Today we have been in paradise on two separate occasions! This country is so beautiful and it is hard to do it justice with a bit of description and a few photos. Yet again we feel privileged to be able to travel like this and experience such beauty.

We left Whangarei fairly late after Skyping with Sarah and then shopping at the local supermarket but we knew we hadn't too far to go for coffee! Last time we were here we visited the art gallery and cafe at Helena Bay and wanted to repeat the experience as we had enjoyed it so much. This interesting place is set high up above the coast with views over native bush down to the sea. The cafe has a terrace overlooking this, so paradise no.1 was drinking mochaccino and sharing a ginger slice here!

Helena Bay art gallery and cafe

We also enjoyed looking round the gallery and imagined the size of house we would need to accommodate all the lovely things we'd buy if we could! Thankfully we came to our senses and remembered our friend John (from Melbourne) and his wise words about people our age having too much stuff and therefore should go for good experiences instead!

The journey from Helena Bay to Russell - our destination today - was not far but seemed to take a long time as it winds around the coast. However we got to Russell in good time for lunch. Russell is a delightful little seaside town which has an interesting if somewhat disreputable past. It was known as the Hellhole of the Pacific in its early days owing to lawlessness among the whalers who frequented its bars. However it recovered enough to become the first capital of NZ after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi - though not for long as the Governor moved the capital further south to get away from troublesome Maoris!

Typical Bay of Islands coastline

It was peaceful enough today though and we enjoyed a warm walk up to Flagstaff Hill to be rewarded by the views from there. You can see right across the Bay of Islands to Waitangi. There was also a lovely sun dial done in mosaic of a map of the area and I was pleased to get a photo of Steve sitting on Russell! We were also delighted to see another weka! We saw one on Stewart Island and this one walked across our path in the same manner as the first!

A legend seated on the legend 'Russell'

Paradise no.2 is where we are staying tonight. It is just a few km from Russell at the point where the car ferry goes across from the peninsula to the mainland. We have a delightful room with yet another great view! This time over an inlet and we have been able to sit on our verandah and watch the tide go out and come in again whilst observing the local bird life! Steve is really hoping a kiwi is going to walk past our window tonight as they are in this area!

Another legend enjoying a great view

Butterfly - to be identified