March 3 Paihia

 Our last day before flying home tomorrow.  We took the ferry across the bay to the town of Russell. Russell was the first capital of New Zealand button is now a quiet town full of grand of houses and a few tourist types shops and eateries. 

Bay of Islands from the ferry

 

Maori mask welcoming visitors as we get of the ferry and a 150 year old Moreton Bay Fig planted around 1870 by the first Collector of Customs, E.B.

 Lang. It stands outside the building below which was first the Customs House and later the Police Station

The Customs House was designed by the first Colonial Architect

Russell looking back from the ferry wharf. 

The moon shining on Bay of Islands

March 2 PaihiA

 Todaybwe visited Waitangi the site of the signing of the treaty between the British and the Maori people. There is a national park set aside to commemorate this significant moment in NZ history.  There's also a beautiful golf course on the headland above the site and a small waterfall over the headland. 

Waitangi cultural site 

Haruru Falls. 

This area is known as a Kiwi habitat but they didn't come out to see us unfortunately. 

March 1 Paihia

  It's Sunday but not sunny.  Light but constant rain puts a damper on the day.  But we decide to go to the local church anyway.  Australians make up 6 of the ten people in the congregation but the service is almost the same as an Australian Anglican service so that was fine. The rest of the day was a chance to recover from a few days of long road trips. 

St Paul's Paihia was built 100 years ago and has been kept well over that time. They are currently in the process of adding a set of stained glass windows to the side of the church.  Hence the scaffolding.