Tutukaka

Arrived at Tutukaka. Found the dive shop which was shut but asked at a restaurant for a camp site as we hadn't seen one and amazingly there was this one just 100m around the corner! Fantastic! Dive shop, camp site, restaurants, bar and cigarette shop all within 3 mins walk around a really nice marina - result!!! Great end to the trip! :)

Dinner in Schnappa Rock was excellent. Landed on our feet here.

The scenic route to diving

Left the Kauri Forest and the scenic route took us by this bay. From there it was a 2 hour drive to the East coast this time where we were going to dive the next day.

Road ended up very small and twisty. At one point nearly run down a herd of cows which were casually crossing the road for milking completely unattended. Reached an impasse when one just stood in the middle of the road staring at us whilst quietly munching on some grass. Missed the classic photo op sadly :(

Lord of the Forest

You can read the story if you like but another stop and a little walk to our last big tree.

Off to see the Kauris

So I bet you're wondering by now what the hell is a Kauri anyway.

So it's a big tree native only to the North of NZ and here are 2 notable examples. The Four Sisters is 2 trees with two trunks each all merged together and the other is the 2nd biggest - can't remember the name.

There you go.

Cleansing river

Stopped off at the river to clean an inch of mud of our boots. A nice place for a fag too!

In the woods

Up early and drive up into the Waipoa Kauri Forest proper. A quick stop at the Visitors Centre and then set off on the Lookout Trail. Trail went up through the forest for one very muddy hour. Luckily I had my very sensible walking boots on but Brian had his bright running shoes on - not bright any more!

Got to the top and there was a tower to climb up with views of the 9,000 hectare forest.

An hour back down the trail and time for a ham and cheese wrap!

Kauri Coast Holiday Park

Staying the night in a great little camp site right in the National Park with a river going round it with kids floating down on rubber rings. Got chatting to the neighbours (did we have a choice?!) and they gave us some tips for the next few days. Nothing like a bit of local knowledge then!