We got up on November 10, packed our bags, checked out of the Opononi Resort Hotel, and leisurely departed the hotel (guided by fate again even though we couldn't image any more coincidences occurring after the bizarre events of the previous day) for our long drive down the west coast of the Northland. We had to be back to the Auckland Airport by 6:30 pm for our 8:45 pm flight to Christchurch and the South Island.
The Opo Dolphin statue outside the Opononi Hotel. The wild dolphin allowed children to ride on its back in 1955 and 1956 and became world famous.
After taking some pictures around the hotel we proceeded down the coast toward Auckland. As we drove past a turnout (on the opposite side of the road) we could see Hokianga Harbor with the fog and clouds hanging low. We both noticed the view but didn't stop. However, after driving about a mile down the road I asked Karen if we should go back to the overlook at the turnout. She didn't hesitate and made a strange comment - "You want to go to that lookout." Very unusual since normally she would say something like "If you want to", "Ok with me", or "Yeah that looked like a nice spot" but nothing as definitive as that statement. So fate took over one last time and we turned around and went back to the lookout. When we went past the lookout earlier there weren't any cars there - this time there was a car and 3 people were getting out. As we pulled up and started to get out of the car one of the people exclaimed, "That is them!" Guess who it was, Loraine, Hailey, and Andy Te Paa. Hailey had recognized us. Andy had just gotten out of the hospital and they were headed to his mother's grave site to thank her for watching out for him and Joe. Andy was convinced there was supernatural intervention that saved them. He said that they stopped at this overlook to see where their kayaks were in the harbor. He teared up while telling his story and said that he had given up and was only praying that Joe would not try to save him because he would end up dying as well. He said he was in the water for well over 2 hours and was exhausted. While in the hospital last night he said Arthur Gage had come in to visit and said, "Do I have a story to tell you." Arthur then told Andy and Joe of meeting us and hearing about how we had heard Joe yelling for help and had gotten the Christchurch couple to contact the Coastguard via 411. Andy said, "Now I can go back and tell Joe and Arthur, I have even a better story to tell you." Andy was very emotional during the meeting especially when we showed him the pictures of Joe in the kayak. We were emotional as well - it gave us chills - just too many coincidences with just the right timing to be in just the right places multiple times over a 24 hour period. Wow! We spent the rest of our trip telling the story at every Bed and Breakfast we stayed at and to anyone we had a conversation with for any amount of time. One B&B owner on the South Island even said that she thought she saw something on the news about a kayak rescue on the North Island. Fate finally turned us loose but we did wonder if something would pop up again. We sent pictures to Joe and Andy via Arthur Gage's email when we got home and told the story again so they all had a record of our view of the story. We are even Facebook friends with our new Maori friends, Joe and Andy. Oh, and Joe and Andy said they were going to stick with land activities from now on.
Andy Te Paa offering Bill the Maori Hongi greeting as sign of respect and friendship.
Clouds and fog hanging low over Hokianga Harbor from Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve.
After our emotional stop at Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve overlook, we proceeded on our drive down the coast to Waipoua Forest - the Kauri forest we tried to tour on a night walk the day before but were thwarted by fate.
Tane Mahuta is the largest known Kauri tree and is between 1250 and 2500 years old. It is a remnant of the ancient subtropical rainforest that once grew in the Northland of New Zealand. Its name means God of the Forest.
Te Matua Ngahere is the second largest living Kauri tree by volume but is the largest in terms of trunk girth which is 52 feet. It is estimated to be about 1500 years old but its life span was shortened in 2007 by storm damage. Kauri trees can live 4000 years. It is the 10th largest tree in the world by trunk girth.
The Opo Dolphin statue outside the Opononi Hotel. The wild dolphin allowed children to ride on its back in 1955 and 1956 and became world famous.
After taking some pictures around the hotel we proceeded down the coast toward Auckland. As we drove past a turnout (on the opposite side of the road) we could see Hokianga Harbor with the fog and clouds hanging low. We both noticed the view but didn't stop. However, after driving about a mile down the road I asked Karen if we should go back to the overlook at the turnout. She didn't hesitate and made a strange comment - "You want to go to that lookout." Very unusual since normally she would say something like "If you want to", "Ok with me", or "Yeah that looked like a nice spot" but nothing as definitive as that statement. So fate took over one last time and we turned around and went back to the lookout. When we went past the lookout earlier there weren't any cars there - this time there was a car and 3 people were getting out. As we pulled up and started to get out of the car one of the people exclaimed, "That is them!" Guess who it was, Loraine, Hailey, and Andy Te Paa. Hailey had recognized us. Andy had just gotten out of the hospital and they were headed to his mother's grave site to thank her for watching out for him and Joe. Andy was convinced there was supernatural intervention that saved them. He said that they stopped at this overlook to see where their kayaks were in the harbor. He teared up while telling his story and said that he had given up and was only praying that Joe would not try to save him because he would end up dying as well. He said he was in the water for well over 2 hours and was exhausted. While in the hospital last night he said Arthur Gage had come in to visit and said, "Do I have a story to tell you." Arthur then told Andy and Joe of meeting us and hearing about how we had heard Joe yelling for help and had gotten the Christchurch couple to contact the Coastguard via 411. Andy said, "Now I can go back and tell Joe and Arthur, I have even a better story to tell you." Andy was very emotional during the meeting especially when we showed him the pictures of Joe in the kayak. We were emotional as well - it gave us chills - just too many coincidences with just the right timing to be in just the right places multiple times over a 24 hour period. Wow! We spent the rest of our trip telling the story at every Bed and Breakfast we stayed at and to anyone we had a conversation with for any amount of time. One B&B owner on the South Island even said that she thought she saw something on the news about a kayak rescue on the North Island. Fate finally turned us loose but we did wonder if something would pop up again. We sent pictures to Joe and Andy via Arthur Gage's email when we got home and told the story again so they all had a record of our view of the story. We are even Facebook friends with our new Maori friends, Joe and Andy. Oh, and Joe and Andy said they were going to stick with land activities from now on.
View of Hokianga Harbor from the lookout at Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve.
Karen and Bill talking with Andy Te Paa at the lookout at Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve.
Very emotional meeting with Andy Te Paa.
Andy Te Paa offering Bill the Maori Hongi greeting as sign of respect and friendship.
Karen, Andy, and Bill at Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve.
Hokianga Harbor from Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve overlook.
Hokianga Harbor inlet doesn't look too dangerous from up here.
Clouds and fog hanging low over Hokianga Harbor from Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve.
After our emotional stop at Ti Pikinga Scenic Reserve overlook, we proceeded on our drive down the coast to Waipoua Forest - the Kauri forest we tried to tour on a night walk the day before but were thwarted by fate.
Tane Mahuta is the largest known Kauri tree and is between 1250 and 2500 years old. It is a remnant of the ancient subtropical rainforest that once grew in the Northland of New Zealand. Its name means God of the Forest.
Bill and Karen in front of Tane Mahuta.
Karen and Bill in front of Tane Mahuta. It is the 4th largest tree in the world by volume.
Upper branches of Tane Mahuta.
Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest.
Waipoua Forest tree fern.
Fern tree in the Waipoua Forest.
Upper branches of a Kauri tree.
Bill on walk to Seven Sisters Kauri trees and Te Matua Ngahere.
Te Matua Ngahere is the second largest living Kauri tree by volume but is the largest in terms of trunk girth which is 52 feet. It is estimated to be about 1500 years old but its life span was shortened in 2007 by storm damage. Kauri trees can live 4000 years. It is the 10th largest tree in the world by trunk girth.
Karen and Bill in front of Te Matua Ngahere.
Te Matua Ngahere in the Waipoua Forest.
Close up of the Kauri tree trunk.
Parrot in the woods at the visitor center.
Interesting plant at the visitor center.
Beautiful river setting at the visitor center.
We drove over to the Waipoua Forest Visitor Center and Campground. The visitor center was closed but the grounds were very pretty - located along a river. This pavilion was supported by a huge Kauri trunk.
Parrot in the woods at the visitor center.
Interesting plant at the visitor center.
Beautiful river setting at the visitor center.
We made our last stop on our drive back to Auckland at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe. This cemetery is colocated with the museum and is in a beautiful setting. I won't talk about driving on the wrong side of the road directly toward another car on the drive to the museum. We could have ended up here. Oops.
New Zealand wood pigeon or kereru. They make a distinctive swooshing sound when they fly and are important for spreading seeds from the largest fruits.
Small garden and out-building located on grounds of the museum. The museum had some interesting displays and a very nice shop with very artistic wood carvings. The museum would take hours to do it justice and since we needed to get to Auckland for our flight we just did a cursory tour and look through the shop.
Driving into Auckland. Since we spent time in Auckland when we were on the North Island in 2007 we just went directly to the airport for our flight to Christchurch and the South Island.