Cape Reinga and other Cool Stuff

Friday November 27
A big day today. With an early start, something we are really not used to, the bus picked us up at 7:15am. Off to Cape Reinga, the Northern most point of New Zealand to see the lighthouse and the meeting of the two seas. The green of the Tasman Sea and the blue of the Pacific Ocean did not disappoint. The weather was beautiful again and it made for some awesome photos.

On the drive up to the Cape the kids were very excited to drive a bus on the 90 Mile Beach. (it is really only about 64 miles.) It is really cool to be driving about 120km/h with no turns and the Tasman Sea on the left, flashing before your eyes. We had a few stops along the way to pick up some huge shells and put our feet in the sea. An interesting thing happened, we could see something up ahead on the beach. Crazily enough, it was a farmer driving his cows down the beach. A sight I have never seen before. I have driven cattle, but never down along an ocean beach. We then headed inland on a “quicksand” stream for the highlight of the day…sand tobogganing!! We climbed up some major sand dunes to experience a new sledding experience. Our legs and lungs were burning by the time we reached the top. Bridget needed some encouragement to make her first run down. She did it with some trepidation. She went up again with some more excitement. Her and I got to the top and the wind caught my sled and hit her in the head. Then on her way down, the nose of her sled went in and she flipped completely ass over tea kettle. Tears were not enough and she had had enough. Amelia on the other hand, raced up and down the dune 4 times. We all enjoyed our warm and sandy rides. It is truly a better way to toboggan. It just needs a T bar lift. Sorry no videos..dead batteries!

Before making our way back into Paihia at 6pm, we drove up 400m to a Kauri forest. The kids got to see these HUGE ancient trees. Our little tree huggers tried to get their arms around the tree, but really don’t come near half of the circumference. The tree they had their arms around was approximately 800 years old and it has just now reached its maturity. Earlier in the trip, the girls climbed a carved out spiral staircase that were build in the inside of a Kauri tree. Basically, to get to the second floor of the store there was a tree trunk that had stairs carved out in it.

A fun day was had by all and look forward to our last day in the Bay of Islands.

Carolyn