The Great Summer Road Trip, Day 8

They really need to be a little more precise with the road signage up here in the winterless north. When you are setting off for Kerikeri and see a sign that says 'Mission House' it is easy for the out-of-towner to assume that this is the mission house, sometimes called Kemp House, that is right next door to the Stone Store you are heading for. This is not the case. There is a Te Waimate Mission House, too. Luckily this mission house is absolutely exquisite and comes with a beautiful church and historic graveyard, and the hours taken getting lost and exploring it are well spent.

They really love being the oldest in things up here, so today I saw the oldest and second oldest buildings in New Zealand, and the oldest oak tree and oldest pear tree. More importantly I walked the Waitangi Treaty grounds - very, very special.

Oh, and eventually the Stone Store was located, too!