Paihia

Paihia is the main town in the middle of the so called "Bay of Islands" one of the North Island's most famous attractions. And indeed there is a Bay and it is full of likkle Islands. But it is very scenic, with sailing boats milling round the place and lots of lush, verdant island spotted around up to the horizon. I took a trip up to Cape Reinga which is the most northerly point in the whole of New Zealand. It is also where the Tasman sea meets the South Pacific, so right in front of the headland there is a huge mass of surging white water and waves breaking in every which way as the two bodies of water try to get the upper hand. It's an absolutely stunning area, with more sheep than humans and loads of forests and hills dotted around. On the way back we took some boogie boards out and sandboarded down a 40 meter sand dune which had a gradient of about 45 degrees. I felt like someone had scrubbed me with sandpaper afterwards. Then we hurtled down 90 mile beach back towards Pahia in the evening. Our guide was called Howie, a Maori and completely off his head. He sang Maori songs all day long and told us jokes with no discernable punchlines. Great Day.