So we all ready for our 6.50am pick up for our first stop on our Kiwi experience, obviously feeling very sleepy couldnt wait to get on the bus for more sleep! So we set of for Paihia, about a 5 hour bus journey! But sleep i did not get, we had to fill out loads of forms and stuff for what activities we wanted to do and accomadation etc, to be fair i can't really complian as everything was organised for us! We arrived into Paihia, checked into our hostel then headed to the pier for our jetboat tour around the Bay of Islands! With our very flattering waterproofs on we were ready- muchos fun with the siteseeing included-perfect! We got dropped of at Russel Island, where we had a wonder and a cake, reminded me a bit like cornwall! That evening we had a bbq at the hostel with everyone!

Day 2 we went on a day trip to Cape Reinga- we were expecting it to be a bit like fraser island with the driving along the beach and the sandboarding! On our way we stopped at Puketi Kauri Forest to check out some majestic trees that were 2000years old, a nice little walk through another rainforest- very pretty! We then headed up to the top of Cape Reigna (Te Rerenga Wairua), you can see where the two oceans meet (Tasman and Pacific) which is really cool and the view was awesome! It was crazy you'd look one way and it was like looking at the Dales covered in Sheep then the other you'd see the ocean, beach and rock faces! Next stop was Taputaputa Bay where we stopped off for our picnic lunch before heading to 90mile beach and trhe biggest sand dunes i had ever seen, they made fraser islands look pathetic! So Steph and I hiked up to the top (which confirmed just how unfit i am) and sandboarded down, so much fun apart from getting half the beach in my eyes! Claire wussed out and was photographer! It was then time to head back, drove back down the beach via a fish and chip shop but we resisited! That evening Claire and I went for a run as the evenings are pretty cool here, cooked some tea and chilled in front of the telly before getting a well needed sleep!

Day 3 we had a free day in Paihia before departing back to Auckland later that afternoon, luckily it was Waitangi Day a Moari celebration, they went all out here the Moari people doing their chants like the All Blacks!! So we had a wonder round all the tents and stalls before setting off... we are staying back at Kate's house in Auckland tonight and departing bright and early tomorrow for our next stop- Mercury Bay!