Bay of Islands

You may all remember, be it as a child or as an adult, the amazing effect bank/public holidays can have on the weather, or the last days of the school holidays. Think August Bank Holiday (UK readers only) and try and remember a dry one.

Well, we rather feel it is the New Zealand equivalent here today; it is the end of the school holidays and it is raining – and boy, is it raining! It started just as we left the Bay of Islands Holiday Park, our resting place for the end of our journey from the West Coast.

Sue had said she wanted to celebrate her birthday, belatedly, with a walk on the beach so here she is doing just that – although to be fair, she didn't actually get to the beach! However, what she did manage to do was buy herself a new back-pack from one of the very wet stalls on a craft market. They were there no doubt hoping to get some trade from the passengers on a cruise liner parked in the bay. When we told the stall holders we were not of that ilk, they became very chatty and warned us of impending Cyclone Number 2.

We eventually found somewhere dry to have a cup of coffee and to re-plan our day. Whilst we were drinking the coffee we found a local newspaper which indicated we could expect at least another 24 hours of rain. We watched brown, sandy waves crashing rather ominously on the shore and decided to go to Plan B.

Once we had reviewed the situation and, bearing in mind we had had an e-mail reminder about our ferry crossing to South Island, we decided that we just had to go and see the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (http://www.waitangi.net.nz/) and after that we would start our journey south. So we got back into the 'van and towelled ourselves down and drove up to the site.

Before we went in we sat in the 'van in the vain hope the weather would ease, it didn't, so we went and had lunch in the Waikokopu Cafe (http://www.waikokopu.co.nz/). The range of items available on the menu was very impressive and again made Sue's choice very straightforward. She was even able to have a slice of pecan pie.

We are very pleased we decided to make the visit. Whilst the weather was, to put it mildly, against us, to be able to visit the place that literally put New Zealand on the map was quite inspiring. It is remarkable that a Captain in the Royal Navy (Hobson) and a young family man (Busby) were able to produce a treaty, without any guidance or template from their superiors, which is honoured today. And to think that the location and the building that stands upon it could have been lost in the 1920s.

The Te Whare Runanga (Maori Meeting House) is an amazing construction with some wonderful carvings. It is regarded as a sacred place by the Maoris and visitors are asked to remove their shoes before entering, as a sign of respect.

The journey from the Bay of Islands south to Whangarai was extremely wet but uneventful so we will catch up with our adventures tomorrow.