Bay of Islands

Lion NZ

Early rise to catch the ferry across to Russell, where we boarded the yacht Lion New Zealand. This is an ex Whitbread Round the World racing yacht that now gives sailing trips on the Bay of Islands. (78 feet long, built for the Southern Ocean, a serious piece of sailing kit).  Glorious sunshine all day. Not much wind in the morning, so we pottered along under both sail and motor to anchor in a bay off one of the many islands. Here we were ferried ashore to walk/swim/kayak/snorkel or simply sunbathe while the crew made lunch. We opted for a short walk, followed by a swim - and even John went in this time!

Back to Lion for lunch, after which the wind got up and we had a fabulous sail in the afternoon. Hoisted a huge red gennaker (inherited from an Admiral's Cup yacht) and she sped along, leeward rails in the water. All too soon it was time to return to Russell and catch the ferry back  to Paihia. 

Maori Meeting House at Waitangi

We finished off our day by visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. This treaty, between the Maori tribes and the British Crown, ceded sovereignty to the British but granted  land rights to the Maori. Still relevant today, it was essentially an agreement between two peoples to live and work together as one nation and, although far from perfect, has led to much less strife and discrimination than in Australia. An Australian we met on the Hokianga ferry remarked at how surprised he was to see Maoris working just like 'normal' people. That says it all.