We based ourselves in Paihia and were intending on heading to Ahipara on the Saturday but that fell through so we did what every New Zealander should do and that was visit Waitangi, the birthplace of what was to be the Treaty that was meant to define the rights of Tangata Te Whenua and the new immigrants to New Zealand back in 1840. I grabbed shots of the impressive and imposing Maori Waka down by the water and then headed up to the main grounds. My favourite part of the day was lying on the lawn staring up at the flagpoles and counting clouds - Northland is such a calming and beautiful place. Got distracted by some tiny little flowers in the lawn and then headed over to the two contrasting buildings that make up the treaty grounds proper - kind of got bored in the colonial house and had more fun in the meeting house.
Went back to town and then took off to Kerikeri and with the sun setting and options running low we checked out some old stone building but I had more fun with the local birdlife - man the chickens around here are staunch. This one Rooster tried to step me out in the carpark - come down south Mr Chicken and see how far that gets you :) Shot to Flickc of Kaikohe for the vivid tag on the bridge, very artistic. Left Kawakawa and some wierd looking fluff tree behind and shot back to Paihia. Met a cool 9 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Jagar and ate Fush and Chups on the beach.
All things come to an end and we had to head back to Auckland but before that we managed a stopover in Kawakawa so I could check out a toilet - not just any toilet but a Hundertwasser toilet - choice as. Had a coffee, took in some tattoo work from a magazine and then headed back to Auckland. The view on the way back to Auckland wasn't that promising with some really ugly looking storm clouds on the horizon.
Shot Northland - you are too choice.
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