Day 3 of the road trip and we had a fairly chilled morning. Checked out of the Peppertree Lodge around 10am, having stripped all four beds?!

Jo has some minging bites on her arm and legs so headed to the pharmacy for some anti-histamine cream, at $15 a tube I hope it works!! Whilst in the shopping area of Paihia we found some lovely driving maps for the north and the south island as we had to return Annas to her today. We passed a lovely little fudge shop, "get fudged" and decided it would be rude not to! Flat White, some pastries and a few sample fudge pieces and breakfast on the beach was sorted!

Had to put some air in the tyres today, after yesterdays escapade with the "unsealed" road! Had to show a man how to do his.... Hummmn!!

Next stop Russell, over on the peninsula... Accessible via vehicle ferry from Opua to Okiato, choppy water but not too horrendous!
Almost found ourselves buying an art piece from the famous "just imagine" gallery... You brake it, you buy it! At $21,000 I couldn't afford to brake anything!!!

Leaving Russell on one of the yellow roads on the map (should be treated with CAUTION!) we followed the coast road to complete the northlands east coast region. Rough seas, picturesque bays and windy windy roads! I was glad to pick up Highway 1 again. Whilst Jo was sleeping decided to detour to a lunch spot at Whangeri Falls (pronounced Fun ga ray).
The picture shows the falls, walked around the whole of the falls, lovely spot!
Continuing on as we were on a tight schedule to get to Auckland for dinner at 5.30 in the Orbit (rotating) restaurant at the top of the sky tower with Anna and Sarah. We passed the toll road, and after the confusion with the lack of booths on the way up decided to give the self service kiosk a go... Paid in full, job done!

We made dinner! And managed a full rotation and a bit more! Apparently it takes 47 - 49 mins for one revolution.
Lovely dinner and quick descent, although not as quick as Sarahs earlier that day who had completed the assisted jump off the tower!! Brave!!!

Back to Annas, loaded car, dropped Sarah back at the airport for her flight home, aww! Then the longest, wettest drive to Raglan! Had a serious sense of humour failure on route, but finally made it here around 10.45pm...
Three spiders in the room, but Jo got rid of them!! In the Raglan backpackers... Looking around this surf town tomorrow before heading to Waitamo caves......
Falling asleep with the sound of Bob Marley from the town establishments... Night x