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Published: October 18th 2008
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Day 564 (13.10.08)
After an early start and a drive from Thames to Auckland we stopped in at the hire car company to exchange our dirty white not working Toyota for a clean, shiny working silver car of exactly the same type. Nice work. Quickly back on the road and we spent most of the day on the road where we ate up the miles, with a quick stop at the bizarre Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa, until we made it to Paihia and the gateway to The Bay Of Islands.
Popping into the I-site to establish our options for a trip into the bay the following day we found a hostel and unpacked. Still with a little light left in the day we jumped back in the car for a scenic loop of the area taking us past the famous Waitangi Treaty House, a couple of view points and a local waterfall - very special - wrapping up the evening with a barbie.
Day 565 (14.10.08)
Getting up none the wiser as to which tour we were going to take we had something to eat and with a little help from our hostel's reception we decided on
a day trip in the bay with a company called Fullers - with the possibility of swimming with the local population of dolphins. Rushing down to the dock we got our tickets and before long were aboard our trusty vessel heading out to sea. With the weather looking a little indifferent on departure, it seemed as though the whole boat (which was only about a quarter full) had their fingers crossed for a break in the clouds. We weren't long into our trip when we had found our first pod of dolphins. It was amazing seeing them come up for air and on some occasions do a playful leap from the waters just to entertain the tourists. Unfortunately as they were feeding and had calves with them (a double no no) we weren't allowed to swim with them. It was still raining as we dragged ourselves away with some of the pod finding the bow wave and the wake great fun to play in as we departed. Fantastic.
The reason we had to leave a little sharpish is that the skipper had heard from another boat in the bay. They had found another pod of dolphins further out in
the bay, but these fellas were prime to go for a swim with. We made it over to the other pod as the sky cleared. At first it looked like it was going to be just us two who would be swimming with them, but others soon got over the fact that it was pretty chilly and joined in the change into the wetsuits and goggles. With the dolphins swimming around the boat eager to play with the unsuspecting tourists about to be thrown to them, the crew lowered a cargo net into the water and gave us the do's and dont's for when we were in the water. Jumping down into the net we were soon out with them. It was incredible. There were (at a guess) more than 10 dolphins in the pod and they were as intrigued with us as we were with them as they swam along with you, less than a foot away. We swam following them, diving with them and generally enjoying each others company for a good half an hour before were were called back to the boat. Needless to say, we were the last two back having thoroughly enjoyed a truly amazing,
closeup and personal experience with the dolphins. That would be hard to beat!
Dryed and dressed we were given a cup of hot chocolate to warm up and were back out on deck with the sun now shining. We went to see and then go through the hole in the rock at the seaward edge of the bay before making our way back toward the islands and our lunch stop at Urapukapuka island. After our nosh we had time to climb the two viewpoints where we got some great views, especially as we had the luxury of blue sky by now.
Some more islands and stories later as well as a 'drive' past the black rocks, a quite unique phenomenon caused by Lava flow into the sea, and we were homeward back to Paihia. It had been an amazing day in the beautiful Bay of Islands - a real highlight of the North Island.
We didn't hang around, as soon as we had docked we went to our hostel to grab our bags out of storage before making the windy journey over the peninsula to Ahipara, the staging post for our adventure up the 90 mile beach.
On arriving we found an amazing hostel called the Endless Summer Lodge where we settled down to some dinner and a great chat with an Austrian couple who were embarking on their trip around NZ - good luck guys.
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