Northlands -Day 3: Russell, and more beaches

So we are slowly making our way through the northernmost part of New Zealand. We stayed in a charming town called Russell at an historic hotel, named the Duke of Marlborough. Russell has a colorful past, having once been known as the "Hell Hole of the Pacific" due to the frequent in town sales of firearms, alcohol, and sex. Accordingly, the hotel was originally established as "Johnny Johnston's Grog Shop" by an ex-con. However, we all really loved the hotel as it's grand in the way that historic buildings can be and it's got a great view. The decor today really emphasizes the whaling and boating history of the area more so than any other. We stayed in the bungalow, which is a separate apartment right next to the main hotel. Here is the view from our porch. You can see our little white picket fence, the strand, the ocean and a pohutukawa tree. These trees are all over the coastal north and have amazing bright red beautiful flowers.

Two photos of the oldest gas station in New Zealand. We drove past it initially because -- well, we were expecting something - different. It's hard for the pictures to depict enitrely, but this station is literally just a corner of town. It looks like just the front of a hardware store in a little town. And it is. A hardware store with two gas pumps right in front.

Our two little trampsters on yet another verdant hike

These are manuka flowers - manuka honey is a big deal in New Zealand

Here is the "Who's got the Muddiest Shoe" competition. It might also be called the "Who's Wearing the Least Appropriate Shoe for Hiking" competition. I think either way, Tom wins.

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Sometimes, while hiking, one needs to hang out and wait for your slow parents to catch up.

Wending our way to another amazing beach

...with ginormous amazingly climbable trees

yes, we are playing hide and seek -- and yes, I pretended not to see him for a long time....

While we played on the beach and in the trees, Tom walked to the other side of the beach to see the place that used to be a whaling station. here's the foundation of the building that used to be part of it. Apparently, this inlet was just the right size and/or shape for bringing the whales in and doing whatever they needed to do to them.

Another pretty view of the inlet

What great kids!