Day 299 – 07.05.2016

NZ

Whitianga (Coromandel)

Did you know … fact 5 …?

…what the Maori call New Zealand? ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ – why?

According to Maori, the first explorer to reach New Zealand was Kupe. Using the stars and ocean currents as his navigational guides, he ventured across the Pacific on his waka hourua (voyaging canoe) from his ancestral Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. It is thought that Kupe made landfall at the Hokianga Harbour in Northland, around 1000 years ago. [And they did find land because the saw a long white cloud indicating land.] You will not find Hawaiki on a map, but it is believed Maori came from an island or group of islands in Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. There are distinct similarities between the Maori language and culture and others of Polynesia including the Cook Islands, Hawaii, and Tahiti. more information here

earlier… [fact 1] [fact 2] [fact 3] [fact 4]

Today we ventured into Whitianga. Small cute little town, shops, galleries, food places. People know each other.

And after lunch we went to the beach. I think I have arrived in paradise. Look at this:

We spent our time being kids and doing kids stuff.

And while Stéphane and I were talking to Ian, a local we had met on the beach, the girls went into the water and played.

And when the tide had come back and we had cold feet we went back to our youth hostel.