Hole in the Rock to Auckland, Tuesday

weather a perfect 24 again and off we head on a half day cruise to the Cape Brett Peninsula. My little camera trued valiantly to capture the scenery of the majestic little islands that dotted our cruise. Saw a pod of dolphins up close and personal as they swam all around our ferry while they searched for their fish brunch. A tiny little lighthouse that is no longer in use but has been maintained well against the elements. Cape Brett's lighthouse was built onnthe Coromandel Peninsula, barged up the coast and winched into place. Lighthouse keepers lived here from 1910 to 1978 when a new automated light went into service. And then the Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island. Passed Roberton Island where Captain James Cook anchired the Endeavour off this beautiful little island with twin lagoons, when he visited the Bay of Islands in 1769. A small concrete pillar has been erected in the water to commemorate his visit.

Cruising around these islands was a history lesson in itself. Assassination Cove is the site where French explorer Marion du Fresne and 26 crew members were killed in June 1772. We stopped off at Otehei Bay and had a cuppa. American author Zane Grey lived here in the 1920s. His popular book 'Tales of the Angler's Eldorado' made game fishing in the Bay of Islands world famous.

You can live on some of the islands, but be prepared to pay 7 figure numbers. And then its probably only your holiday home! One family have built theirvown private yert anchored in Otehei Bay! How the other half live. There are camping facilities on Otehei Bay but the only stars I ever want to sleep under are those of a 5 star hotel! After we finish our cruise, we are back on board our coach and head to Auckland. A couple of comfort stops along the way and we arrive back in Auckland to the same hotel from our first night, at about 6.30pm. There is a 3 course dinner put on by Travelmarvel, on the 10th floor of the hotel. The meal eas very nice, as was the company, but food service was very slow so the early night I wanted didnt happen. Was still a great day and looking forward to another great day as we head to Rotorua in the morning.