Start of the big trip

So yesterday was the start of the big trip. 23 days all over New Zealand. We start by heading north from Auckland. It's a very international group, Swiss, German, Belgian, American, Chinese and me. All girls except for me and a 76 year old Swiss man.... Half an hour in and we discover the drivers never done the first three days before! Could make things interesting.....

It's mostly driving today but we make a few quick stops at goat island marine reserve and also a nice waterfall before arriving in pahia, on the bay of islands.




Really beautiful scenery which we will explore over the next couple of days.

We visit wairingi (sp?) treaty grounds where the Maori leaders and the British signed the first peace treaties, very historic in a country with a very recent history.

Had a great BBQ to end the day and stayed up with two of the German and one of the Swiss girls for a few drinks.

Now looking forward to seeing what today brings, staying on an island tonight so no updates fora few days I would think...