Just over three weeks ago we flew from New Zealand’s South Island to the north of the North Island. With the subsequent rapid spread of COVID-19, three weeks seems like a long time ago.
We flew into Kerikeri/Bay of Islands KKE, picked up a rental car, and drove to the little town of Paihia on the Bay of Islands.
Life was normal during our week in a cabin in Paihia. At the time, New Zealand had a handful of COVID-19 cases. All businesses including bars and restaurants were open, and there were no orders to self isolate or maintain six feet separation.
We explored on foot, bicycle, and ferry. Apart from the trips from and to the airport, we drove a total of eight miles.
It was a short walk to the place New Zealand became a nation. The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the British Crown and Maori chiefs. The Maori language version of the treaty was not properly honored by the British. In recent years the government has been confronting these issues.
We rented bicycles, then cycled part of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. The 54-mile rail trail connects the east and west coasts of New Zealand’s Northland.
One day we took a ferry to the largest island in the Bay of Islands, Urupukapuka, then hiked. Some of the trails were hard going, but we were often rewarded by gorgeous 360 degree views.
On the last full day, we hiked along the coast to another town, then took a ferry across a narrow part of the bay. We hiked trails to the town of Russell where we took this lovely old ferry back to Paihia.
Next day we took a short flight to Auckland.