Mount Maunganui (Mauao) Accommodation: Thurs 6th Feb – Fri 7th Feb Thurs 6th Feb : Waitangi Day: a public holiday  It was a 3 1/2 hour drive down to Mount Maunganui (Mauao) but we stopped off along the way at Hot Water Beach, about 30 minutes out of Whitianga. Our timing was perfect: Hot Water… More

Whitianga / Coromandel Peninsula Accommodation: Tue 4th Feb – Thurs 6th Feb Tue 4th Feb  The trip from Paihia to Whitianga took 5 1/2 hours and was essentially 4 hours of driving south, from the Bay Islands and back down through Auckland, then about half an hour of heading east followed by an hour heading north… More

Paihia Accommodation: Sat 1st Feb – Tue 4th Feb Sat 1st Feb  It was clear and sunny for our 3 1/2 hr drive from Auckland up to Piahia in the Bay of Islands.  I had changed my mind a few times about where to locate in this area and eventually settled on the Piahia Beach… More

Auckland Accommodation: Wed 29th Jan – Sat 1st Feb Wednesday 29th Jan We made it across to Auckland, via QF3, without any glitches which, for us, was somewhat surprising. We usually have to deal with a lost bag or a lost bike and Mark being detained at security with his carry-on bag but we managed… More