Auckland to Whangarei

Got the ferry to Gulf Harbour to try and escape the worst of the traffic. Was very busy pretty much the whole day but had a tail wind and head down and ended up covering a decent distance. Stayed the night at a campsite at Mangawhai. Set up my tent in my designated site and was talking to the grandson (I assume) of the couple camped next door and essentially bragging about my great little tent and about how the material is 5 times as strong as most tent fabrics. 5 minutes later a girl runs straight through a guy rope and, yes, rips the mooringy bit off the end of my tent. Talk about instant karma or wot....Anyway on inspection not too disastrous and hopefully I can get it fixed in Kerikeri at a sail-makers there. Then the next mrning as I was pumping up my front tyre my inner tube burst. Grrr...Anyhow cycled off to find my neighbour waiting for me 5k up the road by his car holding my puncture repair kit that I had left on the grass and not realised. How kind. Decided the angels had returned.

Whangarei not far but not really into it though had a nice big stop for lunch and a swim or 3 at Uretiti Beach. Whagerei YHA really nice old little place up on hill above the main part of town with a very comfy lounge area.