More photos

Me, after sandboarding down this big dune. Took us a long time to climb it and then the ride was slow coming down, which BTW was fine, by me! Sand causes friction, so it slows the board down.

The Cape Reinga Lighthouse at the northern most point in NZ where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. The turquoise water on the left is coming from the Tasman Sea and the dark blue water on the right is the Pacific.

Looking out the front window of the bus that drove us along 90 Mile Beach, which is an official highway in NZ!  We traveled for 1/2 hour on the beach road, which is the newest highway in the world every day because the tide comes in and resurfaces it every day!

The view from the lookout I hiked up to in Pahlia overlooking the town and the Bay of Islands.

These trees have red flowers in December in NZ and they call them 'Christmas trees'!

This Anglican church site is where the Rev. Henry Williams was asked by the 13 Maori chiefs of the North Island to negotiate a treaty for them with the British. That treaty preceeded the Treaty of Waitangi which was the official turning point in their relationship. The memorial in front was commissioned by the Maori to honor him. Well done, good and faithful servant!