New Zealand. Cape Reinga

Today we set off bright and early to travel up to the most northerly accessible part of the island, Cape Reinga. We started off with a stop in a rain forest to look at the wairu trees. An ancient NZ tree which was almost harvested to extinction. They are extremely tall trees with an enormous circumference. They were used for Maori canoes and then by the British for houses and for boat masts as they grow very straight with no beaches on the trunk. 

Next we headed up to 90 mile beach. You could actually drive on this beach and we did in our bus! 

After driving further along the beach we drove into the dunes and found the biggest one which the driver estimated was about 120m high to go boogie boarding down! It was awesome! After the effort of getting up there, and it was so windy! Got friction burns on my feet from trying to steer!

After lunch we headed up to Cape Rienga which is where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. As with what seems like all of NZ the sights were amazing! So beautiful with the waves meeting in the middle of the sea. 

On the way back to Paihia we stopped of to have "the best fish and chips in the world"! Not up to British standards is say but nice. I think they probably earn the title from being nice and looking out over a georgeous bay. But we had to eat on the bus :(