We had a great 4 day hop from Cook Islands to New Zealand (which included losing a day crossing the international date line). We arrived in the bay of Islands specifically Waitangi next to the town of Paihia, where we rose early in the morning and took the included panorama coast tour of the northern section of New Zealand. We had never been there before so this stop was all new to us – and we simply wanted an introduction to the area. it was a nice ride around the area, with stops at a architectural designed public bathroom, stop at rainbow falls and a stop at the beautiful Stone House the first “store” in New Zealand which is set along a stream.
We ended the tour back at the dock where the tender dropped us off and promptly took the shuttle bus into the town of Paihia only a mile away. We then decided to take a ferry ride to Russell a small seaside village across the bay. the 20 minute ferry was pleasant and when we arrived, we felt like we were transformed to Rockport, Massachusetts a town near Gloucester – where Gina and I would go to on weekends when we were dating. What a quaint town with shops, views and historic hotel and restaurant. So convenient to ferry over and after a stroll, take the ferry back to Paihia. The one-way drive between the two towns would take 90 minutes so the ferry was perfect.
