Days 4-6 Bay of Islands to Rotorua

We were really lucky that the weather was so good for us in Paihia on the Bay of Islands. We arrived on Sunday and on Monday Dave decided he wanted to drive over to the west coast to see a big tree. As we drove through the forested hills and gently rolling farmland from the South Pacific to the Tasman Sea you become aware of the isolated lives people must live. Ramshackle wooden slat houses were scattered here and there and we passed through a couple of small villages with a garage, a discount store and a couple of other shops on either side of the road.
We hardly saw another car over the hour and a half drive and arrived at Opononi, a small beach town. We pulled off the road under the trees and just gazed in wonder at the fabulous bay in front of us. A sheltered inlet surrounded by giant sand dunes on one side and forested hills on the other. And no one else around. That what amazes us. In England we are so used to sharing any lovely part of the country with hordes of visitors but here you have the tranquility and space to truly enjoy these wonderful places.
We then drove on to the ancient Kauri forests and walked to Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's largest living Kauri tree. Impressed? Well it certainly was a big bugger!
The next day we set off on our day cruise around the islands. It was a glorious day, hot and sunny all the way. Within an hour of setting off we were enthralled by a large pod of dolphin including several baby and juvenile ones. they swam alongside, jumped and dived under the boat -just fantastic. We learned a lot about the history of these islands and their people.

Off to bed now so to be continued.............