I slept horribly last night on my tiny, makeshift bed in the back of the car. I slowly got up, showered, and made breakfast in the community kitchen. I talked to the campground owner and he told me the good places to go in the area. I left and drove around and down the narrow hill road. I came to the outskirts of Whangarei and to its falls. They were right next to the parking lot so I didn't walk far. They were tall and not very surging but so pretty. I took pictures from different angles and then left for the next sight.
The crazy winding road continued, at times to look at the road ahead you had to look out your side window; that's how sharp some corners were. I went up and around the mountains some more. Pastures everywhere in the most gorgeous setting and I thought, these cows that are just grazing along, they have the best views!...and they don't even know it. So the old man at the campground told me to check out the Tutukaka (say it out loud, lol) Coast because of the beautiful drive and neat towns along the way. It surely was a nice drive and the towns along the way were Glenbervie, Kikipaka, and Ngunguru. I stopped at the Tutukaka Marina to see if I could learn about possible deep sea fishing trips but no one was at the marina to speak to. I'm hoping ho get some fishing in soon. I drove a bit more to a small trail in the recreational reserve to find some ocean views and I sure did. (See pics).
I kept driving and driving, stopping for the occasional snack and pee break. After the coast I drove inland and got back on highway 1. I knew I wasn't going to make it all the way up to Cape Reinga so I pulled into Paihia. I stopped by the local information center and the personnel told me what was worth going and seeing. I drove a short ways to the Waitangi River and pulled off by the Haruru Falls. It was a pretty U-shaped falls right in the middle of town. I then headed for the holiday park since it was getting late. It was right on the edge of a shallow bay, another pretty setting, imagine that. I checked in, made a small dinner, set up camp, and settled down for bed.
