We were all awake pretty early this morning and got underway relatively quickly. Having an outside table was most helpful for achieving this. We logged on for one last time and Alex wanted to Skype, so Grandma and Grandpa were called. Both sides really enjoyed this !

We left the site at around 9:15 after successfully getting out of the pitch without hitting anything else. We then drove the short distance to A.H. Reed Kauri park, it was lovely ! Even more surprisingly it was very quiet, there was little evidence of other tourists being about. We decided to walk the Alexander trail and go onto Canopy walk which was not too far. The walk gradually wound its way up until it became a bridge through the canopy. This was so peaceful and quiet, it was delightful. We then walked partway along the McKinnon track until it became too steep for the girls to handle. I went on further and saw the waterfall, long and slender falling over a very tall cliff. It was just so unexpected in its scale, after all at home something far less would have a much larger carpark. The forest was lovely too, they are far from quiet places, they are alive with noise and sometimes to an overwhelming level. This wildlife is here and it wants you to know it ! Birds cheep and sing, I think there are crickets and there is something I like to call a chattery bug, it sounds a bit like and okey spokey going pretty fast. We walked back to the van and changed Alex, don't ask ! and then headed to Whangerei falls.

When we arrived there was no space in the car park so we had to reverse out and park in the road. As we did so we met an older couple from Stafford. We walked to the falls and Alex was very excited, 'look one big one and two little ones !' The falls were impressive so we did the circular walk to the base of the falls. Alex enjoyed the walk down and seeing the falls from underneath but not the walk up so David and I had to swap babies as Alex is just a bit too heavy for me these days. Of course, that meant Elizabeth through an almighty strop, as only she can do. Once we managed to calm her down we headed off to find a picnic spot.

Instead of heading straight to Paihia we went via the coast road towards Tutakaka. Lunch was at Church Bay. It was pretty stoney, although pretty so after lunch we decided to try for a better beach. Unfortunately the parking at the better beaches was full and Alex, the main requester of beach had fallen asleep. As a result we ended up driving all the way to Paihia. On the way through we did another stock up at Woolworths, yes here it is alive and kicking and a supermarket.

We booked our site this morning and unfortunately it is a way out of town. However, the site is relaxed with good facilities. We arrived around 5 and the girls were fed ice cream and are happy playing on the playpark.

We spoke to the family in the next pitch who emigrated 5 years ago. Her parents are in the process of coming over. It seems to have taken them this long to settle in a come to peace with the decision. I can understand it, in both directions. The desire to live somewhere calmer, more relaxed etc is a driver to come here and yet it is easy to see why some feel they need more. It is so far to everywhere that is not New Zealand.

The scenery here is stunning and I have taken very few photos of parts of it as I have learnt that pictures taken from a moving van rarely do it justice. The view is strangely Scottish feeling but with far more sun !