The Northern Circle. Tuesday 2nd June 2020

I have tried to get hold of an old school friend, Jeanette, but she can't meet up with us until tomorrow so to day we are off in the car to drive through the countryside and several small towns in  Northland. Our first stop is Kerikeri, which is a modern bustling town, where the citrus industry (also kiwifruit) seems to have bolstered the farming economy. We have morning tea here. From there we visit Tauranga Bay on the Eastern side of the Northland Coastline. We went there one year when we first started camping - got talking to this guy who recommended going to Hahei instead.

It is a lovely beach and Duncan sort of recognises the camping ground layout. Simon was one, so it is a while ago!!

All the pasture seems so green and lush - as I was trying to show in this next shot, and the stock looked particularly well cared for.

We cruised into Whangaroa which was a sheltered spot with millions of dollars worth of boats anchored in the marina There was also an extensive area of oyster farms.

These people seemed to have an extraordinarily large boat in their driveway which they were painting. I dont know how they are going to get it into the sea again!! 

Then on through more attractive pastoral scenes.

We stopped for lunch at Mangonui. It was lovely to sit outside, but the seagulls were dancing in attendance.

Duncan had the seafood chowder - there seemed to be a large fishing enterprise at the small port nearby.

Cooper's Beach had a large Opulent subdivision - but nothing too interesting here.

We then head to Kaitaia. We pass the Awanui Pub where Duncan stayed  while on a cricket trip. He was just a schoolboy, back home for the holidays, but got shouted beers left right and centre and got to experience a hangover! Its amazing what will concentrate the mind, and although he did not bat particularly well, he managed to take five sharp catches in the slips and at cover. At Kaitaia we sat for a while so that I could listen to Fiona Glengary's funeral via zoom. It was a very good experience - although the organist fumbled a bit. 

Now we are at the top of our loop and turn South, back down SH1 again for a while before branching back to Paihia. At Okaihau there is a big conglomerate of primary, secondary and intermediate schools which obviously serves a large rural area. We pass through about 3pm and there are large numbers of buses and children.

The final point of interest was the presence of a Macadamia farm , however either it was being replanted or had been let down to a great extent. A bit of a disappointment.  There have been a number of macadamia growers up north that have the older style of trees where you have to scramble among the prickly leaves to pick the nuts. Often they are picked before they come to full maturity.  They are very resentful to Vanessa who has taken over 30 years to develop new strains, and now they have to PAY for new trees.

Monday June 1st 2020 Heading to the Bay of Islands

The rain in the night has been torrential and the rivers are muddy and swollen. It has eased quite a bit by the time we get up and so we do a quick walk around the camping ground before leaving. We have to drive the winding road to Tane Mahuta again, then on until we come to the Hokianga Harbour.

 The brochure says that we should "Be warned, your first glimpse of the harbour may well take your breath away on a fine day" - Mmmm just one ingredient missing there. However the hills remind me of Phyl's painting - Heading North which we have above our fireplace.

 We have to go to the hotel in Opononi to get a coffee mid morning. They are doing a roaring trade, and even have a roaring fire going.  The caravan looks good beside the waterfront - the statue of a small child with Opo marks the town's claim to fame

We carry on through pleasant farmland and small towns which mostly have their shops shut until we get to the Bay of Islands. It is just after 12  when we get to the Pahia camping ground where they say - Office closed until 1.30pm. So we decide to park in a suitable spot and have some lunch. But this camping ground has no suitable spots for a caravan being towed - it seems to only be for campervans, so after a few frustrating attempts - making some ugly mud tracks in their lawn we leave. We head to Bay of Islands camping ground - inland a bit, but with very good facilities. Then we head back into town for a bit of a look around, but it is not terribly pleasant out of the car. We drive past the Treaty House, but operations there are not fully up and running after COVID,and there are only a small number of static displays.  Then it was back to settle down at the camping ground.

SpecialTrees Sunday 31st May 2020

Despite a heavy shower of rain early morning, we have enjoyed our night at Kauri Coast Holiday Park and decide to stay another night and do our Kauri Tree Walks today rather than when we leave here towing the caravan.

Duncan goes for a short run, then we are off through lush green pasture with impressive stock and sheep. We had been expecting drought conditions, but it looked in very good order.

Our first stop is at Trounson Kauri Park which is a loop track. We had to go through a hygiene Area where our boots are scrubbed and sprayed with disinfectant because of Kauri dieback.

As your foot stands on this grid the weight activates the disinfectant spray. 
I probably got an extra big dose!

Trounson Park is over 500Ha of closely growing Kauri Trees. The track is 1.7km, dotted with information boards - not whole sentences - so the effect is rather poetic. For example, by the Weta display:

Scary in your gumboots

Around since the dinosaurs.

Well maintained boardwalks

Lots of large specimens

A chip off the old block, I guess.

Lots of epiphytes on the upper branches

Beautiful Bark

A few young specimens

Trounson Park was probably the highlight of my trip North.

Its a long and winding road to Tane Mahuta. Duncan remembers going to see it with his grandfather - a very dour Scotsman from Southland - who pronounced it dead. We are happy to report that it is still living 64 years later

Photos never do things on this scale justice.

A selfie of course!

Although it is heading in the other direction we decide to go to Kai Iwi Lakes.  before returning to the caravan. Kai Iwi Lakes are dune lakes - a hard pan of rocks was covered by sand during the Pleistocene Period, then the three lakes gradually filled up. This is where Duncan learned to waterski - a skill he has failed to try again in the next 53 years.

Shops or cafes are very scarce in this area, but we manage to pick up a loaf of bread and head back to the caravan for a very late lunch. The weather is quite squally now, and we are happy to relax in the caravan.