Rented our spades and set off to Hot water beach. It took several attempts at digging, first too cold, then too hot but then by digging half way in between we finally achieved our perfect sand bathtub and sat to relax for oh a couple of minutes before dashing off to the sea to jump waves ( big ones - people were surfing) and then rush back to our hole to warm up. It is a strange site to see all the people lying in sand holes with steam floating around them. A ...

Driving across the northlands from east to west coast we came across some impressively huge sand dunes. The real focus of the day though was visiting the 2000 year old Tane Mahute or God of the Forest . The largest remaining tree in NZ - 18 ft across. It is really hard to show in a photo really how big the tree is but we sat and admired for a while but continuing through the forest to further groups. I wish we had had more time to get to the museum to see the ...

Hard to top yesterday but we sailed around the hole in the rock. I would have taken some pictures but we were all feeling a bit queasy as we hit the open sea. So we sailed back to shelter and climbed up a hill for a view over the Bay of Islands. Ellie got lots more kayaking practice going across a bay to another beach and then 'surfing' as she kayaked through the rocky gaps that the tide was surging through. With sad hearts we sailed back to Paihia and said goodb...

Amazing day - best ever for Ellie. Started with going diving for mussels- but I wasn't great. Girls dug sand castles on the beach and Ellie made a 'I love NZ' sign. A sailing trip out to the hole in the rock then snorkeling before lunch. The girls fed fish from their hands with 'invasive' shellfish. Then fresh mussels off the Barbie - everyone devoured. After lunch we went into a sheltered bay where dolphins were playing - jumping and splashing. Then the girls ...

We set off on our cruise of the the bay of islands. With the great news that the other people on the our sailing boat are a family with three kids close in age to ours. The weather is gorgeous and light winds for a not very sailor family. The kids had a great time kayaking to the beach, hiking to a view point and playing on the beach. Gorgeous sunsets as the boat anchors in a beautiful deserted bay a fantastic start to our NZ vacation