Bay of Islands, New Zealand

After 3 days in Auckland I was ready to leave. Many visitors come to New Zealand and Auckland is as far north as they get. Not this traveler! I decided to buy a bus pass it gives me 19 trips as short or as long as I want.

Trip #1: Auckland - Pahia
The journey north was long but beautiful. If traveling by car I'm sure there is one or two nice spots to stop/stay along the way. Pahia is lined with beaches that look out into the Bay of Islands. It is where everyone gets a boat tour or rents a kayak to get up and personal to all the islands. But the view from town, relaxing on the beach was good enough for me. Pahia reminds me of Gananoque - where people come to take boat tours of the thousand islands. As soon as I checked in to "the pickled parrot" I knew I wanted to stay longer than 2 nights.
This is/was the best hostel yet! A really nice homey feel, a great patio and living space. Super nice staff and not on the main strip downtown. Free internet and bikes was also a total bonus.
I took a one day tour with "awesome NZ" up to Cape Reinga. This included a stop to see 80year old Kauri trees, a drive along 90mile beach (actually ON the beach), sandboarding on sand dunes, a walk out to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga (the most accessible northern part of the country) and a stop to see how recovered Kauri wood is being made into furniture (recovered from being buried in swamps).