Chatted with Nick at breakfast and then off to the Waitangi Treaty Ground where the Maori signed the treaty with the British in the 1840's. Learned more about the Maori culture and history. Visited a nearby town Kerikeri with some New Zealand history, few art studios, chocolate store with free samples, and then back to catch the ferry to Russell, NZ's first city, across the bay. A very small quiet place with a few very nice art/craft galleries. The sun came out, like for the first time since I have been here, as I was climbing up this mountain (named Flagstaff Hill). Met a couple on the top who I had seen driving up in their Land Rover. We chatted, I learned that "wh" in Maori words is pronounced "f", and then they drvoe me back down. No sooner did I get to the bottom then this dark cloud and big wind came in for about 20 minutes. As quickly as it came, it went away. Back on the ferry to Paihia, had some seafood, salad, and apple strudel at the Swiss Chalet, and now back to the B&B to wind down.
Some impressions of NZ - driving on the left (just backwards of driving on the right) and much saner here than in the UK, toilets with a double flush system (figure that one out), smallest coin is ten cents, but some things cost $5.05, great fresh produce, good food, no tipping in the restaurants, friendly and helpful people, ethnically very diverse Auckland.
