18/6/07 Waitangi and Haruru Falls

Feeling slightly worse for wear I crawled out of bed to get my stuff together and check out of the hostel. After locking my stuff in the secure room I headed off on the walk to the Waitangi Treaty Ground. This is considered the birth place of New Zealand as it was here that the Maori cheifs signed the treaty of Waitangi and in doing so became a protectorate of the British crown. As well as a small visitors centre there is a Waka (or canoe) that was built to help celebrate the centenary of the signing ofthe treaty. This, however, is no ordinary boat. As well as being ornately carved from a Kauri tree, it is also about 100 yards long! I walked round to the treaty house where the representative of the crown, James Busby, and his family had lived. On the lawn outside there is a flag pole which marks the approxiamate site where the treaty was signed. The view across the bay to Russell, the former capital of NZ, was awesome and the water the most beautiful turquoise.
There is also a Maori meeting house next to the treaty house. Intricately carved and decorated, you have to remove your shoes to enter this sacred place. Unlike other Maori meeting houses, this one has no name as it belongs to the people of New Zealand, as opposed to any particular tribe. It was a short walk from here back to the visitor centre . I then decided to walk the 5km to Haruru Falls. Unfortunately the scenic path was closed so I walked by the road. This took you near to the summit of Mount Bledisloe and then down into the village of Haruru Falls, with its river running through it, it's very picturesque. I walked down to the small but, none the less impressive waterfalls form which the village takes its name. Having taken a few pictures I stripped off my shoes and socks and went for a paddle in the shallows above the falls. It was seriously temting to jump into the deeper areas for a swim, especially as by now the weather was swealtering. I then headed off on the walk back into Paihia.
It was on arrival back at the hostel that having walked 12km on rough track, my right ankle decided to do a very good impression of a melon. Very puffy!
Soon a very hungover Ginny was ushering us onto the bus for the trip back to Auckland.
About half way to Whangerai, Ginny announced that the 'in-flight' entertainment was to be in the form of a film. The film in question was 'Once Were Warriors'. A NZ made film about a family of Maori descent living in South Auckland. A powerful, if at times shocking, movie, it mdae you realise that there was more to NZ than the shiny tourist friendly image. Like most other countries in the world it has it's own inherent social problems.
It was just outside Auckland, whilst discussing the previous nights antics, that Ginny offered to sort the rest of my journeys with Kiwi Experience. Through various deals and driver discounts she managed to save me $300, about a hundred pounds. Just goes to show that getting pissed does have its benifits.
Arrived back in Aucklnad, going over the harbour bridge from where the night time view of the CBD was particularly mesmorising. Since all the other passengers 'de-bused' at Queen St, Ginny offered to drop me at my accomodation as it was on her way to the bus depo. I was soon in bed, knackered, after an unforgettable weekend.