so much to say...

We did it! All the way to the top - Cape Reinga

okay so i have lots of days/weeks to catch up on but will put them on here in bits and pieces so its more exciting (and not to boring for me)
NORTHLAND aka paradise! was our first stop after auckland. great to get out of the city. we had a week of fantastic fantastic sunshine and warmth. it was so hot sometimes i was actually losing my mind! went swimming heaps - personal fav at maitai bay on the karekare peninsula. there was no surf anywhere though :(

Maitai Bay aka... heaven! :)

had an epic epic day where we went all the way to the top baby! cape reinga is pretty spectacular and worth the drive for sure. as are the giant sand dunes. next time will have to remember to take a boogie board. nearly ran outta petrol (again) on the way back - thank god for 24hr services - at that petrol station we were also reduced to eating dried 2min noodles coz we wanted to get as far south as poss. they were surprisingly good :)

Te Paki Sand Dunes

also went to visit waipu which was em's hood over the summer. glorious glorious. cool waterfall there too - pirau falls. if it was a bit hotter would def have gone for a swim. as it was i did go in up to my knees, inadvertently that is. whoops!
cruised back down the west coast and went and saw tane mahuta. hes awesome (big kauri tree for those that don't know). plus stopped off at a couple of places that i had been to as a kid but not since (my mum was born in dargaville) kaiwi lakes were just as magic as i remembered, bayly's beach has had soooo much more development since i went there. but that seems to be the way its going eh?

em at the funky fish cafe at bayleys beach - chlax!

Pirau Falls

also went on 2 vehicle ferries - one in russell and one on the hokianga harbour. ooo ps... russell used to be known as "the hellhole of the pacific"and was quite the piratey haven. it is also the home of one of the coolest trees i have ever seen - imagine the things this puppy has seen!


had the most enthusiastic responses to the van in northland - a bunch of maori kids on the back of a ute waved and smiled at us. a hell bro dude saluted us. a wee girl (about 12yrs) ran across a field towards us waving and laughing and in wellsford em got hounded by a (white) bro who then asked for her number and when she refused said "well what about some tits then?" ?!?!?!?!? ahh.... does that work for you often dude??!!? we died laughing!
thats enough to keep you going i hope. more soon. :)