Auckland Museum

What a fearsome people the original Maori's were. This is quite a young country established after a "war" that I believe occured after a treaty was signed with the British in the mid 1830s. This war lasted 30 years or so and then the country was founded, much the way we founded our country on American Indians, oops, I should say native Indian lands. That famous treaty is still celebrated today and they are actually trying to honor it.

Anyway, back to the fierce Maori's. They had these hugely long "canoes" that transported their royalty. These are built by the gigantic Kuari trees (spelling?) and were pretty clever. This shows how the kept their feet dry!

Smeds last night

Well, they had to leave. Drats. But we did get one more hand of hand and foot in, really last minute. As they left at 7:00 am, we had a hotel room reserved for them near the airport so we could not be bothered! Sorry...but actually, Dave's sis, Sheryl and hubbie Pete, had come in on their heels so our cute little house was a little full. So, we did let them go. Also, no picture, but their last night here was a magical goodbye by a large pod of orca whales. Shelley spotted "something" out in the bay while we were in our town and thought they were dolphins. We thought they were a pretty big and then we spotted their spouts. We went up to the lookout part of the bay and got to watch the orca's playing as they left the bay. Evidently this does not happen often Smeds, so, what a fond farewell, eh mates!

Coromandel Peinsula

We drove to the peinsula just southwest of us...this is the west coast of it

Beautiful beaches,

Sharie, beautiful sand!

And Ryan, lots waves to 'jump' on your generation's ponies.

Lainey

We found a small dog in the top of a mountain pass that was abandoned, scared and starving, though I doubt she could have been there long. It took me about half an hour to coax her out of her "lair" which was at a turnoff. Most of the road were cliffs above and below. Today we decided we better take her back to the SPCA because I was reassured that she would be well cared for there and given out to a forever home.

worth the hike

more jungle

cool trunks

Rain forest hike

We discovered this area about an hour west of Auckland. the hike up to the falls is about an hour through a spectacularly beautiful path.

This is one tree trunk, of their trees, I think called boari or hoari or something...they used to log them but that is illegal now. The "waist" of the trees can be 45 feet, there are very few left but they are huge.

And then you come out and go to the beach