We go ashore the following day to hike to the peak of Mt Hirakimata which – with 627m – is the highest point on Great Barrier island and pretty much the middle of it too. It takes us 3h to get to the top after several crossings of a little stream via hanging bridges which are popular in New Zealand 🙂 We also came by an old Kauri dam, build in the time when logging was happening in big style and without restrictions. Quite impressive size that dam, anchored into the rocks on either side. Unfortunately lead to the end of the era of big old kauris.
The ascent becomes steep towards the end and wooden steps are constructed by the DOC (Department Of Conservation) to make it easily accessible for many – but Kim and Laura complain about gravity’s endless force making life so hard – so I get the chance to advance my motivational skills  and soon we’re all rewarded with an amazing view of the whole wooded island, Coromandel and other islands and a lot of ocean. And Guppy waiting quietly on her leash in the bay. Another path leads us back down more gradually than the first one and a very different landscape too as most of it is a ridge walk – smaller trees and scrubs and still in the shade.
Laura: Our days at Great Barrier island fly by while we’re doing whatever crosses our minds – like scrubbing the hull (that crossed Kim’s mind!), doing homemade competitions involving running, swinging, diving, balancing etc. (also crossed Kim’s playful mind) – and socializing with George & Ellen on Winddancer. After a lovely dinner we paddle back from Winddancer one night and Kim discovers phosphorescence for the first time – and in fact, more extreme than I’ve ever seen it before too. Every move with the paddle causes an amount of sparks to illuminate not just the surface but also the below. It takes a while until she’s done playing and testing out different versions of the light show. How great to explore all the magical features of the world outdoors!
And thus our sailing trip came to an end – and before flying overseas we drove north to get a glimpse of Maori culture on Waitangi day at the Bay of Islands (a yearly celebration of a treaty made between English and Maori with lots of singing and haka, some rowing and canon shots etc.) and cape Reinga, to see the place where the oceans meet, and indeed, there’s something mystical about that place.

Laura