Tutukaka!

Mm, that sounds like a proud toddler stepping off the pottie...
Check this one out: www.sandsmotel.co.nz and find out what I'm talking about! The very bay this motel is on has been recommended to me as one of the best snorkeling areas, so I'm off to hire me a wetsuit and stuff and enjoy!
Tomorrow, Dive Tutukaka is taking me to Poor Knights Island for a couple of dives in this area Cousteau himself recognised as one of the 10 finest diving places in the world!!! (note to self: cut down on the exclamation marks).
Yesterday, I stayed at Carlos & Kelly's place in Auckland. I'm happy to get to see them 3 times dring my stay here as they've invited me to also stay on my last night next week. Leaving them early in the morning I took my time to get here. Drove West from Aukland to Karekare beach where they shot the famous beach scene for The Piano, then North through Helensvill where they have kept most of the old building giving this city a nice feel. (uploading the pictures as I write this. If the slideshow is not up yet go to http://picasaweb.google.com/donacn2/FromSouthToNorthWanakaToTutukaka#)
By then, I felt the weight of the past days driving and decided to cut short on the touring and to head straight up to Whangarei to book a sleeping place before driving on to Tutukaka.
And that's how I got to Whangarei today, to find me a webcafe and book the diving thing. All I need to do for today is some shopping for food and drive back to the motel along that beautiful country road lined with stone walls and young Kauri's.
Signing out from Whangarei (Fangarai), this is Dona