Kai Iwi Lakes and north - page#3

Leaving Russell we are driving southeast along the 'Russell' Road, past Auks Rd which takes you to the car ferry at Okiato. This would be the normal road if a quick trip to Auckland on SH #1 was your choice.

Not today for us and we are soon passing Frenchman's swamp to arrive at the Paroa Bay Rd turnoff to the left. We take this and are soon rewarded by the most spectacular view across the Bay of Islands from our elevated vantage point behind Paroa Bay. To the right as far as Otehei Bay (of Zane Grey fame) and to the left past Roberton Island where older Bay of Islands' residents will recall Colonel Brown, who built a most unusual mud brick house in the Mediterranean style using mud labouriously dredged from the nearby bay - to the best of my knowledge the house is still standing. The Colonel welcomed visitors with a shotgun!

Reluctantly leaving this vista we wind our way towards Rawhiti passing Manawaora and Parakura Bay, the road rising and falling, twisting and turning following the very pretty coastline. You don't want to be in a hurry as the road is not built for any more than 20 or 30 km/hour and the wonderful view would be missed. There is nothing much at Rawhiti; a Marae and a few houses, but with the crystal clear water gently lapping - what an idyllic spot.

It is necessary to backtrack a little until a left turn heads you south and towards Whangaruru. A very pleasant drive with glimpses or the sea away to the left. Getting to late afternoon and time for a quick coffee at Bland Bay, a piece of coast we vow to revisit on our next trip north. We pass a dog friendly camp ground which seems to have reasonable facilities,  fronting onto the beach and making note of it's phone number so we can book for our next visit to this area thinking it would be great spot for our first 'dormir a bord' with the California. We'll see - depends on the weather.

It's 4pm now and we are still quite north of Whangarei so - roll up the awning, powerdown the roof and 3 1/2 hours later we are driving into our Mt Eden garage. A very enjoyable few days even if we didn't make the northernmost point - Cape Reinga - that's another day.