pikihia

Well back from our Xmas on Great Barrier Island.  Highly recommend anyone who has not been to go.  Didn’t last long enough to fit in all I wanted to do but was extremely beautiful.  Check out the DOC website for info on Great Barrier if you intend going, for one, it has a great map of the island.

 

 

The trip over took four & half hours as we decided to take the car and John’s (Amanda’s dad) little boat over so ended up on the car ferry .  Well worth the expense as we had transport on and off the water.  Many a morning was spent fishing and a bit of snorkelling also.  Managed to catch lots of snapper and a few other species (trevally, etc) and ended up eating fish everyday.  Managed to fit in one dive with Aaron and ended up with a bounty of scallops which were devoured by all.  We set the cray pots a couple of times but alas the bloody eels keep eating the bait so missed out there and ran out of time for another dive to go catch some. see the photos here… (more to come later)

Beaches and scenery were amazing  (did a already say that?).  The bach was great and had all we needed (although we bought enough food, gear and alcohol over).  It is solar powered as there is no power on the island and there was enough sunshine to keep the lights on! The bach is situated on Kaitoke beach which stretches for km’s and probably the most people I ever saw on it at any one time was eight.  An ideal setting for some R&R, and the weather was kind as well (but the water cold!).

Had an afternoon driving around the island and took in one walk (see the photos) to get a view.  Parts of the roads are sealed but the corners are tight and the width narrow.  Luckily we didn’t meet too much traffic coming the other way but I’m sure John was not keen on my driving speed around some of the unsealed downhill stretches of road.

Well back in Auckland ready to go somewhere for the New Year. Any suggestions as I believe as always in NZ it is going to rain!! 

Happy New Year everybody!!

 

written by Hardman