Clare Teal

Dear friend Aloma joined us for week two of our epic New Zealand adventure spent in the stunningly beautiful Bay of Islands.  As we neared Kawa Kawa a small town famous for its decorative toilets, Mud shouted,  “Stop - Emu to the left!!!”  It was actually a grumpy ostrich chasing startled cows round a field.  As you would expect we stopped to take photos, when suddenly out of nowhere an old blue Japanese school bus swerved off the road and came to a shuddering halt narrowly avoiding Aloma’s boot. “What the.... Judy?  Bill?”  Who should pop out but mum and dad’s old next door neighbours from Kildwick, West Yorkshire, “Ey up chuck” yells Judy followed by “Bill get the chairs out  - I’ll put the kettle on.”
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> After a cup of tea and further plans to meet up we left the bus and headed up to gorgeous Paihia.  Our apartment boasted the best Island views in town and didn’t disappoint.  Throw in a fridge full of fabulous food, a pool naturally heated to 30°C and a tree full of the most incredibly advanced songbirds native to NZ - the Tui and you have three very happy bunnies. 
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> Despite the empty promises of delighted shepherds, we wake to a grey and overcast sky.  “The clouds are high - they’re going to clear soon and it’s going to be a glorious day” said Aloma.  Kiwis are obsessed with the weather not surprising as they’re having the worst summer of about 70 years.  I’d settle for one of their worst summers any year!
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> We drive two thirds of 90 mile beach, to the highest dunes I’ve ever seen.  Sand boarding is enormous fun, lying on a body board and bombing down the sand dune, although poor Muddy in a bid to avoid hitting a child had to stop earlier than planned, when she arose from the board, every inch of her freshly sun-creamed face was thickly caked with sand, in her eyes, in her ears, up her nose and frankly in many places sand has no right to be.
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> We visit Cape Reinga - New Zealand’s John o’ Groats and ancient buried forests, where amber or ‘gum’ as it’s known here became big business in the 19th Century before feasting on freshly caught and exquisitely battered fish at the world famous Manganoui Fish Shop. It’s a tough job chaps - but someone’s got to do it.
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