Camping and kiwi

One of the most special places that we've visited in New Zealand is Aroha Island, a small kiwi sanctuary located 12 kilometres north of Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands (not far from where we made landfall nine years ago). When we were discussing where to go for our "shakedown" motorcycle camping trip, it was the perfect choice.

The premise for the trip was to test what it would be like to carry our camping gear on the bikes before our week-long trip at Christmas. But really, going to Aroha was all about catching up with our good friends Mavis and Dave, who have managed the island each summer for the last four years.

After an early start and a fun ride north, we arrived at our destination just past noon.

Aroha is a place of quiet and repose, since it is home to several native kiwi (the bird that is, though there are usually a few of the human variety lurking around as well).

We make our way along a long causeway...



And are greeted by Mavis and Dave, who wait patiently as we set up camp...

And crack a beer to celebrate our arrival.

Then it was time to settle in for fresh pizza from the pizza oven (kippers and marmalade YUM!)...

And have an afternoon cuppa.

After a short post-lunch walk to take in the views...

Most of the gang headed for an afternoon nap while the more restless among us spent time investigating the map book and planning future rides.



That evening we borrowed red torches from Mavis and Dave and went out on a kiwi-spotting expedition. Mike and I have tried a few times to spot kiwi here, but they can be pretty elusive. We got lucky on one occasion and spotted the rear end of one as it scurried across the path and into the bushes. So, imagine how giddy we were when we had not one, not two, not four, but seven (or possibly more, we actually lost count!) sightings!! And not the "Yikes! Humans! Make a break for it!" kind of sightings, but the "Hmm, more curious humans staring me down but these insects are too delicious to pass up so I'll just humour them" kind of sightings. Some were of the same bird, but even so, it was quite the night. Good fun too. Imagine...

Creeping along in the dark on bush-lined trails, ninja style to avoid making a sound...

In the pitch black, with no light on for fear of disturbing the kiwi...

Ears keenly tuned to any slight rustling sound in the bush.

You only find out if your imagination is playing tricks on you when you turn on the red torch and peer with bated breath into the bush, trying to pick out brown feathers and a long curved beak from amongst the brown undergrowth and broken twigs.

We were too busy stalking to bring out the camera, but here's a photo of one of the little fellas courtesy of the Aroha website...

The next day we partook in Dave's expedition-grade tour of the island, complete with beautiful foliage....

Some bush clearing...



A murky iron-filled stream...

And even a hidden waterfall...

And then sadly it was time to break camp, load up the bikes, and hit the road back to Auckland and work the following day. We took the scenic route along the coast so we could reminisce about our arrival here by yacht so many years ago. We returned to Opua, where we first cleared customs.

Reminisce we did, in particular about the ice cream cones that fuelled us for that first month we spent in New Zealand!



Thanks to Dave and Mavis and Aroha Island for yet another magical visit. We'll be back soon!