The weather forecast was rather glum for today - rain and high winds. Despite that your intrepid travellers rose reasonably early and went down to the jetty and booked the Dolphin Cruise. We set off in a large catamaran in pouring rain and low visibility. After a somewhat interesting high speed ride the skipper announced that dolphins had been spotted about 10 minutes away so off we set at high speed once again. There they were, a pod of dolphins playing around a local charter yacht - that had radioed the news to our skipper. Despite rain and wind we got off some good images of dolphin behaviour that our guide said was a prelude to making more dolphins!
After delivering the mail to one island we stopped off at Otehei Bay on the isle of Urupukapuka (yes true - maybe named by someone who also visited it when the weather was bad!) For a bite to eat. When we boarded again the weather had cleared, warm sun and blue skies although still very windy. We left the trip at Russell - a small town on a peninsular across the bay but as it was now blowing a gale we jumped a ferry back to base arriving back at 1.45pm. Luckily we had not collected a parking ticket as we were three quarters of an hour over our parking time.
Our next stop was Haruru Falls, which reminded us of Asgarth Force in the Dales. On the way back we stopped off by the Treaty Ground - a most important place in New Zealand history where in 1840 a Treaty was signed between the Maori Chiefs and the British Crown. This is re enacted every February on the anniversary. There are tall sculpted poles identifying each of the Maori people's.
What a fab day. Weather was extremely English but it didn't matter, everywhere is so beautiful.
We ended with the most superb Fish & Chips on board an old 3 masted Schooner called Shippeys. I will have to return tomorrow with my iPad and take a picture. Harry Ramsden eat your heart out!