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Published: September 1st 2015
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It’s a new day and time to do the Rainbow Falls River Track at a more leisurely pace. The NZMCA Motorhome Park is at the top of the falls so you can hear the noise even from inside. The Rainbow Falls is 27 metres high and impressive. It’s quite difficult to take clear photos at the bottom as the misty drift covers the camera lens today. Further down the track is the Wharepuke falls not quite as impressive as the Rainbow but still very pretty. Then to the end of the track at the Kerikeri Basin where the Stone Store (oldest stone building in NZ built 1832) and Kemp House (oldest wooden building in NZ built in 1821) sit. I remember holidaying here as a child, back when the road ran around in front of the store and across a bridge. Now access is only across a footbridge to the other side of the river. We poked our head into the store as I was hoping to see if it still was how I remembered as a kid………no lollies lined up in glass jars I'm afraid. We then followed the path around the front of Pear Tree Restaurant and headed out
to take photos out from the Kororipo Pa site (this was at one stage the home pa of Hongi Hika, the famous Ngapuhi fighting chief). From here we took the Bush walk back to town. Collected our repaired and service bikes then off on a bike ride back to the Motorhome.
Day 82
Up early and off to the Kerikeri Market. Another cool market, with local fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, wine, cheeses, meat, fish and great coffee. Breakfast today was yummy Mussel Fritters and coffee. For all you Paleo eaters, there was an impressive Paleo stall with a good selection of mouth-watering food.
It’s time for a change of scenery so we have headed out to Matauri Bay for the next week. This is a beautiful bay about 33kms North of Kerikeri with a Motor Camp right on the beach. So yes we have a room with a view😊 The rain is due to hit tomorrow but I'm sure it won’t stop us getting out and exploring.
Day 83 – 84
Well the weather has not been as bad as expected (or maybe we are still to get it?). What
have we been up to the last couple of days? Well we climbed the hill at the bottom of the camp to the pa site and to ‘The Rainbow Warrior Ship’ Memorial. The Rainbow Warrior was originally known as Sir William Hardy, a UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Trawler. In 1978 it became Greenpeace’s first ship and renamed the Rainbow Warrior. On July the 10
th 1985 a couple of French Military Divers (acting on orders from the French Defence Minister) attached a couple of bombs whilst it was berthed in Auckland. The bombs went off killing a Greenpeace photographer and sinking the ship. The tangata whenua of Matauri Bay Ngati Kura offered a final resting place for the Rainbow Warrior and on December 2, 1987, the ship was scuttled to form a living memorial at a short distance from Matauri Bay. It is now a popular dive spot and fish sanctuary. The memorial was made by international sculptor Chris Booth. The photo opportunity would be magnificent on a clear day, as you look out across to Cavalli Islands. Will definatley be back up when the weather clears😊.
A bit of bike riding around Matauri Bay and the
new subdivision has seen me practice my uphill riding (No I still don’t like those hills). The hill out of Matauri Bay is ugly so unlikely I will attempt that bike ride whilst we are here. The highlight the last couple of days has to be a pod of dolphins playing in the Bay. About 7 or 8 Dolphins were surfing the waves and ducking and diving with the surfers and paddleboarders. To say the least I was gobsmacked when I saw 5 of them surround a lone surfer and ride the wave with him. You may ask where was my camera (around my neck!!!!) but I was just so wowed by it all it never entered my mind till it was all over. I hope they come back😊.
Day 85
Ok I shouldn’t have spoken too soon. What a wild night last night. Blowing a gale all night and our motorhome was a rocking. There were a lot of very tired campers wandering around this morning, but nothing a Nanna nap, wouldn’t cure. After a stormy night we have been treated to a glorious day. The sea is still wild on the North Western side
which made for some great photos. Another climb up the hill today, to check the view out to sea. What a surprise………..nobody fishing today.
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