After the usual amount of dickering around with the hotel check out and form filling at the car rental place, I finally departed for the Bay Islands in the northern part of New Zealand’s north island (if that makes sense) at around midday. Being quite small, Auckland is an easy place to exit and I was soon galloping along to my destination. Then Mrs Satnav threw a complete fit and decided to go “off piste”. My instinct told me I was headed in the wrong direction but in the southern hemisphere everything is upside down (e.g. the sun is not where it should be) so I really had no idea where I was. And of course, I hadn’t taken the precaution of buying an old fashioned map, had I?! Then suddenly, obviously realising her mistake, Mrs S drove me into a housing estate, round the block and out the way I had come in, retracing our steps for about 25 miles. Whatever happened to: “if possible, do a U turn”!
As I had expected, the scenery en route was quite beautiful
‘
with rolling hills
and beautiful lakes, in many ways reminiscent of the Lake District except with a few palm trees and tropical ferns throw in.
I wasn’t too impressed though with the few towns en route. Hardly full of old fashioned charm and character,
more in the nasty American style, I’m afraid.
The weather was still gorgeous as I passed through the Matakana wine region
but then the heavens opened. Great stair rods of rain came lashing down which made for some quite interesting driving conditions. I am happy to say though that things improved as I reached my destination, 5 hours after I had left Auckland.
Paihia is the tourist centre of the Bay of Islands, a group of 144 islands, peninsulars and inlets which was the first area of New Zealand to be settled by Europeans in the late 18th century. Apparently, a 2006 study concluded that this area has the second bluest sky in the world after Rio de Janeiro!
If the weather continues to improve tomorrow, I may well be able to judge. But for now, it’s food time!
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 