A perfect dinner

We leave the mud and bad weather behind and head to Leigh. Here we first stop at the dive shop and I finally book my first dive. However, it won't take place for another two days. But the incredibly nice employee Tina spent half an hour telling us about her favorite places, what we absolutely had to do here and drawing everything for us on a map. Seems like we're making good time until I go diving. At the campsite, you can hardly believe it, the sun is shining and we have a bright blue sky. After a round of laundry, we devote ourselves to Tina's first tip. Tawharanui Peninsula, a nature reserve, with an incredible variety of birds. There we walk through the woods and across the beach. The birds are incredibly loud and the nature is so simple, but incredibly beautiful. We really relax and fall in love with this place. Shortly after sunset we drive back to the campsite and decide to come back the next day and spend the night at a place right in the reserve. The next morning we continue with Tina's list. We go on a hike to Mt Tamahunga. She described it as a butt workout, with an AMAZING VIEW. The hike was challenging over lots of roots, mud and large stones, but we had a lot of fun. Maren warned me about every mud hole, but she often stumbled or slipped herself. We either missed the amazing view or it was a few years ago when she was at the viewing point herself. Because a lot of trees and bushes have now grown there and we had our lunch without a view. After a coffee break and fresh pants, we walked a viewing path in the city, where you can often see dolphins or whales, or the breeding blue penguins. We didn't see any of it... :( Back in the nature reserve we treat ourselves to a really fantastic dinner... a really perfect evening... good food, great views, deep conversations and vinooo. We start the next morning very relaxed and drive We go into town around midday, where we get a coffee and Maren takes me to the dive shop. Maren wants to spend the afternoon on the beach and I get to know my diving group. Two men, mother and daughter, the dive guide and me . It takes almost 1.5 hours until everyone is equipped with neos and dive gear. We load the trailer and drive 5 minutes to the dive site. Then we all get ready. After a short dive briefing, we put on all the equipment (except fins ) and walk a few meters down to the beach. One girl has problems diving down, but after she gets some extra weight, we can finally dive down. It's been almost a year since my last dive, but it doesn't feel like that at all . I really enjoy being under water again and feel very comfortable. The average depth is around 4.5m and so it is actually quite strenuous to maintain your buoyancy, but at the same time it is good exercise. After an hour the magic is over and Maren picks me up again at the dive shop. We'll continue straight away. In Auckland we get our first Domino Pizza and drive on to Raglan.