The route planning to the Bay of Islands wasn't our best. We ended up driving winding roads and figured out, when it was too far to turn back, that we could have drove on the motorway and took a short cheap ferry across. We drove nearly three quaters of the way and realised we it was time to set up camp. Sadly the DOC that we too a detour to was closed so we paid money to stay in a really rundown campsite with filthy facilities. Despite the lovely beach we were stuck in our van due to the strong winds and wet weather. Windy roads took us past small towns and beaches the following day. The Bay of Islands town was small and quiet. We decided against diving the cold waters and forking out money on a weekend tour in wet weather. We drove up to a look out point and were able to see the islands and then took a detour to a small empty beach which was the backgarden for a few posh houses.