On Wednesday, 14th April we were treated to an excellent breakfast by Christine, before leaving to tour the Bay of Islands area. We went first to the Rainbow falls, taking in a long walk.

We then went to see the Stone House (below right) in Kerikeri. It was built in 1832-36. The building has had major conservation and renovation work since 1976 and reopened for the public during 1998.

We also saw the nearby church and Maori village. All very interesting.

Then we went to the Kauri forest. This tree had once covered north of North Island. There are less than 4% of the left, felled by European man for building materials. They are very slow growing but can grow to an enormous size and age (2,000 years), although the oldest and biggest are now felled. The one below is estimated to be 500-700 years old - and is very, very tall...

We left Kerikeri on Thursday 15th April after another excellent breakfast, Rod suggesting that we go to Auckland via the Kauri museum, which we did. An excellent suggestion - the museum was interesting. The views on the way south were, as this journal keep on noting, fantastic.