Resting after tramping Paradise

So we started off last Thursday morning riding into the sunrise after motorcycling on auto pilot all night and taking a nap at a wayward rest stop.
Note to self: As the crow flies does not mean actual distance.
Got the moto returned and hitched a ride to the Ferry to boat us to the Great Barrier Island for 5 days of tramping and backpacking.
We scored a ride from our friend Tim who we met in Auckland our first day and ran into on the ferry, and set up camp on Medlands Beach on the island.
To recover from our sea sickness after the four hour ferry ride, we took a nap on the most ultimate of grassy knolls over looking the sunset.  Full accommodation upon 32 inch high soft luscious grass.
Mmmmmmmmmm....

Kiwi's know how to build trail accommodations, that's for sure, but they could use some assistance with track routing.  Straight up and straight down does not make a trail.  The staircase however through Windy Canyon, was incredible, up and down Mount Hobson and Mount Heal.  Maybe 500 steps.
Up...
Then maybe, what, 700?
Down.
Ow.
Our legs were 'Thumper'.
The views, the scenery, the remoteness, the wonderful people and conversations.  The radio interview...
Yes, radio interview representing the NW!
The list goes on.  Can't forget the hot springs and multiple river crossings.  Thankfully, no unnecessary swimming.
Almost lost our tent down the beach at night in a wind gust.  "Dennis, what was that sound?"
"SHIT!"
Full sprint in darkness with a head lamp after our only shelter.  Ok, good. Catastrophe averted.
20 Minutes later over dinner, "Mary Jane, where's our sleeping bags?"
"SHIT!"

Imagine wrapping up about 20 romance novels and putting them all into 5 days.  That's what we had.
The grand finally being a hammock strung across a overhanging tree branch in the bay, napping, awaiting the ferry off into the sunset.

Now off to the south end of the North Island!