Up at the northern end of the Coromandel Peninsular, past Cape Colville, is the beautiful DOC camp-ground at Fletcher Bay.
Continue reading Fletcher Bay – The Pinnacles
Tag: beach
Karamea and Oparara Basin
After completing our tramp over the Old Ghost Rd, we stayed in a rented house in Karamea for three nights and explored the local sights.
Hauhei to Hot Water Beach
Commercial kayak tours south of Hauhei are promoted as “remote coast”, and only leave in the mornings before the wind gets up. We were on the beach ready to go soon after 8.30 am, so we had a chance to talk to the tour guide before any of his customers arrived. He told us to beware of hidden reefs, and to check out caves carefully before paddling inside. Most importantly, he drew a map on the sand to show us where to find the ‘blow hole’.
Continue reading Hauhei to Hot Water Beach
Cathedral Cove
By the time we loaded the kayaks and all our gear into the camper-van it was nearly midday. We were keen to get down to Coromandel as soon as we could, so I drove until we reached the top of the hill on the Kopu – Hikuai road where I knew there was a nice spot to stop for lunch.
Continue reading Cathedral Cove
Castle Point
It has been a while since we woke up to the sound of traffic, but surfers and fishermen get started early, and the beach below the DOC carpark at Castle Point is used by both.
Continue reading Castle Point
Te Angiangi Marine Reserve
The free camping area at Pourerere Beach is right beside a dusty road with lots of traffic, so even though it had a nice sea view we only stayed long enough for a cup of tea.
The next beach south is at Aramoana, and it turned out to be one of the most interesting places on this section of coast. There is only space for three vehicles at the far end of the carpark, but because it is at the end of a long no-exit road we had it all to ourselves, much to our surprise.
Continue reading Te Angiangi Marine Reserve
Kairakau Beach
We spent our last night in the Napier/Hastings area parked at a free camping area on Clifton Beach.
Continue reading Kairakau Beach
Cape Kidnappers
Felicity and I have been visiting the world’s largest mainland gannet colony today. Continue reading Cape Kidnappers
Orokawa and Homunga Bays
At the north end of Waihi Beach a track heads up the cliff into the bush. It is benched and almost wide enough for a vehicle, so presumably it was built for horse traffic at one time.
Continue reading Orokawa and Homunga Bays
Whites Beach
Only a week into spring, yesterday’s blue sky and warm sun made us think summer is just around the corner. We packed our lunch, pulled on our boots and headed out to north Piha to walk up the coast.
Tapakapanga and Miranda
Our choice to head south in our campervan for the weekend seems to have been a good one, judging by reports of flooding up north.
Continue reading Tapakapanga and Miranda
Tanote Bay Ko Tao
The last two days of our Thai holiday have been at a dive resort on “Turtle Island”. While we haven’t seen any turtles yet, the marine life on the reef in front of the hotel is fantastic.
Continue reading Tanote Bay Ko Tao
Ko Wua Talap
On Monday, the van taking us to the ferry picked us up at 7.30AM, before the hotel restaurant opened. We assumed we would be able to buy food at the pier, but we were driven directly to the boat and herded straight on board along with about 60 other tourists.
Bophut Beach
My first thought when we stepped off the plane in Ko Samui was that it would be good to change out of my winter clothes at the first opportunity.
Continue reading Bophut Beach
Peregian Beach
We’ve been staying on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this weekend, visiting grandson Eli and his dad and mum.
Mercer Bay
Annie the Canadian Te Araroa walker rang us on Thursday night from Orewa, so we arranged to meet up somewhere on the Okura walkway the next day.
Continue reading Mercer Bay
Gower Peninsula, Wales
We’ve just returned from a couple of days in Wales, where we stayed with retired British GP Julian Tudor Hart, who died in 2018.
Continue reading Gower Peninsula, Wales
Karepiro Bay picnic
The tide was out this morning, so we decided to walk up the Okura walkway. I run up to Dacres cottage quite often, so it made a nice change travelling at tramping pace.
Continue reading Karepiro Bay picnic
Burleigh Heads beach
By popular demand, it was decided that today would be a good idea to go to the beach. By the time we arrived at about 10am, the swimming areas were packed.
Hatfields Beach Peaches
Early this afternoon Kerry rang and convinced me that the rain was over and that an Orewa ride would be good.