North Island History

One of my favourite Northland towns-a quaint little town centre with a superb Italian restaurant, boutique cinema and loads of foodie factory shops on the road out. The YHA is a good place 2 stay and if you're into your history u can go check out the pa and stone store just outta town. Beware summer holidays thou-the one way bridge at the end of town can get crazy queues and the supie in town is madness!

Thames is the Gateway to the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Check out the Kauranga Forest - great bush walks, fantastic swimming holes, swingbridges and more! If you are into Goldrush History then don't miss the Stamp Battery and take a trip down into a real goldmine!

A nice little town. Take the ferry from Paihia, wander through the quiet streets and into a couple of art or antique stores, and then walk up Flagstaff Hill for a great view and a short history lesson.

Take sandals or jandals (flip flops). Fairly shelly beach. Maraetai makes me think of english people. Its a fair drive out from Auckland city, on the way you can stop at Ardmore Aerodrome and check out vintage planes if you like.

Always always remember to have at least a 30 spf sunscreen in the New Zealand sun.... Always!

There is a massive hole in the ozone right above us, not sure why as we dont nuclear test here and only recently hit 4 Million population, and have a history of not being particularly smoggy... Go figure?!

Be sure to take the side trip to the Buried Village (Te Wairoa) and Tamaki Maori Village, or something similar. Both are fun ways to learn about Maori culture and history.