The Bay of Islands. Ohetei Bay on the Island of Urupukapuka.

The water surrounding the island and flowing into the secluded bay was a fabulous turquoise in color.

As with many places around here, we needed to take a nice 30 minute ferry ride from the town of Paihia pictured in the background here. There was a nice farmers market at the ferry terminal for a few avocados and coffee. We also ran into the lady hiker from Switzerland that we met in downtown Auckland who said she was having a marginal time on the long north-south trail so far. She is taking a different ferry to Russel to stay in a campground there before continuing her journey. Small world eh?

Too many islands in the Bay of Islands to picture them all but this one was cool as it had a cave or two going into it.

We saw a cool schooner sailing toward the bay on our ferry ride. We took a 10 day schooner trip back in 2000 out of Camden, Maine. Laurie still wears the hat (for sun protection here) from the bar/restaurant called Cappy’s there.

Another shot of some of those islands. We can see why it is called the Bay of Islands.

This was the scene as we pulled into Otehei Bay. Love the jagged rocks.

Here is something we have not seen before. It is a “sea yurt” you can rent to stay in as your accommodations. Not sure of the cost but cool for a night or two maybe.

We were supposed to rent kayaks and paddle around the bay but the summer season did not start for two more days. We were a bit bummed but quickly got over it by enjoying pulled pork tacos and Kumara fries. These are sweet potato fries and may have been the best thing to go into my mouth in a long time. I do not even like sweet potatoes. The pork tacos were very good too.

There were quite a few interconnecting hiking, or tramping tracks on the island. We had to be back for a return ferry in about 4 hours so did not figure to get so lost we would miss it. When we found a fork in the road we simply took it.

This is Vicky. She is from Hong Kong here on a workers visa as a nurse for the last 9 months. It was absolutely fabulous to talk with her for a few hours as we hiked. She quit her job, for many reasons and is waiting for her husband to join her for a few weeks of tourism before heading back to China. We learned a ton of good information about traveling in Southeast Asia from her as she has traveled there extensively.

Another beautiful shot from our hike through the sheep-lands of the island.

Vicky asked us to look excited! How could one not be in such a beautiful place?

Such beautiful trees in the area.

These two characters were out fishing on opening day. They had a huge net they used but had no luck while we were talking to them. This beach was also a campground for folks to use for free. Bathroom and outdoor shower to boot.

Vicky was impressed with my sheep speak as this group of sheep came at my beckon call. Cute little devils they were.

We walked through thousands of sheep this afternoon all grazing out in the hot sun but this group we deemed “the smart ones”.

Gotta love animal communications!

On our way home from the ferry we stopped in to see this nice waterfall and have a snack. It was begging me to go swimming but not this time.

Had to say hello to the ladies before getting back into the car. Reminded us of Hawaii where the chicken problem is out of control in places. These beauties were obviously hand fed by the locals regularly. I fed them the remains of a strawberry stem and they were instantly my best friends.