckland for the night to watch the Blues Vs Warratahs in rugby at Eden p http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-144580.html We were picked up outside our hotel at 9am by the Ezy Car rentals people and taken out to their offices near the airport to pickup our Nissan Pulsar for our little touring holiday. Auckland is a reasonably easy place to get around so by 10 we were outside the city heading North for Kumara's and Kauri's. It seems Kumara's are a sweet potato brought to the islands by the Maori sometime during the c http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-127550.html Today we drove over to Ahipara which is the southern point of 100 Mile Beach on the west coast and hired toboggans to go down the sand dunes but without much success. They were very high and steep to climb up but the sledges we got collected the sand in front of them and so coming back down was very slow. I rolled down half in a sleeping bag which was very fast very scary and ended in me in a h http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-93265.html On Friday I did a free bus trip around Auckland and met Ester and Tavis both from England who said they would come on a road trip with me. I bought a car after 3 hours of being in the city from some English traveler who had driven it up from Christchurch. The three of us drove up Northland to Paihai pronounced Piehere stopping at lookouts along the way. Its very beautiful and great to see g http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-93262.html Caught a bus to Paihia. it's like white rock lots of beach warm little touristy shops and lots of tours to book. We arrived went for a swim and a tan which turned into a horrible burn all over. Also a guy who looked like he was wearing his underwear and lived in a van came eup to us and said Could I pay you girls yo be photographers for a minute and we were like ...Ok and he kind http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-42145.html When i grow up i want to be a sailorAnother beautiful day in Paihia and Cinderalla finally gets a day off. Booked my self onto a sailing trip around the bay of islands and got to live the high life for a day. I got to stear the boat which was great not sure the other passengers agreed but i was loving every minute We set out early morning and sailed for a couple of hours before arriving at a li http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-41319.html Hello everyone yup it's true i'm still scrubbing away in Paihia Had the great job of cleaning out the fridges today marc where were you We had a deal that i would get rid of the spiders and have done so on a couple of occasions huge beasts they were too and marc would sort out the off milk. You owe me Am feeling slightly less wise at the moment though after 23 years of unblemished dent http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-40262.html i've moved on from the beach. well we have. i met a few people at the hostel in ahipara and we decided to move on to a small 'farm hostel' in the middle of nowhere because the host makes homemade pizza. we surfed twice yesterday. i'm determined to master the short board. on my way here though not really on my way i drove to see where the tasman sea and the pacific meet. it was neat to be http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-27582.html Next door to Paihia is Waitangi this is the birth place of New Zealand. We went to Waitangi treaty grounds this is where the treaty was signed between England Busby 1840 and the Maori chiefs for protection of the island by queen Elizabeth and peace on the island. But this is also after the europeans invaded the island and caused all the upheaval in the first place. We watched a short history v http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-25327.html Stayed in a little town called Paihia. It's the gateway to the Bay of Islands. Supposed to be one of NZs most scenic areas. It's nice but after being in Thailand it's not too spectacular. The bay has about 150 islands and is where Captain Cook first landed. There is a village call Russel nearby where the first official governent was based and also where Britain signed an agreement with all of the http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-20749.html So much to add since I last managed to updateTravelled out from Auckland to Paihia. As a result of bad weather could not go out for any activities this afternoon but Kiwi Exp found us a different opportunity at some hot mud pools. Was really relaxing and we were filmed by Kiwi at the same time believe it will be for some new videos showing kiwi exp activitiesHad an amazing day yesterday on a t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-20344.html Hi now in Paihia in the bay of islands and yesterday it was beautiful weather and today well it has gone somewhat downhill and has been raining. Staying in another YHA hostel amazing room like a studio area with two double rooms attached but there is noone booked in the other room at present and so we have it all to ourselfs. The only thing that would make it better is having a kitchen in it a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-19965.html From trip of mid February '05 Headed North first as suggested by various books was shocked to feel like I'd landed in L.A. after 16 hrs of plane travel when I arrived in Aukland the first night. Walked across to a pretty little beach but was still in a sectioned off suburbia. At last reached little harbor town of Paihia after stopping at Kawakawa to use the famous toilets recycled gl http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-12823.html Sam and Jo came to meet me at the airport in Auckland and we jumped in our family sized hire car just as well given all our luggage to start our 5 day road trip to the Northland area. We quickly faced our first challenge.... trying to get out of the city We could see the motorway we wanted to get on to and spent a happy half hour zig zagging over it on bridges and driving along side it but I http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-11468.html We took the east coast highway northwards stopping only for one night in Orewa to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. As we drove through Auckland the fabled subtropical climate of the North was kickingin and soon we knew we were leaving the bad weather behind us.In Paihia the first thing we did was to go our for a slapup chinese banquet to celebrate Tim's quittingsmokinganniversary where Emm http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-10520.html OK so we have been in the Northland for the last 6 days. Our main area is a town called Paihia which is in the Bay of Islands. We also took a day trip up to Cape Reinga which is the northern most part of the country and where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. We did some dune boarding while we were up there as well. There is much more to tell but I figure I would just post pictures t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-10509.html We have going nonstop for the last 5 days. I have dropped my camera off to have the pictures put on CD so I can upload them. I promise to have pictures in 24 hours. We have met tons of people from all over the world. England Spain Denmark Holland Brazil Australia Thailand Canada South Africa. Still haven't met any Americans since we've down here. Just wanted everyone to know I am st http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-10396.html All day on my feetLook out Waitangi and Beach.Can't wait to sit down.None of us were really all that motivated to get up too early. Tine and I slowly made and ate our breakfast and waited for Jasper to get his act together. We eventually headed out and went on an easy walk to a look out point over Pahia. We had a pretty good view of Russell and some of the surrounding areas. Jasper of course http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-7781.html Stray tour up NorthSix nice people to tour withLet the games begin...Okay finally I get to move on from Auckland. My tour pass with Stray up to Northland begins today and I'm super excited to finally be headed out of the city.Since it is now the off season there were only six of us on tour which is a nice sized tour group. Our drivertour guide for the day Auto was one wacky dude. Really cool http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-7775.html Kia Ora You know what's weird about NZ No native mammals or any poisonous beasts in the wild. I've just had a nice long solitary walk in a eucalyptus forest minus the koalas and am sitting in Kerikeri's super happenin' Internet cafe McDonalds. Let's talk about McDonald's differences because everyone likes it. The menu here is different from America. Sorry no Le Royales.Every http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-7583.html We got picked up at 10am and taken to the car rental place to pick up our car it's a great day and after a wee check over for scratches and that we're on our way to the Bay of Islands in Northland the top of New Zealand.We have 3 different maps and they all say Paihia is 270 KM from Auckland but they all give different estinates for time the AA goes with 7 hours and our hostel sugests 3.5 hours http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-3469.html We're just back from a great weekend in the Bay of Islands in the north of New Zealand. We went with Magic a company that specialises in backpacker tours and covers the whole country and takes you to places that you might not find if you were to drive yourself.On the way to Paihia the town we were staying in we went up the west coast of Northland through forests and past lovely beaches on t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-1648.html I really enjoyed seakayaking when I tried it in Canada last year so I was looking forward to having another go here in N.Z.nbsp Although last time I was in a tandem kayak with the instructor 091I suspect093 doing most of the work.nbsp This time in Paihia the guide said I should try a single kayak the main difference would be I would be in control of steering aswell as the paddling.I http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-892.html As I am sitting here I seem to be getting eaten alive by little black flies that don't even have the decency to injectnbspa chemical so I don't feel itI am a bit stuck for words at the minute so this won't be a long entry andnbspI have left my written journal back at the hostel so I will fill in a log about the trip to Dubai later in the week.I am feeling a little dodgy I went on this 40knot http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-844.html