Well gee I am thinking the dress has passed inspection according to the comments on HNT *grins*. Molten, Velvet and I spent the night laxing out watching Tim Minchin ditties on youtube and drinking wine and various misbehaviour including bloody tickling me  till I couldn’t breathe. Heh and touching me damn feet! Do nawt touch the feet I won’t be held responsible for biting Velvet has nice leg hairs to pull and Molten is quite pokable *snigger* Now I have to work out how to hide a bite mark on my arm Big Kitty left behind last night hehe. If I wasn’t so short “walking into a door knob” may have worked as an excuse, my family are all aware how accident prone I am heh.

I thought I would share with you a few pics of the place I am headed first thing in the morning and then go finish my packing (ugh).

The place is called Mangonui (get ya tongue round that one hehe).

This is the view from the top of the local pa - A pa is a fortified place built by Maori. In the past, they were built as refuge from attack during times of war

A little bit of history to enlighten your brain …

Many iwi (tribes) trace their ancestry back to the famous explorer Kupe, the great Polynesian navigator, who made his first landing near Taipa in A.D. 950. Archaeological studies have revealed some of the earliest Maori settlements in this area.In 1769, Capt. James Cook sailed past the entrance to the area and recorded in his journal “doubtless a bay”, hence the name.

Not long after, European traders, whalers, sealers and missionaries arrived here and Mangonui became a thriving port providing supplies, repairs and R & R for the many ships and their crews. Kauri trees grew in abundance and their trunks were sought-after for their length and diameter to serve as spars and masts.In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British Resident and representative Maori and the New Zealand nation was formed. Many settlers began arriving in the new nation, working the kauri timber and gum fields and farming sheep and cattle.

The town also boasts some very quaint historic buildings which will be amazing to go and check out. It’s brings the whole steampunk fetish of mine to the fore. I love the old buildings we have here. Once of the places I would love to visit is Butler House. Captain William Butler was a retired whaling ship captain who became a successful merchant in northern New Zealand. In 1838 Butler purchased land that formed the nucleus of what is today Butler Point. In 1847 Butler constructed a homestead, the front portion of which he transported by sea from property he owned on the opposite shore of Mangonui Harbour. This homestead has come to be called Butler House.

1850's homestead "Butler House"

And close by is a popular tourist spot for overseas visitors, Cape Reinga. Everyone who comes to NZ and gets to visit this place always loves this spot. Amazing views and well my favourite places here are normally, wild, windy obscure beach spots. Brings you right back to nature.

And I love the signpost they have here

So yea time to bugger off and get the camera charged because I am gonna go click happy. And finish my horrid packing. Who knows I may get time to do an HNT for next week