Hello and welcome to this week’s instalment of the mrlukeniktravels blog, this week from Paihia, the Bay of Islands. It is Monday yet again, so time to commit some thoughts to paper or, in this case, keyboard. A warm breeze is blowing through the French doors as I sit and write this after another glorious sunny day here. This weekend is Labour Day here in New Zealand so today was a public holiday. Plenty of people were out and about enjoying the spring weather. I am currently, as previously mentioned, at Paihia in the Bay of Islands. It is about the hours’ drive north of Auckland.
A typical view of the headlands, islands and peninsulas in this area of New Zealand.
Since arriving here last Thursday, I have had a welcome return to getting out into the islands and hills hiking and mountain biking. It was something I missed whilst in Japan. To read about my hike to the summit of the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto visit: https://mrlukeniktravels.com/2018/10/08/the-land-of-the-rising-sun-japan/. Getting around the islands and peninsulas is pretty easy with regular ferries and, for larger budgets, helicopters. There are also lots of smaller islands that can be reached by boat or kayak. I am hoping to use the latter transport tomorrow as the weather is due to be a little cooler. Perhaps I shall try paddle boarding for the first time, who knows!?
While it was great to visit Auckland, it is nice to be out of a large city again and back in the countryside. Being by the sea with mountains too is one of my favourite combinations of landscape. On the bus ride up here I got a look at the rural landscape properly for the first time. I have to say that it was how I expected but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. The cattle and sheep on the hillsides reminded me of trips around the UK, the tree-sized ferns not so much.
A sizeable beach-side fern.
Whilst staying here I have paid a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This place is known as the birthplace of New Zealand as two important treaties were signed here between Maori chiefs and the British Crown. I shall not cover the history, but I did learn that New Zealand has two official flags; the first chosen by Maori leaders and the second the more recognisable one. After the creation of the second flag, the first was not repealed so it is still recognised internationally. The visit to the treaty grounds included a guided tour and a cultural performance by Maori performers. Seeing this performance meant entering a Meeting House which was beautiful. I hope to visit more of these during the course of my time in New Zealand. It is always important, I think, to learn some of the history of the place I’m travelling to. It provides a nice break from exploring all the natural beauty around too.
The war canoes at Waitangi, created for the centenary of the treaty signing in 1940.
The hostel I am staying at here in Paihia is about 5 minutes walk from the beach and has a really good atmosphere. I found the hostel in Auckland, although very modern and immaculately clean, quite soulless. As that hostel was near an international airport most people only stay one or two nights before flying out. There were also a number of large school groups staying which can dampen the atmosphere too. Staying in a city centre is convenient to get around and see the sights, but not so great for the social aspect. Being a solo traveller means that it is nice to share with other people not just looking at people on their mobile phones using wifi! I now try to find places a little out of city centres to get the best of both situations.
So that about concludes this week’s blog update. By next week I will have travelled south again, but still north of Auckland for the next stop. The Intercity bus beckons me away on Thursday. From now until then, as always there is my Twitter feed @mrlukeniktravel which you can see posts from in the widget on this page. For pictures of sun-drenched beaches and budding trees, it’s spring here after all, there is my Instagram account @mrlukeniktravels. Until then and next time, stay safe and travel on!
Haruru Falls in the afternoon sunshine.
