Kerikeri

This has been my home the past 3 days:

It's right in between the two trees (you can see that better in this one):

There is also a river down below where the chairs look out.  It's a perfect spot, because the trees shade the tent in the afternoon so it's not too hot at the end of the day.  I wish I could say I planned that out, but no, my sense of direction is still bad.  My first full day here I decided to check out a couple of the local wineries so that I could buy a bottle I liked (to waive the tasting fee) and have a bit that night and a bit the next night.  I didn't even come close to finishing the bottle over the two nights, but decided not to take the rest with me.  View from one of the winery drive ways:

And from the other's seating area where I hung out for a little while after I had lunch in their restaurant:

Anyway, I got a bit lost on the way, and ended up at signs toward Waitangi, where I was planning on going the next day, and much further away than the wineries I had in mind.  So I turned around and found the wineries, but the next day it was easier to find my way to Waitangi, as I had already been 1/2 way there!

Waitangi is where the treaty was signed between the Maori leaders and the British to give the Brits control.  It's a nice little place with walkways through a jungle-y forest, and then great views of the Bay of Islands.  I also took a ferry across the bay to Russell, a tiny little town with some nice beachfront cafes.  I'll have to put up pictures of that later though as I can't find them on my computer, and I think it's time to go check on my key!