Day 12 ~ Morning swim at Matapouri then on to The Bay of Islands

Morning swim at Matapouri

An unusual sight here as a long timber train goes through; I think this is the first time we have actually been stopped for a train. There are no physical barriers just lights flashing!

Esmé outside the Explore office as we have tickets for this boat trip. 
Helen used to work for this company in Auckland.

Down at the wharf waiting for the boat

On board and tucking into the toasted sandwiches we had bought

Leaving Paihia ~ Three toots

Helicopter flying in with passengers doing a 15 minute sightseeing trip

Pulling in to Russell to collect further passengers

The flagpole at Russell at the top of a nearby hill marks a battle between the Maori & the British whereby the chief Hone Heke kept chopping down the flag pole because there was a Union Jack on it.

Cruise ship Balmoral in the Bay of Islands

On the lookout for dolphins

Found a good sized pod that wanted to play

Lion New Zealand

Cape Brett Lighthouse

Esmé pondering what life would have been like growing up here as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper; at one time there we 15 children here with three families, so many they needed a school teacher.

The Hole in the Rock, Piercey Island

Eyeing it up to see if we are going through

And we did :-)

Taken by a fellow passenger

A sheltered bay which must have been a great relief to sailors rounding the cape

 Urupukapuka Island

A conservation controlled island where we can stop for an hour and have a walk and an ice-cream 

Warnings to check you aren't bringing any livestock on to the island eg mice or rats or cats etc. This is to prutect the native environment.

Back on board

A small 'super-yacht'

'

Then back through the islands, drop off at Russell and back to Paihia

An hour and a half drive back to Matapouri ~ 

Esmé slept for a great deal of it after all the fresh air

Round to the Puckey's bach for a BBQ with the food we didn't eat last night having opted for 'fush & chups'!

Heidi enjoying a swing in the hammock with Mark

and Lorna

BBQ

Heidi joining in with the Kiwi lifestyle!