day 38

Got up early to catch the bus up to the cape. For once we are not the only old people on the Bus.
We stoped for coffee along a small stream that had eels in it, really cool...then we stoped at a place that showed us how the Gumdiggers live and worked in the old Kauri forest. Gum is Amber after it is 45,000 years old.

a gumdiggers house

the lighthouse at Cape Reinga

from there we went all the way to the Cape Reinga light house, and saw where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. It was a beautiful walk along the ridge out to the lighthouse. From there we went to a nice little beach and had lunch, and watched the surf.

This is the meeting of the ocean and sea

After lunch we got back in our 4X4 bus and headed for the giant sand dunes, Most of the young people boogie boarded down the dunes. It was great fun watching them come fliing down the sand.

then we drove down this river bed out on to 90 mile beach, It's really only 64 miles. But it was beautiful, We were able to drive all the way down the beach. Then over to the Ancient Kauri kingdom. They have reclaimed Kauri wood that has been in the swamps in the area. They think the wood is about 40,000 years old.

these are Kauri stumps that have been pulled out of the swamps


Then we stoped for Fish and Chips on the way home. We walked down to the main street and got some food for tomarrow.