We flew via Los Angeles to Auckland, arriving early Sunday morning April 9th.  Dave's suitcase managed to get lost in LAX, but caught up with us that evening.  As we drove north towards the port town of Tutukaka, we stopped for breakfast and a brief hike at the Top of the Dome Cafe, where we spotted the strangely appropriate sign at left.

Monday morning Dave and Nick hopped on board the Norseman for a diving adventure with Captain Phil Bendle and videographer Ian Nilson, while Karen toured the northlands and shopped with Dot Nilson and Faye Bendle.  On the boat ride to the Poor Knights, Nick caught the tuna at left.

If there were one picture that would show what was special about the Poor Knights, I'd choose the one at left.  The schools of fish in the clear blue waters, with sunbeams refracted through the arches and cracks of the rocky islands are unique in my diving experience.

The sea stars (right) in the Poor Knights are particularly striking.  Below are photos of typically sighted fishes - a blenny, a moray eel, a leatherjacket, and a maori chief.

These scorpionfish at left and right are one of the most striking of the Poor Knights fish.  They're also quite easy to photograph once you spot them, because they depend on their camoflage rather than swimming speed for protection from preditors.  The spines of their dorsal fins are quite poisonous.

Below at left are sea urchins.  They're big, about 6 inches across.

Below center is a full grown slipper lobster.  He's about a foot long.  To his right is a baby, about a half an inch in length.

At left, we say goodbye to Captain Phil and Faye.  We then drove southwest beyond Auckland to the town of Hamilton, where Karen's cousin Keith lives.  That's Keith with his wife Anne at right.