Paihia Off The Beaten Path

ever wanted to give sand tobogan a try ? well, i did give it a go. it was brilliant ! a whole lot of fun. i do not have any pics of anyone doing this as we were advised not to take out cameras along and so i only have this picture to remember going down the board.
we first had to ' hike ' up this dune and then at some point, put your board down and then our bus driver told us how to brake with our feet ! and going down this dune was fun ! i only had one go at it as it was really tiring to ' hike ' up this sand dune.
was fun !

Waitangi Flag Pole. - Hone Heke (a Maori Chief) was the first person to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. He soon began to fear the Pakeha (or white man) would take all their land. Ironically, he flew the American flag on his war canoe. He cut the flagpole was cut down four times. It became the scene of many protests and fighting between the Maori and the Pakeha. The Governor made peace with Heke but ironically it was only after Hone Heke passed away that the flagpole was re-erected.
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The Waitangi National Trust Reserve is a rare piece of land preserved in an unusual way. It consists of 506 hectares (1000 acres) and was gifted to New Zealanders as a place of historic interest, recreation, enjoyment and benefit. Waitangi looks across the water to Russell and out past Cape Brett to the open Pacific Ocean. Whare Rununga (a Maori Meeting House) is a national monument to the people of New Zealand and their ancestors.

Open 9am.-5pm. 7 days a week.
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On your way up from Auckland to The Bay of Islands do take time to visit the Giant Kauri trees at Waipoua Forest in Northland. The "God of the Forest" is reached by an easy 5 minute walk from the parking area. It is called Tane Mahuta by the Maori's. It is 51 metres tall and has a girth of 14 metres. It is estimated to be 1,500 years old.
At the parking area is a caravan where a lady serves tea and coffee and lovely biscuits to refresh you during the trip!
There is also a Kauri Museum at Dargaville. This museum shows the role these huge trees have played in NZ history. It is the Matakohe Kauri Museum.

i just had to take this picture of my feet in this clear water !

I decided to go for a sailing trip around the beautiful Bay of Island. Our skipper, a very friendly Kiwi was very knowledgeable as he has sailed round the world !

A 36.5-metre canoe stands in a canoe house at Waitangi.
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