Paihia

The rain came down in buckets overnight. Downpours so loud we could hear it beating on the motel roof. In the morning, Northland was shrouded in a drenching mist. It wasn't an actual rain, but a few seconds outside and you were soaked. It all cleared up by midday. We had mostly cloudy sides with some fine periods.

The drive to Paihia was very pleasant. It's beautiful countryside. (And we'll be backtracking it all in a few days.)

Paihia is a small town on the Bay of Islands. It's the home of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It's become fairly touristy now with cafes and shops and souvenir stands. We saw ads for homes and condos going for well over a million dollars.

From the wharf you can catch a boat to see the Hole in the Rock, the dolphin tours, a helicopter ride or our accommodation for the night, The Rock.