Well we were up and on our bus today by 7.15am to head off to Cape Reinga. Our driver was hilarious, he was called Auto like the bus driver from the simpsons and he was totally mental but brilliant at the same time. He was an honourary Maori and was fascinated about everything to do with the tribes and their culture and traditions. All the way we had an ongoing commentary from him about New Zealand which he was infatuated with and so enthusiastic or we listened to his personal compilation which was a mix of Maori songs and some wicked tunes of different bands. First stop was to visit the Kauri trees which are just enormous and the oldest trees in New Zealand. Auto suggested that we hug them as they have an amazing energy and healing powers ( we didn't!). We then stopped in this tiny town- the last point of civilization to get supplies from the bakery which was run by Maoris and we had the yummiest cakes ever!! We continues North, through so much farm land - everywhere looks like Hobbiton from Lord of the Rings- so green and pretty! But apparantly New Zealand has only got 3% of its original forest land left- you wouldn't know it to see it! We then stopped at the edge of the bay where the two oceans collide, the pacific and Tasmanian sea and you could look out for miles across this turquoise sea. The whole area is a spirtual and sacred place and Auto was teling us that Maoris plan their death, and plot their route to leave this world ad go into the next, and Auto ran through his route from Auckland along 90 mile coast across the bay and to this point, it was very interesting. Maori's also hold a wake where the body is brought home for a few days and then buried with all their favourite posessions- so his music collection and his Harley where going with him. We stopped on the beach to have our lunch before heading to the dunes to sand board. I was so excited about sand boarding, but Auto kept telling us horror stories and drumming in how dangerous it was, so by the time we arrived at the dune i was feeling a tad anxious! Thankfully the biggest dune was too dangerous, but when we started to climb up the medium one- which was a near vertical climb, accompanied by Auto saying 75%of injuries happen on this one, and how last week a guy in his group lost all the skin on his face so he just had a face full of blood and sand, a lot of us were feeling a bit edgey about it all! The Guys hurled themselves down no problem and made it look really easy and a few of the girls went before me survived so i felt a bit more capable lying on the board, as Auto explained about using my feet as brakes and not to put my hands out at the end becuase my wrists would snap- grrreat! I started off well, but quickly built up a lot of speed and my brakes- did nothing, i'm blaming the size of my feet- they were just to small to dig in and stop me, then my board seem to slip down my body so by the time i reached the bottem my whole chest was over the front and i got a face full of sand! Sand go everywhere! Today i am still finidng bits!! But it was a wicked experience, and Auto and the other tour guide showed us how its down by flying down on their knees and skimming across the stream at the foot of the dunes as well!! We then headed to 90mile beach and tried some shell fish straight from the sea- well everyone put it in their mouths and then spat it straight back out! Sadly we didn't see any wild horses but we did see a car totally buried in teh beach when a guy drove across at the wrong point!! eek. We grabbed some seriously good fish and chips from a tiny shop sat on the dock before heading to this litte old man on the side of the road who's famous for his fresh fruit. It was delicious- golden kiwis, mandarins and perisimmons and these weird tomato type fig things! So we stocked up and then headed back to Paihia. Its so sunny up hear- and everyone says its snowed in down south so dreading the cold!!! i have 2mins left on int so have to end this abrupting- dam the stupid system over here!!! bye for now! xxxx