Matakana

We have driven past the "Sculptureum" near Matakana for years, each time saying "we must go in there one day".  This year we did.  It is the brain-child of an eccentric millionaire, comprising gardens dotted with sculptures and an indoor gallery, as well as a fancy restaurant.

The whale made entirely from driftwood.

Driftwood elephant and calf.

Yet another elephant ! (Bronze)

A teapot-and-spoons duck.

The family organised a barbeque at Matheson Bay, and everyone came.  It was a great opportunity to catch up, now that we don't get up here so often.

A beautiful evening at the Bay.

Adam and Lucky, Matteo's new dog.

The northern whanau (plus a few visitors).

Time to head for home!  Until next time...

Read Full Story...

Muriwai Beach

We have never been to the west coast beaches of Auckland - Muriwai, Bethells, and Piha - so took this opportunity to go for a look.  We stayed in a nice "cottage" in the country nearby - actually a room built on top of the owner's garage.

Sampling the water at Muriwai Beach

These guys towed their boat up the beach - no trailer required!

We liked our super-peaceful country cottage BnB.  About 5 minutes drive from Muriwai.

Muriwai has a large gannet colony - about 1,000 breeding pairs and their chicks.

At one viewing platform you can get this close!  Mother (father?) with chick at their feet.

On our second day we drove south to see Piha, because we have never been but have seen the TV programs showing how busy it keeps the lifeguards.  It take about 40 minutes to drive back inland then south-west over the Waitakere Ranges to Piha, with some panoramic views out over Auckland on the way.

Looking down from the approaches to Piha, with Lion Rock separating the two beaches.

The view back to Auckland from the top of the hill was quite hazy - Australian bush fires perhaps?

We found the track up Lion Rock, so of course we had to climb it.  The view is great.

This is (almost) the highest point - the track beyond is behind a locked gate.

The beach was quiet, but the lifeguards were still busy trying to marshall swimmers into the safe zone.

We were quite entertained watching the swimmers, surfers, and lifeguards.  The waves were big enough and there seemed to be a rapid cross-current which carried everyone off to the south.  The lifeguards spent a lot of their time blowing whistles and waving their arms to encourage swimmers to stay between the flags.

The motor camp letterbox had some interesting little occupants.

Our comfortable little room

The outside view.

We enjoyed chilling out at this place, with just a few birds and sheep to look at.  It is very peaceful, and once she had introduced herself we did not see our hostess again.  There were weka grazing over the fence, and the palm tree was popular with a wood pigeon.

Our wood pigeon.

Read Full Story...

Ohope

By January 2 we found ourselves at Ohope, sharing a beach house with the Gales as we have before, looking out at White Island (Whakaari) steaming away in the distance.  It was of course the scene of the disaster less than a month ago which killed 20 tourists and locals, so we watched it with some interest in case of any further eruptions.  James reassured us that the clouds we saw rising from the island were typical, and no cause for alarm.

Ohope provided plenty of relaxation, time spent walking, swimming, drinking coffee, and doing nothing.  The sea temperature was quite acceptable, and some days there were good waves for boogie-boarding.

Plenty of room for everyone at Ohope Beach!

A stroll along the shore of the inner harbour.

Another hard day at the beach, looking out at Whale Island / Muotohora.

Lisa and Sue test the temperature.

Our friend from long ago, Greg, has just completed a nice new house on the hill above Ohope, and generously invited us all around for dinner.

Dinner at Greg and Faith's new place.

Late afternoon sun, struggling to shine through the smoke from Australia's bush fires.

One day we drove to the Tarawera Falls track, past Kawerau and at the end of a long, rough, unsealed road.  That gave our cars a bit of battering, but the walk was worth it!  The falls are unique because the Tarawera River disappears underground above the falls, and emerges from holes in a cliff to form the falls.  Sue and I did come here many years ago, but the memories are dim.

Happy trampers - Adam, Lisa, and Brian

It is fascinating seeing a river of such size disappearing into the ground.

The start of the walk.

Some local dancers.  Tarawera Falls in the background.

Some came prepared for a swim, some did not.

We had initially planned to do the walk up to the falls, and maybe up to behind the falls to see the river going underground.  We actually carried on and walked all the way to Lake Tarawera and back.  Up at the lake it was very windy, but the rest of the way it was a sheltered walk in the bush.  At the end of the day we crawled back along the long rutted road to Kawerau, then back to Ohope.

Another day we climbed the track over the headland to Otarawairere Bay, between Ohope and Whakatane.

Otarawaiwere Bay

James was very interested in the wealth of turbidites visible in the rock face!

The whole team.

James and Adam closely watching our sausages at the BBQ.

The "french" coffee cart just down the road became a favourite.  Excellent croissants!

Everyone at dinner in Ohope (Sue behind the camera).

After Ohope the Gales set off for home; James headed east to take the long road home via East Cape; Lisa and Adam headed back to Auckland for work; and we set off for Muriwai, north-west of Auckland.

The hobbity information centre in Matamata!

Read Full Story...