Sunday arrival to Paihia. We were met by Matthew, our driver, and spent much of Sunday driving north to Paihia, where our hotel sits facing the Bay of Islands. We all did well staying awake, enjoying the sights and Matt's intro to this gorgeous part of the north Island. The sky tower in Aukland stretched our necks, (but noone volunteered to try their "controlled" base jumping experience. We enjoyed seeing an 800 year old kauri tree, dipping our toes in the Pacific, and dinner at the hotel was incredible!