Exit Harbour House Villa via the garden and take a short bush-walk down a path to the beach. From the beach you can bathe, fish or collect oysters, mussels and clams. A fifteen minute walk along a coastal path takes you to the Opua wharf where you can charter a boat enjoy a day sailing or game fishing. A twenty minute walk from the Villa is a rain forest with much of the vegetation labeled by volunteers. A three hour scenic walk (or 7 minute drive) takes you to Paihia.

Paihia is a small tourist town. Here you will find sightseeing cruise, sea kayaking, scuba diving, swim with the dolphins, scenic flights, golf, horseback riding etc. Boats depart from the Paihia wharf for scenic locations in and around the bay. A small passenger ferry will take you across the bay to Russell, the original capital of New Zealand. It is now a quaint village, but it was once a boom town in the days of the whalers.

Just beyond Paihia is the Waitangi Treaty Ground where the Maori and British signed the treaty that provides the basic framework for today's New Zealand government. In order to better appreciate the culture and history of New Zealand, a visit to this reserve is a "must -do" visit.

A visit to Cape Reinga, the northern most tip of New Zealand is very nice day trip. The bus drive on Ninety Mile Beach and see miles and miles of natural and undeveloped beach. You will encounter an occasional camper and surfer, but mostly it is a rare opportunity to experience a natural coast the way people hundreds of years ago experienced it. You will see where Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean meet. Australia is nine hundred miles to the west.

"An unforgettable experience, the views, your hospitality, good advice on eating out, the walkway, great vegetarian dinner. Many thanks to you all."
- Jane & James, Kingston-upon Thames, England November 11th 2005

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