First things first, the drive up to the Bay was the worst experience of crap driving we have encountered the whole trip so far. Some of the kiwis drive in the boot of your car, flash you, blast you, wave you forward to go faster and just generally can’t wait to get past. No wonder there are so many signs here about driving too fast and the consequences. Coincidentally, as this blog is a few days behind where we are, the Easter weekend has been dubbed Black Easter. This is because there were so many road accidents, deaths and serious injuries on the roads over the Easter weekend. According to the local rozzers all un-necessary and most speed and alcohol related. What a race of speed junkies!
Arriving at our one night stay at the pickled parrot in Paihia we found a lovely little hostel and again some more interesting people to talk to. We had a walk around the town which is next to the Waitangi Treaty grounds where the treaty between the Maoris and the British was signed back in 1840. Anyway, it all happened here many moons ago and now like lots of other places Paihia plays host to tourists and all things watersport.
Across the bay is “romantic Russell” as it is known locally and where we will be staying for the next two nights after here. Coincidentally it is our wedding anniversary whilst we are in Russell so how fitting…..
To get to Russell from Paihia it is a ferry trip across the bay or a hell of a long drive round. So I braced Mrs D for the high seas and we went on our short ferry crossing and all went well. We found our home at Wainui Lodge which was a small 7 bed hostel in a beautiful setting in regenerating bushland overlooking the bay. The owner Ron and his German wife Elke were very friendly and Ron was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the area and it’s wildlife.
We went on into Russell for a look round and had a beer in the oldest hotel in NZ before returning for some dinner. The digs were superb and we were the only ones in ‘til late when a nice couple from Switzerland arrived – Siegfried and Briggitta. We sat chatting with them with a beer before bed in our bushland hideaway it was wonderful.
The following day the Swiss wanted to stay another night as it was so nice but Ron said he was booked up as it was Good Friday and they had to move on. It was a shame as we would have enjoyed another evening with them. Also as it happened Rons guests never showed so they could have stayed anyway, what a bummer.
We breakfasted looking out over the bay then I finally got to go kayaking on the sea in the bay which was great fun. (Surf spiel - The only time we were like interested in the tide time man, as it had to be like 3 hours either side to get near the sea!) We then had a lovely walk along the coast and then back to the digs for a celebratory bottle of fizz and dinner alone as there was no-one else at the hostel. It was wonderful here and we didn’t want to leave.
The next day was up and off to Mainstreet Lodge in Kaitaia at the bottom of ninety mile beach via a scenic route which Ron told us about.
Pix are – across the bay from Pahia – the oldest church in NZ in Russell – giant fig tree next to Russell police station – view from Russell flag pole – some fool in a kayak – our hideaway at Rons – local sign – Rons place in the bush – we thought Corfu bamboo was big – boardwalking – guess who – view from our hideaway.
Arriving at our one night stay at the pickled parrot in Paihia we found a lovely little hostel and again some more interesting people to talk to. We had a walk around the town which is next to the Waitangi Treaty grounds where the treaty between the Maoris and the British was signed back in 1840. Anyway, it all happened here many moons ago and now like lots of other places Paihia plays host to tourists and all things watersport.
Across the bay is “romantic Russell” as it is known locally and where we will be staying for the next two nights after here. Coincidentally it is our wedding anniversary whilst we are in Russell so how fitting…..
To get to Russell from Paihia it is a ferry trip across the bay or a hell of a long drive round. So I braced Mrs D for the high seas and we went on our short ferry crossing and all went well. We found our home at Wainui Lodge which was a small 7 bed hostel in a beautiful setting in regenerating bushland overlooking the bay. The owner Ron and his German wife Elke were very friendly and Ron was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the area and it’s wildlife.
We went on into Russell for a look round and had a beer in the oldest hotel in NZ before returning for some dinner. The digs were superb and we were the only ones in ‘til late when a nice couple from Switzerland arrived – Siegfried and Briggitta. We sat chatting with them with a beer before bed in our bushland hideaway it was wonderful.
The following day the Swiss wanted to stay another night as it was so nice but Ron said he was booked up as it was Good Friday and they had to move on. It was a shame as we would have enjoyed another evening with them. Also as it happened Rons guests never showed so they could have stayed anyway, what a bummer.
We breakfasted looking out over the bay then I finally got to go kayaking on the sea in the bay which was great fun. (Surf spiel - The only time we were like interested in the tide time man, as it had to be like 3 hours either side to get near the sea!) We then had a lovely walk along the coast and then back to the digs for a celebratory bottle of fizz and dinner alone as there was no-one else at the hostel. It was wonderful here and we didn’t want to leave.
The next day was up and off to Mainstreet Lodge in Kaitaia at the bottom of ninety mile beach via a scenic route which Ron told us about.
Pix are – across the bay from Pahia – the oldest church in NZ in Russell – giant fig tree next to Russell police station – view from Russell flag pole – some fool in a kayak – our hideaway at Rons – local sign – Rons place in the bush – we thought Corfu bamboo was big – boardwalking – guess who – view from our hideaway.
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