Well what a surprise woke up in Whangerei and there was no rain just brilliant sunshine

After having a conversation with the owner of the motel I convinced Mel that we should visit the Maori Museum at Matakohe, so off we set it was a small detour but we both thought that it would be worth the effort. As we got closer it became apparent that I had misheard the lady and the Maori Museum was in fact the Kauri Museum (NZ's big native trees!!!!) Since we made the trip we had a look around and it turned out to be quite interesting but not a Maori in site and all was not lost as we picked up a Waiheke ( a Maori weapon used for blows to the body and head made from 30,000 year old Kauri tree.

After a lunch stop in Paparoa we headed onto Wellsford, this was going to be our stop for the night but didn't look like it had much to offer so we decided to drive the extra 100km to Auckland.

Stayed in the Ponsonby Backpackers decided on a quiet evening as I was knackered after all the driving.

Friday 13th July

Well i'll go to the bottom of my yard another sunny day and we were fresh and ready to attack the city. Our first stop was Auckland Museum which houses a lot of Maori artefacts and also has a floor dedicated to the history and wildlife of NZ. The museum was entry on donation but we decided to splash out and pay to watch a cultural performance of Maori dancing and techniques this was a really good 30 minutes and at the end they performed the Haka which was pretty cool.

Jumped back on the link bus and headed for the Sky Tower, completed in 1997 it stands at 328m although you can only go as high as 220m to the Sky Deck (which we did) while on the observation Deck at 186m we watched a guy do the Sky Jump, you just throw yourself off the tower and its a controlled jump using 2 wires and you plummet to earth very fast before they stop you at the bottom (very scary)

Also form the top you got a good view of the harbour and surrounding areas. We slowed down a little after this by going to see Harry Potter on the IMAX, we had a drama and had to be evacuated when the fire alarm in the cinema went off, luckily it was a false alarm and the movie had not started!!!!

Back at the hostel we had been a victim of the food thief that struck in Portland but this time it was margarine and milk ( ice cold that was for my breakfast) We didn't let it bother us we were straight back on the horse a couple of beers a bit of sewing (flags onto my backpack) then to bed

Saturday 14th July

We survived Friday 13th and drove from Auckland along the Pacific Coast Road (190km) to Coromandel Town. The highway really hugs the sea all the way from Thames. We have a motel for the evening a little pricey at $95 (37 pounds)

Had 2 hours in the Star and Garter pub in town by the open fire which was lovely then set off for a chinese at the take away Mel had seen on the way down, but guess what it was not a chinese!!!! So in 2 days we had both messed up and we ended up with microwave Macaroni and Cheese and Cottage Pie (Rock and Roll) Watch out Harper we are after your title!!!!!!

Sunday 15th July

We are now in Whitianga after a short drive from Coromandel where the highlight was this mornings train ride on NZ's only narrow guage railway. It goes 3 km up into the forest and was built over 26 years by one guy, Barry Brickell a potter. The area was bought by him and it is now a trust so no one can build on it and he uses the funds from the railway to plant trees as well and repair damage that was done over the years it is also getting developed as a nature reserve as well ( if you google it i'm sure it will have a website, Driving Creek Railway)

After a busy morning on the train we called for Fish and Chips in Coromandel, I am pleased to report they were really good and freshly fried, you can pick which fish you want and they do it there and then for you!!!

We made the short drive here and are now in the Cats Pyjamas hostel in town, its just started to rain but we could be going for a carvery in town for tea tonight.