Bay of Islands TIme

Wednesday 17 September

Awoke on our expensive campsite to a stunning sunrise over a misty bay - almost worth the extra rate for the stay!

We pottered around adding our new Vanari branded gear to Banjo then hit the road 15 minutes after official check out time - which is not bad for us, and sanctioned by Roman at Reception.

After failing to get any response out of Dream Weavers Farm near Kawakawa, just down the road, we set course for Oakwood POP on the outskirts of Kerikeri. This was an awesome find by Louis - lovely big POP with about a dozen gravelled sites, several with power. We were met at the gate by an adorable Jack Russell with enormous ears who proceeded to take up most of our time for the next hour or two!

After a delicious lunch of chili lime chicken tortillas we popped into town, , checked out the crochet wraps on the palm trees and a cool tropical mural and found the i-Site hiding in the library where we got details on a waterfall walk along the Wairoa Stream.

We made it halfway, as far as the rather impressive Te Wairere waterfall, before Louis felt too crook to continue so we turned back to run the gauntlet of piwakawaka and tuis along the path. Accidentally fell into The Merchants (an awesome kind of indoor car boot/pop-up collective of locals selling retro gear, handmade crafts and random fun stuff!) and bought 2 pairs of Indian earrings for $1 each.

We siestaed in Banjo, had a snacky dinner, caught up with latest episodes of Only Murders in the Building before an early night as Louis’ sore throat lurgy was getting worse and worse.