New Zealand North Island Trip

We were picked up outside our hotel for the bus trip to the Bay of Islands, a half day bus ride. It took about 5 hours. We stopped once for morning tea. The countryside was beautiful and green with many ferns dotting the landscape. At one point we passed a pasture full of red sheep. The farmer had dyed the sheep to identify them. Upon our arrival at the Bay at Islands we visited the Treaty Grounds, then went on a cruise of the Bay and the Islands which included the Hole in the Rock. Then we were back on the bus at 4:30 pm and off to Auckland arriving around 8 pm. It was a long day.
Green New Zealand countryside on the way to Bay of Islands.

Our bus.

Jay was tired. It was an early morning for us.

Many ferns dot the landscape in New Zealand.

We visited the Treaty grounds where the Maoris and the English signed the treaty that basically set up the New Zealand Constitution. Our guide was decked out in his Maori dress and was very nice and humble.
Guide for the Treaty Grounds

Maori Treaty House

Jay in front of Maori Treaty House.

View of bay from the treaty grounds.

View of bay through flowers on Treaty Grounds.

Treaty House and Govenor's residence.

English gardens around Treaty House.

Guide demonstrating the Haka face.

Maori canoe

Maori Canoe

After the tour of the Treaty Grounds we took a cruise around the Bay of Islands and went to the Hole in the Rock. When the seas are calm the cruise boat can go right through the Hole. However, today was not the case. On the way to the Hole in the Rock we saw a group of dolphins.

Boat dock
Dolphins

Cruise around the Bay of Islands

Hole in the rock.

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