North of the North - Part 1

After waiting in anticipation for some months, Bay Tours North of the North tour rolled around.  My case was packed, and Gemma was dropped around the the cattery the previous day.  Remember, she was a bit hissy last time, I reminded Carole, the owner.  No trouble, she said, I like a challenge.  

All packed a ready to go

The tour  was departing from Napier. so I took the Intercity bus from Levin to Napier, so much easier for me than driving.  And then we were off.  30 passengers, the driver and the hostess.

We're on our way

The first day was spent, with a morning tea and lunch stop, driving to Auckland, where we checked into our hotel.  And what a beauty it was, such a lovely room, so different than staying in the caravan.  In fact, it was the nicest hotel of the trip, I decided, at the end of the tour.

Waipuna Hotel, Auckland

Moving on the next morning, Whangarei was our lunch stop and a visit to the Hundertwasser Art Centre.  Austrian artist Friedensretch Hundertwasser designed the famous public toilets in Kawakawa, the main attraction of the town and the most photographed toilets in New Zealand.  The tour didn't visit the toilets this time, but we had time to look around the Art Centre, designed by Hundertwasser and finally completed in 2019 in his well known flamboyant style.

Art Centre, Whangarei

Inside the gift shop I was delighted to see a collection of Opal sock wool, manufactured to reflect the colours of Hundertwasser's work.   What to choose?  A ball of shades of blue, with touches of green and yellow,  I decided, boring I know, but then, I love blue!

Sock wool

Driving on to Paihia, we were finally in the far north.  There was lots to do up this way, and we stayed for 4 nights.  We took the ferry across to Russell, such an interesting place.  Formerly known as "The Hell Hole of the Pacific" the town started life populated with whalers, sealers, and prostitutes.  The main street was lined with grog shops and brothels, and it was a very lawless place indeed.  The town was burnt to the ground, so there are no original buildings standing.  Believe it or not, Russell was the capitol of New Zealand in 1840-41, and then the capitol moved to Auckland in 1841-65, finally moving to Wellington in 1865.

Welcome to Russell

We took a mini bus tour around Russell, quite a hilly little place, and were driven up to Flag Staff Hill, where Hone Heke cut down the the flag pole four times in quick succession.  The flag pole was gifted by Heke to fly the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand.  But after the Treaty of Waitangi the flag  was replaced with the Union Jack, which symbolized the loss of Maori mana for Heke and his followers, escalated tensions and ultimately lead to the Northern Wars. 

Russell Mini Tour bus

We returned for an evening ferry ride a couple of days later to dine at the fabulous Duke of Marlborough Hotel, such a wonderful historic place.  A real grand old lady of a building, and full of charm.

Duke of Marlborough Hotel.

Our group was ushered into the dining room, complete with beautifully upholstered chairs in floral fabrics and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  I spotted an embroidered fire screen so just had to take a photo of that too.

Inside the hotel

While I was wandering around taking photos a nice young man approached me and offered to take one of my table.  How kind of him, he probably felt sorry for the old lady!

All ladies at our table

I remember I had roast belly pork, and apple tart for my meal.  Service was a little slow so we had to devour our desserts in double quick time, then hurry to the wharf to catch the 10.00pm ferry back.  Luckily we all made it.  It was a delightful venue and a lovely finish to our day's sightseeing.