Sunrise at Tongariki, more roaming

Sunrise was 8:05a -- that made this experience a bit easier than what we would consider 'crack of dawn'.

After the sunrise, we drove around to take a look at some of the sites not covered by tours.

Pu o Hiro: a 1.25m stone wind instrument traditionally used to produce a "deep, trumpet-like sound to attract fish to the coast; or to invoke Hiro: the ancient Polynesian god of rain, during droughts".

Papa Vaka: "stone canoe" features marine-themed petroglyphs .Read more