January 8: I am suffering with an awful cold; so we spent quiet morning. After breakfast, Buzz read and I slept until noon!! Then we went on a little tiki tour (A NZ drive to nowhere in particular). We drove to Tauranga Bay whih is absolutely georgous. We walked the beach there and then drove on over the hilly, twisting road to Paihia. Paihia is a real touriat town. We didn't stay long. On the way back, we picked up some fruit and veggies. We'll have dinn...

3 January: Our first full day found us walking the beach at Stanmore bay. The Pohutakawa trees also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree are still in bloom (see photo). The water is just a bit chilly, but we waded along the shore. At the end of the beach we saw two large sea birds called Shags sunning themselves on an outcropping of rock. Even though it is school holiday time, and today was a public holiday, the beach was uncrowded. As is always the case...