We left the Whangaparaoa Lodge Motel to continue driving to the Bay of Islands in the far north of New Zealand. Our first stop was at the small historical village of Puhoi founded along the Puhoi River 150 years ago by Bohemians from what is now Czechoslovakia. We also made stops at Warkworth, Wellsford and road side shops on our way to Paihia. After reaching Cook's Lookout Motel outside of Paihia we went for dinner at the Amazing Thai Paihia restaurant.
Interesting General Store in Puhoi - I bought some fingerless gloves in preparation for our later trip to Milford Sound.
We saw a truck with some sheep in the back and started taking pictures of them. The owner came out of a store and grabbed one of the sheep for Karen to get an up close look. One of the great things about traveling is the randomness of special moments like this. The guy said these are rare sheep that he recently purchased and is going to breed.
Finally made it to Cook's Lookout Motel and the owners invited us to have a drink on their porch and watch the sunset over the Bay of Islands.
Karen and piano in the Bar at the Puhoi Hotel.
Very interesting bar in the hotel.
Seems like everyone wanted to leave something in this bar - dollars, hats, ties, cards, etc.
Karen outside the Puhoi Hotel.
Karen on the grounds of the Puhoi Hotel.
Interesting General Store in Puhoi - I bought some fingerless gloves in preparation for our later trip to Milford Sound.
Lunch at the Hive Cafe at Honey Centre near Warkworth. They also had delicious samples of different honey flavors. The bees accessed and made honey from different flowers to get the different flavors of honey. Manuka honey is world famous and is made from pollen from the Manuka tree flowers. It is known for its healing properties and medicinal use. We also stopped by Warkworth and went in a few shops and the Visitor's Center.
We saw a truck with some sheep in the back and started taking pictures of them. The owner came out of a store and grabbed one of the sheep for Karen to get an up close look. One of the great things about traveling is the randomness of special moments like this. The guy said these are rare sheep that he recently purchased and is going to breed.
Karen and her new buddy.
Such a beautiful animal.
Of course she also had to pay some attention to the sheep dog.
Big horn guy.
Finally made it to Cook's Lookout Motel and the owners invited us to have a drink on their porch and watch the sunset over the Bay of Islands.