Tutukaka Coast Road

Yesterday Doug and I decided to go for a drive through Ngunguru, Tutukaka and along the coast coming back through Hikurangi.

It was a perfect day for a drive.

First stop was at Ngunguru where the Sandspit was recently saved in public ownership.

                           We then turned off the main road and visited Church Bay with the lovely old Pohutakawa tree

                          then Kowharewa Bay

 I think the next one was Pacific Bay where we sat under another large old                                                                       Pohutakawa tree

 From here we went back to the main road and drove along to Tutukaka with its marina.

 at the end of the marina was this nice shady spot where we parked to have some lunch.

                                      From here we headed to Matapouri bay

                                                 then Wooleys Bay

 and finally Sandy Bay

 From here we followed a sign to a small coffee house which turned out to be open at the weekends only and then went on to the end of the road where we found the Whananaki Coastal Walk which ran along the ridge above this beach.

 it was a beautiful day but from the look of these trees it can get extremely breezy to say the least.

I think some of the photos have switched around and, as the beaches look very similar I have lost track as to which is which.

Parkinson Walk - Whareora Road to Whangarei Fallls

The last time we did this walk was in winter when it was very wet underfoot.  Today was just the opposite with a fine dust on the path.  I wasn't too sure whether I would do the walk up the hill to the top of the waterfall as I sprained my ankle on Friday but I had the ankle strapped and took it carefully.

Waipu

Yesterday was fine and sunny (again) and we decided to go down to Waipu.  We had heard about a garden between Waipu and Waipu Cove called Roots and Shoots that also serves Devonshire Teas.  They have, apparently, worked out how to make their own clotted cream. (Not impressed with the teas although I have heard good reports perhaps it was just a bad day!!)

Just as we arrived at the  gardens the sky clouded over and there were a few drops of rain but we had our tea followed by a look around the gardens and the cage of what I am told were Eastern Water Dragons  - you can just see one behind the wire netting.

From there we went on to Waipu Cove where the water looked almost oily as it contained a  large amount of a type of sea weed.

We then headed back to Waipu (our main reason for the trip was to buy some of Malcolm Harker's Celtic and New Zealand Sea Salt with deep water sea kelp).  We then had a coffee and delicious gluten free orange cake followed by a walk around the park.

 Not sure what the above tree is - from a distance it looks like red berries but on closer inspection it was actually small red flowers.  Anyone know?

Then it was time to start heading back and we made a diversion to the Marina at Ruakaka to visit a friend who is, currently, living aboard his boat there.

We left just after taking Sophie for her walk and got back just before 6p.m. so it was a good day out.