Greetings from Dargaville

Hello to family and friends! We have made it to Dargaville and have been made to feel right at home. We started out from Kerikeri this morning and had an educational tour of the Hokianga area on our way to meet up with our Dargaville host families. We took quick tours of the towns of Kohukohu and Rawene with a ferry ride between the two. Lunch in Rawene was delightful on the deck overlooking the Hokianga Harbour. Special thanks to Marie Murrie for all of her extra effort in preparing a booklet on the history of the region complete with photographs! We met up with our Dargaville host families at the scenic overlook at Omapere. The view of the sand hills and the treacherous entrance to the Hokianga Harbour is magnificent. Once with our Dargaville hosts we were treated to the Waipua Forest and Trounson Park where we were absolutely in awe of the giant Kauri trees. We have been consulted on the agenda for the next few days, given gifts and made to feel welcome with our new families. We may be quietly relaxing here on the West Coast for a few days so please pardon the lack of communication and pictures if we slow down just a bit here at mid-tour....