Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga and The Rock Boat Cruise

This is perfection.

Arriving only 4.5 hours after leaving Auckland, the green kiwi experience bus pulled into the Bay of Islands township of Paihia. The area was once known as the hell whole of the pacific, due to the influence of it's port dwellers - generally British sailors and the criminals of foreign societies - who made the most of their time on dry land, by drinking, fighting and frequenting brothels. Today, the Bay of Islands are quite different - besides the backpackers... and they have a beauty that's best seen from off shore, right in the heart of it all, by boat.

I was fortunate enough to arrive on a day when overnight boat cruise The Rock www.rocktheboat.co.nz - was due to depart for a 24 hour trip around the islands. I've never done so many different things within such a short time - and at such great value. From Kayaking, to fishing, snorkelling to Mussel diving, and more!! We saw at least 3 pods of Dolphins during the trip, as well as a couple of penguins and all sorts of other marine and bird life. The crew were friendly and good fun, and they made an awesome BBQ despite the fact only Tanya and I were the only people on board to catch fish - and having said that, they were pretty small!!! Thankfully, they'd already done a spot of fishing earlier!

If anyone would like to know more about this cruise, please feel free to leave an e-mail address in the comments and I'll happily tell you more!

Cape Reinga was a brilliant trip which was made the following day to my arrival on shore again in Paihia. Given that I'd been out drinking with the crew the previous night, I was not quite with it for the early part of the day and trying to get up the sand dunes to board down them on Ninety mile Beach ( not actually 90 miles...) almost killed me!! But it was wicked fun!

The Cape itself was just spectacular and it was so cool seeing where another set of ocean/seas met, after having done the same in South West Australia - this time it was the very north of New Zealand!

On the way back from the Cape we stopped in several little towns, where we had fish and chips, viewed ancient Kauri swamp wood - pretty amazing really as this stuff has been unearthed dating 45,000 years, somehow being buried in these swamps found in the Northland.

There's so much that I could go into about this trip, but I think I'd end up writing an essay - so I will just say that to all of you who have been asking me - YES - New Zealand absolutely rocks in the beauty stakes!!!! And thank fully the weather was great!!! Hurrah for the winterless north!

Oh and once again, to totally plug the Rock overnight cruise... I meant to add that you did everything described and more for only $138!!!!