Off to see the Hole in the Wall and the Zidlands

We spent the morning taking a hike to a local hilltop to oversee the Bay of Isles. This area was settled by the Maori over 1000 years ago, the first humans to inhabit the islands. Later the area was visited by Captain Cook in 1728 who named this area the Bay of Isles. It is incredibly beautiful and to some degree reminds us of the Canadian Gulf Islands. This is the site of much important NZ history.


In the afternoon we boarded a tour boat to see the islands and visit the infamous Hole in the Rock at Cape Britt.
We stopped en route to see the lighthouse at Cape Britt Lighthouse which is no longer manned.


From a distance the Hole in the Rock does not seem that large but in a few minutes our 100+ passenger vessel motors through it with room to spare!










Al watching as we pass through the hole!


And looking back after we exit!






Next we stopped at a popular island for camping on our way back to Paihia and climbed to the top of the hill to check out the spectacular views.
Our tour director, Bob is enjoying the view. He tells us that when NZers camp they seldom take a tent instead just laying their sleeping bag on the ground!


Beyond Al you can see a good sized encampment of holiday campers. This is mid summer holiday for the NZers. The children are still on vacation. Camping is VERY popular.



Later we stopped for dinner in the town of Russell. We had a delicious fish(grouper) and chips dinner at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel right on the waterfront. After dinner we took a ferry back to Paihia.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 2. We meet our tour

At 7am we met our 8 other fellow travelers at Arrivals and headed north toward the Bay of Isles on this very comfortable coach.



First stop Orewa Beach for a beach walk and a cappuccino.
Our OAT Tour Guide is Bob Wilkinson, a native NZer seen in the picture on the left.


Early morning! Margie is so happy to see that there are coffee shops all over NZ. Wonderful cappuccinos!


On the way we stopped for our first sighting of a Kauri tree. Many of these majestic trees have been destroyed by logging or now the brush-tailed possum imported from Australia. Few stands exist. The tree lives thousands of years and can have an 8m diameter. The one in the picture is several thousand years old.



We stopped in the lovely town of Whangarei for lunch at a delightful marina. (Note "wh" in Maori is pronounced like the "f" in fun! A real challenge to say for us!)


Al is standing in front of a huge sundial--part of the clock museum.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We arrived in Auckland from Honolulu late last evening and had arranged to stay at a hotel right inside the airport. We will meet our tour group at the airport at 7am tomorrow so this turned out to be a great decision to stay right here!
This morning we took a 40minute bus ride to downtown Auckland. We will be back to Auckland twice more so we decided today to just walk around, get our bearings and check out the harbor area and the Maritime Museum. It was a glorious, sunny cloud filled days in the low 70's. This was the site of the NZ America's Cup competition about 20 years ago. ....And at 2pm there would be a sailing of a 12m America's Cup yacht from earlier times. We hesitated because it was quite expensive but then decided, when would we again have this opportunity. It turned out to be am amazing opportunity. There were about 25 of us on the boat and we sailed way out into the harbor on a broad reach and tacked back. Al actually got to be a grinder and to be at the helm. We healed a lot, rails down and shipped quite a bit of water. Remember these boats have neither life lines or high gunnels. Wind was about 25knots and the main was reefed. Since most of the other passengers had not sailed before I was amazed at how much we healed, of course we had on life jackets and they said no one had ever gone over board! When we sailed under the Harbor Bridge we even saw several people bungy jumping. It was a very exciting and wonderful experience and an amazing way to start our first day in NZ.


Auckland in background.


Al at the Helm





Hard to tell but we are really healing and I'm holding on for dear life!





Can you imagine bungy jumping off this bridge?


What a fun day!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Goodbye Ko Olina

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 nights at Ihilani. The hotel was built by Japanese investors over 20 years ago along the rocky west coast of Oahu. The beach is one of a series of man made lagoons.


Both mornings we ate breakfast overlooking a pond filled with sharks including some hammerheads!








Adjacent to that pond was one filled with good sized sting rays.


Sunset was beautiful before we took a short walk to dinner at Roy's.






Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ko Olina, HI

Arrived at the beautiful Ihilani, JWMarriott Resort on the west side of Oahu at almost midnight after what seemed like a very long flight. Catching our breath here today after the hustle of preparing for a month long trip. Tomorrow we fly to Auckland.


We have a lovely ocean front room thanks to Marriott points and a lovely huge room.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ko Olina, HI

Arrived at the beautiful Ihilani, JWMarriott Resort on the west side of Oahu at almost midnight after what seemed like a very long flight. Catching our breath here today after the hustle of preparing for a month long trip. Tomorrow we fly to Auckland.


We have a lovely ocean front room thanks to Marriott points and a lovely huge room.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Here we go again!

Catching Sound Transit Train to SETAC. Off to New Zealand with 2 nites on Oahu on the way.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone