Bay of Islands, New Zealand

 

BAY OF ISLANDS (WAITANGI), NEW ZEALAND

January 28, 2025

After 5 sea days, we were looking forward to landfall again.  Just before our arrival this morning, we were greeted by this group of porpoises off our port side.

Waitangi is the Gateway to the 150-some islands that comprise the Bay of Islands and holds a central role in the history of New Zealand.  In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in the Treaty House by British officers and Maori chiefs.  The Treaty House where the document was signed stands side by side to a Maori meeting house.   Our tour today traveled through lush citrus fruit orchards where swarms of bees produce the honey from which Manuka Honey is produced.  Our first stop was in the Kerikeri Basin which is home to the country’s oldest buildings dating back to the early 1800’s- the wooden Kemp House and the stone-constructed Stone Store.  

Then on to the beautiful Rainbow Falls along the Kerikeri River. 

This tour concluded with a visit to the quaint town of Kawakawa, home to the quirky public bathrooms designed by world-famous Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.  This iconic work of art even includes a living tree that grows through the center of its stalls.  The Bay of Islands Vintage Railroad still travels down the middle of Kawakawa’s main street today!!!!

Our afternoon tour took us to the Kawiti Caves which is home to impressive rock formations with delicate stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years and home to thousands of luminous glowworms.  Unfortunately, no photos allowed, since this would disturb the worms and turn off their “glows. ” This series of caverns is set in a massive limestone outcrop located on private property owned by descendants of Maori chieftain Kawiti.