Well we went to Cape Reinga anyway at the very northernmost point of New Zealand. The last 20km were on a dirt/gravel/mud road with the usual Kiwi hairpin bends and steep ups and downs, but it was worth it. Photos don’t really do justice to this magnificent place where the Maori believe their spirits leave the islands.

Before going up (and after coming back down) we stayed at a wonderful little camp site on an inlet from the ocean at Houhora Heads.

We are eating well. Fresh fish is in abundance in supermarkets, however, we are having to learn all the unrecognizable names. They do have salmon and snapper, but why just eat what you can get anywhere?
Talking of eating fish, we had fish and chips from a takeout last night that were really inexpensive, $3 NZ (~$2.25 CAN) for a piece of fish and the best we’ve had yet. This was close to were we stayed in yet another camp-site – ‘freedom’ camping where you park overnight anywhere you like is discouraged on the West coast – at Opononi.
Last night we were in Parakai, famous for its hot springs. On the way there from Opononi we stopped to look at the oldest Kauri tree here which is believed to be around 2000 years old. You may get some idea of the size of it from the people at its base.

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