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Ahoy mateys! The first destination on our four week tour of New Zealand was to the bay of islands in Northland. Due to Helen’s notoriously wobbly sea-legs we almost didn’t make it up here since sailing is the reason to visit, but after finding a sturdy vessel and some local home-brew sea sickness tablets we set sail on the good ship ‘Straycat’. With only four guests on board a boat big enough for twenty we the run of the ship and plenty of opportunities to help out our skipper Karl with the business of sailing. Cutting a path around the islands, Karl recounted historical stories as we cruised past locations Captain Cook once visited on his voyage of discovery. The scenery was beautiful and when the sun shone it was fine day to be on a boat, even for Helen who was singing the praises of her new wonder drugs.

On our way back down to Auckland Helen insisted we pay a visit to the Hundert-Wasser toilets in Kawakawa. Though I tend not to post most of the photos I take in public toilets on this blog, I think an exception can be made in this case. We left talking about how we could replicate it when we finally get back home. As we continued southward we saw a breed of sheep quite unlike any we’d observed back in England. We knew New Zealand was famous for Lamb, we’ll have to keep our eyes open for their special pink wool.