Thursday - A Perfect Day

As beaches go this is as close to perfect as I can imagine. We are on the north coast of the BOI at Pia Pia Bay. We arrived around 10am and for the first 2 hours it was deserted. Now (around 2pm - I'm guessing here, remember, no watches) 3 moms have 9 young children between them (but not near us) and there are a few other people way up the other end. The beach is not huge but has perfect soft sand, islands dotted in the clear blue/green water, and pohutakawas cover the rocks behind us. It is incredibly picturesque. Eric is snorkeling (Harriette has just left her beach sculpturing to grab her mask and snorkel as Eric has spotted fish 'this big'!)

A break while I too went to investigate. H,E and A all saw them but I could not bear the cold so missed out. (Sea sculpture washed away by the tide before I got a piccie - I thought it was good).

There is hardly a cloud in the sky and the cicadas have started up and are trying to compete with the waves to see who can make the most noise. It is hot, with a gentle breeze, as I said, perfect.

'Our' spot.

The view.

H,A and pohutakawas.

Yesterday the weather was variable. It didn't rain but threatened to for much of the day in between bursts of sunshine, and it was windy. We decided to go on an explore and headed up the 10 north to Doubtless Bay, more golden sandy beaches, and across the top of the North Island (if you ignore the peninsula at the top) to Kaitaia. I was disappointed as I imagined Kaitaia to be a nice town. It is a bit of a dump and gives the impression of being behind the times. It's only saving grace is a Warehouse as I needed to buy another duvet (I was cold at night and needed another single duvet at home anyway). From Kaitaia we drove 12km west to the coast at Ahipara at the bottom of 90 mile beach. 90 mile beach isn't (64 miles sticks in my mind but I might be wrong) and runs up the west coast of the previously mentioned peninsula. The beach is also a main highway, check the tides before you drive and 4WD's only (Bloo!!!!).

From a blowy Ahipara we headed south towards Hokianga Harbour (which goes inland an awful long way), were we took a short trip on the car ferry to cross to the south side. The harbour itself was OK but the entrance is stunning with the biggest sand dunes I have ever seen (Alice thought it was a desert and had to be reminded of the definition of one!). We took a walk out to the South Head - stunning. The colour of the sea (The Tasman) and the pattern of the waves reminded me of the Cape of Good Hope in S.Africa. Herriette was grumpy and did not want to walk so we came back and told her we had seen a pod of dolphin, and maybe sixpence was among them! Alice rose to the occasion talking about the cute baby etc. We still haven't told her it was a wind-up!!!



From Opinoni and Omapere (were Bridget's family bach is) we travelled south-ish and throught he kauri forests. We stopped and looked at Tane Mahuta a 2000 year old Kauri tree. The picture doesn't really show the true size of it, it is seriously huge.

We then took a long drive on an unsealed road to get back to the east side of the island and travel back up to KeriKeri.

Overall my impressions are that inland Northland is nothing to write home about, I think the central North Island is prettier (I do like the forsts here though), but the coast here is nothing short of spectacular. Tomorrow is our final full day here. If the weather holds up I plan to ask Robyn to feed the dogs so we can head home later on Saturday. It will also allow the tent to dry out before we pack it, the morning dews have been really heavy. It's hot and I'm going to try and get in the sea!