Position 35 43.563S  174 19.732E

So because Paul missed out on his fish and chips yesterday we free camped in a car park at Whangarei for the night.  We did have some very nice fish in the evening.  This is a really nice compact little city, surrounded by hills.  The car park was near the town basin, which is the towns centrepiece.  Got a marina – Paul checked the prices! – lots of cafes and art shops.  When we arrived an artisan market was taking place on the pedestrian canopy bridge.  Mmmm lot of home-making stuff people here.  Before dinner we went on a short (according to Paul) down the river and over a lifting road bridge and back again.  Further than anticipated as we had to double back to cross a tributary as pedestrian bridge not completed yet.  This is a stone waka, the waves are supposed to represents the way that Maori culture has come under waves of attack from settlement and colonisation.  Even so the waka remains intact as does their culture.

Stern and mid-section.

Bow.