Visitng the Spirits and surfing down sand dunes

We have just got back from a great 10 days in the very far north of New Zealand. We worked our way up the east side through Whangarei to Russell in the Bay of Islands over to the east side to Aipara and up to Cape Rianga on the very tip of the north island.

We stayed in some amazing backpackers hostels and met some really great folk including Ron the ex farmer now award winning hostel owner and Ffyon who worked for brewery in Cardiff (she now works for a micro brewery in Nelson so we shall be popping in when we are down south!)

First main stop was Little Earth Hostel near Abbey Caves, where we ventures in waist deep in cloudy cave water to see the stalactites and glow worms, it was spectacular especially when I (Shona)looked down ad saw a 3 foot long cave eel right by my foot - I moved fast!! apparently they are endangered and very rare! We also visited a kiwi conservation project and saw a live kiwi which was also very special

Then we arrived in the Bay of Islands a beautiful spot for sailing and fishing in season, it all seemed a little winterised when we were there! We did see a HUGE skate in the harbour - you can just see its shadow in the photo below - it must have been 3 feet across! then the next is the view from the  bedroom at Ron's hostel - so peaceful.

The last place we stayed was a superb 2 story villa made of native Kauri wood - gorgeous, called the 'Endless Summer lodge' where we went to cape Rianga, where in Maori tradition the spirits of the departed leave NZ to go to their homeland or paradise. They climb down the roots of the single tree on the rocky outcrop to start their journey

Another first was sand dune surfing - great fun but boy does sand get everywhere!

Rhian and Callum are now in the South Island doing a 10 day whistle stop tour and we are back to reality! Great holiday.