5. Big game fishing in Tauranga, New Zealand

We arrived in Tauranga on the evening of the 6th and had a great dinner in the Harbourside Restaurant, right by the water. We had a very early start the next morning as we chartered a boat and went out into the Bay of Plenty

for a day's big game fishing. We left Tauranga Marina at 7 am aboard the good ship Crows Nest. The crew consisted of Craig (skipper), Heath (first mate), and Trudi, who took charge of refreshments and provided good company.

We headed out toAstrolabe Reef, and along the way we were briefed about the day and what to expect. No briefing could prepare you for the sight of the sea seemingly boiling with fish, as they fed close to the surface around the reef!

More remarkably, the boiling sea erupted with splashing and frothing as the predators whipped through the huge shoals of fish. We caught some kahawai, a local fish a little bit like sea trout. About 3-5 pounds, they put up a fierce fight. Úna also caught a mackerel.

But the kahawai were meant to be bait fish to get at the marlin and dog fish that we could see were there. But there was simply too much good feeding for the big fish and we ended up empty-handed. You should have seen the one that got away, though!

Tauranga is a pretty place and seems to be a thriving tourist destination. It is linked to Mount Maunganui, which is dramatically overlooked by a dormant volcano. For a look at some active volcanic activity, we headed to Rotorua.