It is amazing how two islands so close, and part of the same country can be so different! We have decided that the South Island is the winter playground with mountains and hills, but the North Island would definitely be better in summer. The weather has been a bit more cooperative up here, sunnier days but still cool. We spent a night in Auckland after flying up from the south, but decided to get out of the city and see what the area had to offer. We got (another!) campervan and headed north. We stoped the first night in Pahia, a seaside town with lots of water activites. Since it still wasn't the warmest, we instead went intellectual and visited the site where the Maori and the Europeans signed a treaty that was the start of New Zealand as a country. We learned a bit more about the history and culture and took a beautiful walk along the coast. We stayed there only one day but planned to come back, so took a quick jump up to the far north. We stayed in Kaitia that night, its more of just a jumping off point for the tours and not much to see there. There was one stop however to a Kauri woodshop. The woodworkers make everything from spoons to tables out of logs that were swamped underground for 35000 years. They were found (when mining!) and have been brought to the surface to dry for 5 months and then carved with intricate detail. Very Nice! We joined thje obligitory tour bus, but were quite lucky as our driver, Kenni was Maori and gave us a great history of the area, the people and his tribe. He even sang us some songs of good luck and good fortune that he would have sang to his family if they were travelling with him! We went to a white silica sand beach that makes some of the clearest glass in the world and aimed toward Cape Reinga as a lunch stop. This is the farthest north point in New Zealand and also a sacred spot for the Maori people. On the way there, we also saw the northenmost pub, primary school, hotel, bank, petrol station, and college. We had lunch and were on our way back, but not by the same road we came, Instead we took a highway down the beach, but actually on the beach! Our driver turned off and we drove home along 90 Mile Beach Highway, with sand in our tires and the sea at our side. We did stop to do some clam digging, a few people took some home for dinner, but I didnt really feel like seafood that night (we got a Chinese takeaway instead!). There was one last stop before heading back, and that was for some sledding - on sand dunes about 20 meters/60 feet high and no path to walk up. So we climbed up with sleds in hand and screamed down the hill. I only managed once because it was really hard work to get up there and I didnt feel like risking broken bones on holiday! We took the *exit* off the beach for Kaitia and Rob and I were off once again for Pahia. Our destination in Pahia this time was the Rainbow Warrier. She was a Greenpeace boat that was bombed by the French in Auckland Harbour in 1985 but relocated and sunk again in the Bay of Islands to create an artificial reef. Not wanting to let our dive skills we learned in Australia go to waste, we jumped in to see what was left. It was a beautiful dive, but a bit cold, only 18C/65F in the water so we had on full body wetsuits - the pictures may not make it into public viewing! The next day we headed up the Corromandel Coast, much harder to say than spell. Beautiful scenery, old mining towns and coastal vistas, I would definitely come back for summer swimming! We did visit a gold stamper that was used in the 1800s for mining and take in a bit more of small town New Zealand. Moving on, the biggest attraction of the area has got to be the mineral springs. We chose to go to Te Ahora and found an historic bathouse where the mineral waters came straight from the geyser upstream and into the old fashioned tubs. The water was so soft and it was a great way to relax for an hour. Rob found it a bit on the warm side, but I just sat still and soaked up the steam. That was the end of our time and the final of our camper van installments, so off to Aukland next where we hope to see the city and sights, but rain has been predicted so hopefully it clears up soon. Lots of Love to everyone and thanks for checking in! Kate and Rob