Weatherwise, what a change from the storms of yesterday! It's clear, sunny and the sky is blue! Four in the group went on a pricey small plane tour of the northern tip of the North Island. Two went shopping, and Aline and I opted to visit the impressive Haruru Falls, muddied from last night's torrential rain.
From Haruru Falls, our guide Sue led us on a incredible hike 3.5 miles through lush rainforest to the town of Waitangi..
Wooden walkways take us over mangrove forests. It was cool, shady, and the scenery was amazing!
We see cormorants in their nests
and all kind of moss, ferns, mushrooms and trees along the way.
We have a quick lunch at Hansen's Cafe on the Paihia Wharf - steak and fries...
and the group is driven back to Waitangi, known as the birthplace of NZ, where the Maori and British signed a treaty in 1840 declaring peace and mutual cooperation (though I think the Maori got screwed...) On the grounds is also the Maori sacred meeting hall with carvings from different tribes.
There are also huge Maori war boats still used in pageants. One is over 120 feet long with enough room for 180 warriors, half of them paddlers. Before dinner, I soak in the hotel's spa -- soothing after the long morning hike and the tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
The group ate at Alfresco's Bar Cafe in Paihia, where I savored a salad and shrimp and scallops in a garlic cream sauce over rice. Tomorrow we leave Paihia and head back to Auckland. (I'm having a hard time pronouncing the names of the towns along the way :o)
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