A glorious start to the day in Thames on the Coramandel peninusla, we visted the local Butterfly Garden. An enthusiast business imaging the pretty butteflies was difficult becuase of their fast movemetn and small size and the very high tropical humidity in the butterfly house that caused constant lens fogging. We followed the coast south to the base of the Firth of Thames then headed north along the 'Sea Bird Coast' making our way toward Auckland around lunch time. Our aim was to get through Auckland to Orewa, however rain set in and we decided to push on to Paihia as the primary town at the Bay of Islands.