In November 2004, we sailed from Tonga to Opua, New Zealand. After a few weeks in New Zealand, the country grabbed our hearts and we decided to stay for a while. We sailed New Zealand’s fabulous cruising ground in between a couple of rounds of work.
Sailing around the Bay of Islands and down the east coast of the North Island to Auckland delivered a taste of the great cruising ground. Each Christmas, we sailed and played at Great Barrier Island. Weekends at Waiheke exploring water and wine kept us amused while we worked during the week. Coromandel, Mercury Islands, Whangarei, Whangaroa each offered something unique to explore.
To this day, we talk about going back to New Zealand and buying a boat.
