We are in Kerikeri. This part of New Zealand is famous for it’s sub-tropical fruit production and we pass many orchards growing oranges, lemons, avocados, kiwi fruit & tangelos. We spend two nights at the NZMCA site at Rainbow Falls. Our walk to see the falls takes all of two minutes over a fence! What spectacular falls they are. And yes, there is a rainbow – just. We have a walk along the river, through kauri trees and spot a weta on the path – unusual as they are nocturnal. We manage to move it from the footpath back into the bush.

The following day, as a treat to ourselves, we have lunch at the Marsden Estate Winery https://www.marsdenestate.co.nz It is next door to where we are staying so it’s an easy walk home! We hadn’t booked but they did have a table in the garden – it was overcast but we said ok! And boy were we pleased we did…I think we had the best table in the house! Both the food and wine were superb. We even made friends with a gorgeous dog who wanted to play fetch – with a leaf! If you are ever in or near Kerikeri, it is a fantastic place for lunch.

We manage to find a place to watch the final All Blacks game of the Northern tour but before settling down to watch, we visit the Kerikeri Farmer’s Market. What a brilliant market – it happened to be celebrating it’s 25th birthday. We had brilliant flat whites from Ikarus Coffee Roasters https://www.ikaruscoffee.co.nz/ We enjoyed the coffee so much we bought a bag to take with us! There was so much local produce on sale here, including from a lady who called her products “About Fig ‘n’ Thyme” whose Mulled Orange Marmalade is spectacular!