We picked up our Mitsubishi today. The couple in Echo 12 and 14 (sitting behind Liz and I on Emirates), were already there getting their car. It is a small world. They were also on the same flight out of Manchester , but not sitting so near us. Our next destination is Paihia in the Bay of Islands, towards the North. Our car has no navigation of its own. It wants to connect to our phone, but our phones are not working. Lucky we have the TomTom with us and all the stops set up already.

Hunddertwasser Public Toilets were only a small detour out of our way. Recommended to us, they did prove to be a convenient stop, but as you can see are also rather Gaudiesque in design. The concept has been extended to a public square and art gallery next door.

Exemplifying scenic road travel, our route winds around the sides of hills and climbs and decends as it does so. Our apartment is on the third floor looking out across the bay. Windows on all sides. Comfy chairs and a balcony. But the main point is the view.

Earthshakingly stunning are the sights to be seen. Islands large and small, near and far, dotted about the bay, each catching the light in a different way. Overnight there was some rain and today we required the windscreen wipers about a dozen times in 3 hours. But only for about three minutes a time. Yesterday the bus driver explained that water on the island had to be carefully managed. Each household will collect rain from the roof. They certainly do not leave the water running when brushing teeth and restrict shower times to 120 seconds. They will be delighted today as it was very wet overnight.

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Listening to the waves gently and regularly break onto the sand is soothing. Children and parents are playing in the sea enjoying the bank holiday Sunday. Today is the 26th and it is Australia Day (in Australia). We were there last year and it was a Saturday, but the fireworks and picnics all happened on Sunday. Quite interesting to read last year's blog again.

Symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) is a culinary symbiotic fermentation culture consisting of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), acetic acid bacteria (AAB), and yeast which arises in the preparation of sour foods and beverages such as Kombucha. Well I know that now, but when I innocently had one in the motorway service station I had no idea. Basically it was fizzy and delicious. I spent some time reading the bottle and its purporting healthness. Sadly, like so many thing, too much of it can be not so good for you.