Monday 8 November We're here!

Here in New Zealand. The wind died to nothing yesterday morning and we've been motoring through flat seas. At 4am today we were 12 miles off the coast, I could see stars reflected in the water and then gradually I began to smell the sweet perfumes of land, pine leaves, freshly sawn timber and earth, and as the first streaks of light appeared I saw the coast. A welcome sight after a long passage and for us an achievement; we've sailed across the biggest ocean in the world, 6000nm by the rhumb line and estimated 7000nm sailed.

Cape Brett at dawn

At 6am we motored into the Bay of Islands, still 10 miles up the river to reach the Customs dock and marina at Opua. There were dolphins to welcome us and the rolling hills and trees I'd smelt. My first impressions was a similarity to Scotland or Wales and perhaps Tasmania.
At 8am we were alongside the quarantine dock waiting for Customs and Immigration to come and clear us in. First on board was the man from the ministry of agriculture and fisheries to remove hazardous food items. He took half a bulb of garlic, the last bit of honey, frozen sliced limes (for G&Ts), kidney beans and chick peas. There was no meat to give him. Our freezer had only biblical contents; fishes, loaves and holy water (gin). The lady from Immigration gave us visas for 6 months because we're British (other nationalities get 3 months and have to extend) and a form which allows us to buy boat parts without paying 15% VAT. Isn't that nice?

Opua quarantine dock

Paperwork complete we found a good spot to anchor just outside the marina. Jackie from Inspiration Lady radioed to say she would be driving to Whangerei (the main town 1 hour south) at midday and would I like to go. Yes. A chance to get off for the first time in 9 days, to raid the ATM, buy SIM cards for our phones and to pick up fresh veggies. David stayed aboard to clear up and to keep anchor watch while we settled.
I got back from my mini adventure after 6pm and it was still full daylight. The advantage of being further away from the equator than we've been for 2 years is more hours of daylight. Dinner was a celebration bottle of fizz, steak and mushrooms, the first mushrooms we've seen for a long, long time, and then bed. I'd been awake since I came on watch at 1am this morning and needed my bed.