Tag: Bay of islands

Where in the World Are We?/

We are in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in the South Pacific.

BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

Beaches, Forests, and the Meeting of Two Seas
The Tasman Sea on the west and the Pacific Ocean on the east meet at the top of the North Island at Cape Reinga.

No matter what route you take, you’ll pass farms and forests, marvelous beaches, and great open spaces.

The East Coast, up to the Bay of Islands, is Northland’s most densely populated, often with escapees from bigger cities “looking for a more relaxed life” clustered around breathtaking beaches. The first decision on the drive north comes at the foot of the Brynderwyn Hills.

Turning left will take you up the West Coast through areas once covered with forests and now used for either agriculture or horticulture. Driving over “the Brynderwyns,” as they are known, takes you to Whangarei, the only city in Northland. If you’re in the mood for a diversion, you can slip to the beautiful coastline and take in Waipu Cove, an area settled by Scots, and Laings Beach, where million-dollar homes sit next to small Kiwi beach houses. An hour’s drive farther north is the Bay of Islands, known worldwide for its beauty. There you will find lush forests, splendid beaches, and shimmering harbors.

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840 between the Mäori and the British Crown, establishing the basis for the modern New Zealand state. Every year on February 6, the extremely beautiful Waitangi Treaty Ground (the name means weeping waters) is the site of a celebration of the treaty and protests by Mäori unhappy with it.

Continuing north on the East Coast, the agricultural backbone of the region is even more evident, and a series of winding loop roads off the main highway will take you to beaches that are both beautiful and isolated, where you can swim, dive, picnic, or just laze.

Today’s Excursion – Kawiti Glowworm Caves & Kawakawa

We explored this region’s geological wonders, dating back 300 years, and saw a multitude of stalactites and stalagmites in limestone caves, home to millions of glow worms, at the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. Get close enough to see the actual body of the glow worm and its blue/green tail light.

Kawiti Glow Worm Caves

We departed the pier with our driver-guide for a scenic drive into the countryside to the Kawiti Caves, which are still owned by the Kawiti family, whose early founders fought against the British army. We followed our guide along a wooden boardwalk through a 655-foot limestone cave system. As we wondered at the glow worms above, our guide explained the life cycle of the New Zealand glow worm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) and the intricate webs used to catch their prey (mosquitoes and midges). You will get close enough to see the actual body of the glow worm with its blue/green tail light, before making the return bushwalk through a natural karst rock corridor and pristine rainforest. Re-board your coach for the short drive to Kawakawa, the quintessential New Zealand town.

Kawakawa

Next, we visited nearby Kawakawa, which still has a railway line running down the middle of its main street. However, its claim to fame is its public toilets designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the famed Austrian architect and artist. With a thatched roof, a living tree, gold balls, mosaic tiling, and bottle-glass windows all integrated into the structure, the colourful toilets are the unmistakable hallmarks of the Austrian-born, New Zealand-based artist. They are, without doubt, the most photographed toilets in the world.

6:30 Silver Dawn Choir performance with World Cruise Ambassador Eleanor
Come and support your fellow guests of the Silver Dawn Choir as they present a short selection of the music they have been working on.

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant.