Road Trip begins! Northern Adventure Friday 1 September 2006 - Glen Eden to Paihia Picked our driving song..... "Let's get it started!" - Black Eyed Peas! and set off.... Stopped at Goat Island Reserve to look at the fish! Sel and Rita getting very excited about the penguins until they got up close and sorry to see they were just regular birds! Stopped for lunch in Welsford, everyone staring as we walked into the pub...felt a bit out of place to say the least! Drove on to the Bay of Islands, great views on the drive, settling in Paihia. Went for a wander along the front before going to the hostel bar for some cocktails. Saturday 2 September 2006 - Paihia Started the day with a bike ride, being made to wear lovely wonky helmets!! All going well along the front in Paihia, up to Waitangi, numerous hills, stopping at some viewpoints. Disaster struck going down a gravel hill, Sel's breaks failed and she went over the handle bars! Covered in scrapes and blood, but seeing as she was so close to the edge she came off lightly! Some lovely kiwi's stopped to help, cleaned her up and drove her back to the hostel, while Ellie and Beth rode back quickly stopping at Haruru Falls (the intented destination!) Afternoon - Harbour Cruise. Dolphin watching and visiting the Hole-in-the-Rock! Dolphins swam right up to the boat, out of the hundreds of pictures taken we may have one or two.... they're just too fast!! Went through the Hole-in-the-Rock, known as Motokokako Island.... 20 metres of air space above and 10 metres of water below!! A long day of scenery so rested our eyes on the way back! Sunday 3 September 2006 - Paihia to Kaitaia Made our way to Kerikeri to see the Rainbow Falls, then carried on up the west coast stopping at Matauri Bay, Taupo Bay eventually arriving at Kaitaia (gateway to Cape Reinga).