Bay of Islands 17th May 2008
Honey, cheeses, Chocolate mud cake, great company and great cars... what more is there in life??
8.30am saw 5 Z3’s. 1 Z4 and 1 X3 (trying to make itself smaller and pretend it was a Z3) gathered at the BP service centre on the northern motorway. 2 friendly thirsty policemen, a Billy Connolly look alike motor bike and hot coffees started our day.
Leaving in convoy we headed to the Honey Shop north of Waiwera. Some of us stocked up while others anticipated the cheese factory at Kaiwaka which was next.
An amazing building next door to the Cheese place called “Eutopia” drew our attention.
Next brief stop at the German cafe north of Kaiwaka to be wolf whistled at by a monkey before heading on to the Brynderwyn turnoff. The X3 continued on directly to Paihia while the rest of us drove to Matakohe Kauri museum
What a wonderful place. It took ages to wander through and we still felt we could spend more time there but our stomachs said food so we sat across the road in a cafe with great views and indulged ourselves. Back on the road again and we drove through some beautiful diary country on the way to Dargerville.
The roads north of there were beautiful. The forest on one side and glimpses of the sea on the other.We stopped next and walked through forest to view the mighty Tane Mahuta. The tree made us all feel like tiny ants.
Leaving in convoy we headed to the Honey Shop north of Waiwera. Some of us stocked up while others anticipated the cheese factory at Kaiwaka which was next.
An amazing building next door to the Cheese place called “Eutopia” drew our attention.
Next brief stop at the German cafe north of Kaiwaka to be wolf whistled at by a monkey before heading on to the Brynderwyn turnoff. The X3 continued on directly to Paihia while the rest of us drove to Matakohe Kauri museum
What a wonderful place. It took ages to wander through and we still felt we could spend more time there but our stomachs said food so we sat across the road in a cafe with great views and indulged ourselves. Back on the road again and we drove through some beautiful diary country on the way to Dargerville.
The roads north of there were beautiful. The forest on one side and glimpses of the sea on the other.We stopped next and walked through forest to view the mighty Tane Mahuta. The tree made us all feel like tiny ants.
Paihia was as usual beautiful. Time to freshen up and meet in Robyn and Ken’s room for nibbles and drinks. At 7.15pm we headed out to our chosen restaurant for the night.Food was lovely and conversation also great.It was just a short stroll back to our motel for the Chocolate mud cake dessert.It passed with flying colours.
Next morning homeward bound again so we drove towards Whangarei to the basin and lunched at Mondos cafe again.
Eats, coffee, and a wander along the waterfront before heading back to our cars. Pip and Warren (our 2 newest members) stayed on in Whangarei for a while and the rest of us headed on home.
It was a great weekend again. The Bay always seems to turn on the best weather for us.
Next morning homeward bound again so we drove towards Whangarei to the basin and lunched at Mondos cafe again.
Eats, coffee, and a wander along the waterfront before heading back to our cars. Pip and Warren (our 2 newest members) stayed on in Whangarei for a while and the rest of us headed on home.
It was a great weekend again. The Bay always seems to turn on the best weather for us.