The burnt bush at Te Paki, all caused by one car crash. 

Not far home! 

This is the point that juts out from Cape Reinga. If you look closely you can see the Pohutakawa tree from which the spirits fly to meet their ancestors. 

Trip to Cape Reinga

Saturday has come round again and after a very busy week at our schools, we wanted to go on an adventure. Set off for Cape Reinga at midday and after a lunch stop at a wharf near Houhora, we arrived at 2.30. Chantelle liked the rolling grassy hills on the way. I was impressed by the destruction wreaked by a recent bush fire on the Te Paki reserve. Eric reckoned it was great because we live near places like this and were not on holiday. Stuart hated it because it was too high up and he was convinced he was going to die!

Cape Reinga itself is the most visited northernmost point of New Zealand where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. We saw a container boat heading round the Cape on its way to Auckland from Oz, Chantelle was convinced it was the Sydney Express on its way back from England. And no, as yet our shipping from its last visit has not yet arrived!