Rainbow Warrior, Kaleidoscoptes, Kauris and gum boots

Rainbow Warrior

You may remember that this was active in supporting a number of Greenpeace protest activities against nuclear weapons testing during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was sunk whilst in harbour in NZ by operatives of the French intelligence service on 10 July 1985, killing one of the activists. This memorial overlooks the area just north of Bay of Islands and near to where we spent a few days in Whangaroa before our return to Auckland. A beautiful area and very quiet compared to Paihia.

From Whangaroa we drove and then took a bus trip right up to the north tip of North Island via various stop offs and then back down 90 mile beach - on the sand all the way and a spectacular drive. We also went sand dune sledging and stopped at the end lighthouse to see where the Tasman sea collides with the Pacific Ocean.

Kauris and Kaleidoscopes

We later visited a great museum in the north and learnt about Swamp Kauri trees, buried in sand for 40,000 years, and saw some of the huge living Kauri trees. The story of the settlers logging live and buried trees was really interesting and a museum well worth visiting. It also tells about gum digging for the Kauri gum that was used around the world for varnishes etc and gave rise to the name for the long wellingtons they used - Gumboots.

We stopped at a brilliant place making kaleidoscopes and bought one made from swamp kauri - visitors to Raven Hill can enjoy a look next time they are sitting in the Garden Room. They had all sorts and sizes in the garden with some fantastic effects - would have loved one of those but afraid they wouldn't fit the suitcase.