2/27/09We are now at National Park for two days. We got the Tongariro Alpine crossing special at the Adventure Lodge Motel and it was a fantastic deal. We had a studio that was great for us. They gave you breakfast, a packed lunch, and dinner and spa the day of the hike. The next day they offered a continental breakfast. They also transport you to the beginning of the hike and pick up 8 hours later. Again there is not much insulation but that didn't bother us too...

2/26/09In the morning we ate our peanut butter on toast and headed to Cathedrel cove beach. It was so beautiful and so much fun to run barefoot in the sand. The water was a bit cold so didn't get to wet. Time there was the spirit lifter we needed. The hike to the beach was not difficult at all. We took the trail through the puripuri (sp) tress not like we would know what they where. When we returned to the parking lot there was a lady with her vender truck sellin...

2/25/09The decision was made to do the long route from Russell to Coromandel that means driving to the east coast of the North Island by way of KeriKeri. In KeriKeri we went to the Kemp house built in 1822 and is one of NZ oldest buildings. It was restored since then. The Stone store was built by missionaries in 1833 of thick stone for protection from attack. It is still a shop with a museum upstairs. It was so quiet and peaceful there with a inlet and park type...

In Piahia we just walked around the shops and tried dory fish and chips, recommended by others. We both feel the blue nose fish is best by far. We walked to the Waitangi Treaty House but did not go inside due to time being nearly gone on our parking permit. The good news is we walked about 2.5 miles and it felt good to be moving under our own power. We did purchase tickets to see the show that night called Culture North. This is a production that tells the s...

2/23/09Upon arriving in Auckland and finding our B&B we went out exploring. First to Mount Eden, a extinct volcanic cone. Mt Eden is the highest point in Auckland where there is a 360 degree view of the region. From there we went to One Tree Hill, a dormant volcanic cone and once the site of the largest prehistoric Maori settlement in the region. It was named after the solitary tree which was planted on the summit in 1640. Since then protestors will cut down...