Nov 19

Drove to Kauri Forest at Waipoua after eating the best Carrotcake in the World at a little cafe (It was called that too!). Saw Tane Mahuta - the God of the Forest - not a wizard - a 1500 yr old tree and his foursisters - 4 tress growing from the same base. Kauri are MASSIVE btw.

Drove through the drab Dargaville and then to the scenic Matakohe site where a woman was baking bread for dinner! Kiwi camp sites are well equipped to say the least and there seems to be a bit of who can cook the best competition going on!


Nov 20

Drove all day! Planned to try and get to Waiheke Island by Auckland, but things went a tad wrong. Stopped at the loveley Warksworth and then got lost trying to find a ferry in Auckland that we thought might take us with the van to the island but then realised that we couldn't cross over to the pensinula off the other side so drove round the long way round and stopped at Miranda where we ate Fish & Kumara (NZ Sweet potato) chips. Not pleasant. Miranda campsite has a Hot Spring though so we went for a dip in the steaming pool late at night:)