We arrived at Auckland airport (and froze!) Found the free hotel phone and called the Sudima Hotel for them to pick us up - our car hire company Go closes at 5.30pm and so arranges for this hotel to do the honours - despite misgivings this worked perfectly and we started north. After a struggle with Sallie's Navman I at last got the hang of it and found the A1North. We stopped for dinner at a service station as the motel had warned us that just about everywhere puts up the shutters by 8.00pm. Unusual for a motorway stop this one did a very good bangers and mash with peas & gravy - very tasty!
We arrived at the Snells Beach Motel in the dark after 9.00pm. The owners were very welcoming and we found ourselves in a very comfortable two bedroom apartment with all mod cons.
Despite a good nights sleep we were a little bleary eyed at 7.00am - this was because of the three hour time difference to Australia. After a hearty and healthy breakfast at a local whole food shop and restaurant called Proverers we decided to explore the area. After a failed visit to a winery come sculpture park - due to the driveway in being dug up we drove to a village nearby called Mataka where Gill bought a beach wrap and we all had ice cream. The picture today is of the public toilets in the village which must be some of the nicest we have ever seen; a sculpted entrance and two separate loos - the pointed bits - lovely and clean with copious hot water as well as paper and hand driers - excellent!
We then set off north on our drive to Paihia. Despite dismal jimmies who had told us that New Zealand roads were bad and slow, this was a good road with plenty of passing places and good surfaces. We stopped at Marsden where the information centre was located in the public park and enjoyed afternoon tea and cake in the sunshine. We arrived at the Averill Motel in Paihia at around 4.30pm and were pleased to find another well equipped two bedroom apartment waiting for us.
After unpacking, & as the sun was shining invitingly, we set off on a little explore on foot. However, apart from a nice looking restaurant where we later had dinner the rest of the town was rather a long walk away so we went back & collected the car as a trip to the local Supermarket was needed for some basic victuals. New Zealand Motels so far in our experience are kitted out with basic Kitchens and therefore double as a holiday apartment. Excellent for us, we can save on food and spend on outings! (& beer).
Paihia is situated on the coast of the Bay of Islands and has lovely views across the water to Numerous Islands. We are looking forward to our next two days here.