Sunset Sail from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Paihia, NZ - Wharf - our ship MS Regatta is at anchor in the Bay of Islands at the tip of the North Island of New Zealand.  Our port is the lovely small village of Paihia.  We have spent the day exploring this northern region of New Zealand - travel from the East Coast to the West Coast and returning to tour the Waitanga Treaty Grounds.

Paihia is a bustling seaside town right in the heart of the Bay of Islands. A place where the local people enjoy a great lifestyle, and take delight in sharing it with the thousands of visitors who come here each summer.

  Golden sand beaches that are safe for swimming and sun bathing. Scenic walks to explore, and a wide range of recreational activities. You can go sailing, swim with the dolphins, or paddle a sea kayak around the 144 islands that make up the Bay of Islands.

Our town is rich in its history and culture which you can explore in nearby Waitangi - a place where Maori and European residents mix with visitors from all around the world.

Paihia is proud to be recognised as 'the Jewel of the Bay of Islands'.

The tender boat is being lifted and we are underway - sailing from the Bay of Islands heading north in the South Pacific!

Sorry to say goodbye to beautiful New Zealand - but the sunset temps us with the exotic South Pacific Islands!

Kawiti Glow Worms, Waiomio, NZ

We are touring in the Bay of Islands region of New Zealand - going from the East Coast to the West Coast to see the Kauri Trees.  We stopped at the kawait glow worm cave - yes - they glow like a lightening bug - except they live in a cave.  The guide explained that they never move more than several inches in their entire life.

Our Glow worm and Limestone Cave Tours were first established in the 1950’s by Te Tawai Kawiti, Great grandson of the famous Maori Chief, Kawiti.

Te Tawai offered a unique insight into early maori history and culture, while visitors enjoyed the stunning glow worm displays and rock formations.

Seeing the way people’s faces would light up every time he guided a tour, Te Tawai knew that one day, visitors would travel from all over the world to experience the natural beauty of our caves.

Since then, Te Tawai’s descendants have followed in his footsteps; acting as living links to the past and making history come alive with their entertaining commentary and rich local knowledge.


The Kawiti family have guided thousands of travellers through their caves, including American billionaire Bill Gates who visited with his family in 2007.

Kauri Trees - Waipoua Forest, New Zealand

 

Touring in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand - we travel from the east coast at the port of Paihia to the west coast to see the largest trees - Kauri!  We are touring with Kauri Tours:

Giant Kauri & Bay of Islands

Head north through East Coast Bays to Matakohe and visit Kauri Museum. Drive via kumara country, Dargaville to Waipoua Forest untouched for thousands of years (two unforgettable walks to Tane Mahuta & Te Matua Ngahere – 2000 years old kauri trees).
Stop on the cliff top of Hokianga Harbour and enjoy spectacular coastal views and massive golden sand dunes. Cross country east to the Bay of Islands – Paihia. Visit historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds and then return to Auckland via Whangarei.

Highlights include:

• Orewa Beach – East Coast Bays
• Matakohe - Kauri Museum
• Waipoua Forest walk - 2000 years old kauri trees
• Hokianga Harbour – coastal walk
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Bay of Islands - Paihia

 

Kauri Trees - The most famous specimens are Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere in Waipoua Forest. These two trees have become tourist attractions because of their size and accessibility. Tane Mahuta, named after the Māori forest god, is the biggest existing kauri with a girth of 13.77 metres (45.2 feet), a trunk height of 17.68 metres (58.0 feet), a total height of 51.2 metres (168 feet)^[23] and a total volume including the crown of 516.7 cubic metres (18,247 cubic feet).^[24] Te Matua Ngahere, which means 'Father of the Forest', is smaller but stouter than Tane Mahuta, with a girth (circumference) of 16.41 m (53.8 ft). Important note: all the measurements above were taken in 1971.^[25]
Kauri is common as a specimen tree in parks and gardens throughout New Zealand, prized for the distinctive look of young trees, its low maintenance once established (although seedlings are frost tender).

Darrell and Elaine at the Four Sister's:

Tane Mahuta – “Lord of the Forest” and spiritual “God of the Forest” is estimated to be approximately 2000 years old and is the tallest known kauri tree in the world.
This tree stands over 4 metres in diameter and has a girth of 13.77 metres, a trunk height of 17.69 metres, a total heigh of 51.5 metres with an estimated volume of 244.5 cubic metres.
Te Matua Ngahere“Father of the Forest” estimated to be approximately 2500 to 3000 years old he is the oldest and widest known kauri tree in the world. This tree is over 5 metres in diameter and has a girth greater than Tane Mahuta (16.4 metres) but the trunk is much shorter at only 10.2 metres giving a total height of 29.9 metres and an estimated volume of 208 cubic metres.

 Waipoua Forest will also provide visitors the chance to see The Four Sisters and the Yakas.
The Four Sisters – normally kauri fight for sole survival but this stand of four separate trees are believed to come from four seeds from the same tree and have co-existed for about 500 years. These trees have evenly spaced, slender trunks and the branches at the top reach outwards and not in. The Sisters are located on a short path just off the main path to Te Matua Ngahere.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds, New Zealand

Paihia - in the Bay of Islands location on the north part of the North Island of New Zealand is home to the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds.  Overlooking the beauitful bay:

 

 

Te Whare Runanga - fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand:

The Treaty House:

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, overlooking the Bay of Islands, is New Zealand's pre-eminent historic site.
It was here on February 6th, 1840, that the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between Maori and the British Crown.
The Treaty Grounds are part of the 506 hectare Waitangi National Trust estate, which was gifted to the nation by Lord and Lady Bledisloe in 1932. In the Deed of Gift, Lord Bledisloe stipulated that the estate was never to be a burden on the tax payer, and as such it is not government funded. The estate is administered by the Waitangi National Trust Board, whose members represent various sections of New Zealand people.

Features of the Treaty Grounds include:

• The Treaty House - built for the first British Resident, James Busby and his family. It is one of New Zealand's oldest and most visited historic homes
• Te Whare Runanga - fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand
• Ngatokimatawhaorua - one of the world's largest Maori ceremonial war canoes
• The imposing Naval flagstaff - which marks the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed
• Waitangi Visitor Centre - with an audio visual show outlining the history of Waitangi and the Bay of Islands and live cultural performance
• Extensive park-like grounds with abundant native bird life, heritage gardens, trees, and mangrove boardwalk
• Stunning sea views of the Bay of Islands

Auckland, NZ - Harbor area

The Custom's House welcomes sailors to the city of Auckland! Richly decorated French Empire-style Customs House (1889 by Thomas Mahoney). Originally occupied by officers of the armed forces and later by the customs authorities, it now houses the DFS Galleria shops and front Queen Street in the center city area.

 

 

Beatuiful and very large sail boats in the harbour.  Also - America's Cup Yachts are on display ueen Street is the main thoroughfare along the Harbour area with many shops and restaurants! 

Oceania's MS Regatta at dock in Auckland, NZ at sundown!

 

City of Sails, Auckland, New Zealand

The yachting capital of the world - one of Auckland's claims to fame!  We believe it - the harbor is full of beautiful boats!  The skyline is pretty cool also - with the Skytower dominating the city scape.

Nobilo Winery, Huapai, New Zealand

 

We had found this wonderful wine many years ago - so it was fun to visit the winery and hear the story.  But - we enjoyed drinking the wine the most!

Inland from the city of Auckland, lies Nobilo's home at Huapai.

It all began in 1943, when Nikola Nobilo, having arrived in New Zealand from Croatia, planted his first vines and began to turn a dream into reality.

Combining over 300 years of family winemaking tradition with innovative approaches to winemaking and viticulture, Nikola was an early champion of premium New Zealand varietals.

Today, our winemakers continue his passion, selecting from our Nobilo vineyards to craft pure classic wines of distinct regional character.

Nobilo Regional Collection and Nobilo Icon wines are internationally acclaimed, especially our classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, which have received numerous awards and accolades over many years.
In the 1930s the threat of war in Europe prompted Nikola Nobilo and his wife Zuva to leave their home on the Croatian island of Korcula, and seek a new life in New Zealand.

They brought with them over 300 years of Nobilo family winemaking tradition and planted their first vines at Huapai, west of Auckland, in 1943. The early years were not easy, as archaic laws did not favour the wine industry and in contrast to Europe, the local culture didn’t embrace drinking wine with meals.

Nikola persevered, making all his equipment by hand, and maintaining a farm to support his family while he nurtured his wine business. He also successfully lobbied the government, alongside other recently arrived Croatian winemakers, to change the country’s antiquated liquor laws to allow wine to be served with food in restaurants.

By the 1970s, Nobilo’s determination and hard work had paid off. He’d become an established and successful winemaker, leading the move to premium varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and developing new winegrowing regions, notably Marlborough.

He was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire medal) in 1994 for his contribution to the New Zealand wine industry.

Nikola Nobilo died in 2007 at the age of 94. His wife Zuva, now in her 90s, still lives next door to the original homestead where they first settled in New Zealand. He would be proud to know that Nobilo wines, particularly Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, continue to enjoy great international success.

Takapu Gannet Colony, Muriwai Beach, NZ

 Takapu Refuge Gannet Colony. New Zealand's northernmost mainland gannet colony, located on Otakamiro Point between Maori Bay and Muriwai Beach. The refuge was originally established in 1979. Offering clear views of the gannets in their natural habitat.  Extremely windy!!  I can't keep my cap on!  The volcanic rocks of the beach also had blow holes which we had to time our walk to keep from being soaked!

Some data about gannets

• wingspan up to 180 cm
• overall length 90 cm
• a single egg is laid around September/October/November
• incubation time about 44 days
• chicks stay in the colony until February/March
• the birds then migrate to Australia, returning after 2-6 years
• it is said that (after weeks of furious flapping of wings on land) the first flight of the juvenile birds takes them to their destination more than 2000 km away.

Shore to Shore: Karekare Beach and Maukalia Beach, South of Auckland, NZ

 

Waitakere Ranges: forest valleys lined with ancient forest

We are in port in Auckland, NZ and traveled south to visit both coasts of the North Island.  We traveled first to Karekere - rugged mountains, lush rainforrest, and beautiful water falls!  This beach was famous for the filming of the movie "The Piano".

Then we crossed the mountians of the island to visit the black sands of Maukalia Beach on the East Coast.  There are very few towns and even fewer ports along the west coast of New Zealand because of the cold winds coming up from the Antarctic and the cold currents of the oceans.  The beachs at Maukalia stretched for many miles.  We had a refreshment stop at the little store of Pihu Beach.