New Years Day...

Today we woke early all cramped up in the back seat of the car, jumped out quick and took an early morning walk around Paihia. We went to the information centre and booked a boat ride for tomorrow. We hopped back to the car and drove over to catch the ferry over to Russel (one of the islands) There we had a munch in a little cafe that overlooked the harbour.

It was a hot day and there were plenty of people around enjoying the sunshine. Lots of boats on the water too. We drove over to Long Beach for a paddle in the sea and i called mum and dad to wish them a happy new year. Good timing too because it was almost midnight back in snowy England. Long beach is gorgeous. The sea was warm and calm and the sand, golden. It was quite busy though, not like the secluded bays nearby. (Well, busy for New Zealand anyway)

We hopped back on the ferry back to Paihia, then drove up to Waitangi. Waitangi used to be the capital of New Zealand and there is a lot of history surrounding the area. We spent the rest of the day at Waitangi national trust treaty grounds. The very place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6th, 1840. Representing the coming together in friendship of the Maori people and the white European settlers. Close to the Treaty House is the Maori Whare Runanga (Meeting Place) its a finely detailed construction with carvings representing the major Maori tribes.

Down by the water we saw the largest war canoe in the world, the Ngatokimatawhaorua, (If that's how you spell it!) It's named after the great canoe of Kupe, which is the traditional Polynesian ancestor of the Maori people.

While we were there we went to a Maori cultural performance. There they did the haka and other cultural songs and dances. It was good fun.


After a lovely day in Waitangi we drove back to Robyn and Snow's house (family friends) to stay the night. We ate dinner and went on a farmyard safari...Robyn took me and Matt out on the quad bike on a tour of their 100 acre farm. Driving up hills, ,through paddocks and through a river to see the animals; horses, cows, chickens, native birds, sheep, beehives... You name it, they've got it!

It was a really nice way to spend the first day of the new year :)