Day 2 - it already feels like we have been here a week! Our driving adventure began today....

First of all a trip to the supermarket, biscuits, crisps and a nice bottle of Red and we were all set to begin our road trip! Said goodbye (until Friday) to Anna and Sarah, hopefully will join them for a rescheduled meal in the sky tower, weather permitting!

Set off from Auckland around 12noon in Lucy and headed out of the city on highway 16, picked up highway 1 and just kept driving. We spotted the ANTM tower and also drove over the Auckland harbour bridge. When you leave the outer perimeters of the city the landscape totally changes. Highway 1 begins to follow the east coast, becoming very green and hilly. Lucy did struggle on a couple of the inclines but luckily there are areas where passing lanes are introduced so didn't hold many people up, even managed to overtake a few of the logging lorries.

The first roundabout we came to, we decided to deviate from the route to see what was about and ended up with a choice of whether to head to Marsden point or One Tree point..... We chose Marsden and ended up at the Northfleet oil refinery!! Not so nice, so we did a U'ey and chipped on up to One tree point. A leg stretch and the first walk on a beach, shoes and socks off and a paddle in the Pacific ocean, followed by a short stroll on the rocks. Lots of black rock we think looked like magma, it's a geologists dream here!

Back in the car and returning to our planned route. Next stop Whangarei, a strange little city, we found the railway station, one track in, same track out! A railroad that we crossed on many occasion once we left! We were looking for a place to eat and just as we were about to abandon all hope, came across a nice little store called Regency Pies. Half price pies as we caught her just as she was shutting up shop... Steak and mushroom and steak and cheese - yum!

Back to Highway 1 on route to Paihia (pronounced Pie here!) a lovely little beach town where it seems every sea based activity can be done! We have resisted temptation and will discover this place in our own time. Once we booked into the Peppertree lodge, headed over to Waitangi, home of the treaty 1840, via beautiful beaches overlooking a plethora of islands. Found a small forest and a shag (it's a bird!!) foraging amongst the trees, and apparently it is home if the kiwi, I REALLY want to see a kiwi! (the bird not the people?!) Found the track for the Haruru Falls in the Waitangi treaty grounds national park that we will do tomorrow once back from our day trip to Cape Reinga.

Fish and Chips on the beach and sat on a small concrete pier watching the flying fish jump out the water! Crazy!

A busy and exciting day, heading back to the beach now in the dark to spot the southern cross constellation and dazzle Jo with my astronomical knowledge x