From Russell to Auckland (31 March)

We left Russell at 9 am and took the car ferry to avoid the long slow road round.

We then headed south and east through Kawakawa where we visited the Hundertswasser loos and met a knitted lama.

We continued east to Hokianga Harbour where I swam (fortuitously avoiding any challenging tidal rips and orcas).

After a light lunch we continued on to the ancient kauri forest at Waipoua. At this stage we were a little pressed for time but we were able to visit Te Matua Ngahere (the Father of the Forest). We were lucky to listen in to a bit of the tour being given by a local Maori woman. Her love and enthusiasm for the forest and the Te Matua Ngahere in particular was moving.

We drove on through the forest and back to the west coast to catch our plane to Auckland from Whangarei Airport