4 to 8 February - Had a lovely scenic drive around the Coromandal coast and stayed overnight in Thames in accommodation. Moved on next day to Bayleys Beach staying on a camp site almost on the beach. Lovely beach but the sea was very wild - lots of crashing waves - too rough to swim in.

6 February - Went to the Kauri Forest and saw the Giant Kauri tree - Tane Mahuta. It is 51 m tall with a girth of 14 m - it was huge and about 2000 years old. We called in an old tavern on the way back which was originally the Opanake Hotel. It had been moved to its present position in 1895, 4 kms down the Kaihu Hill using teams of bullocks on greased kauri logs to meet up with the railway line from Dargaville to Donnelleys Crossing.

7 & 8 February - Moved on to Doubtless Bay across Hokianga Harbour on the car ferry. Stayed on a camp site in Whatawhiwhi - beautiful bay - Pat had a swim in the sea and I just paddled up to my knees. The next day we went to Cape Reinga which is the most northerly point in New Zealand and where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. On the way back we saw the giant sand dunes which lie at the northern end of 90 mile beach. We both had a go at sand surfing! The hardest part was the climb up the dune which was very high and the sand was extremely hot. It was fun coming down although we got covered in sand. We then drove back down the 90 mile beach (on a bus not in our car).