There are some spectacular beaches and inlets on the way to Ocean Beach at the Whangarei Heads. Dominating the view to the southern coast is the 'Think Big' Oil Refinery project of the seventies. Industry set near to wild and reasonably untamed coastline. I enjoy visiting Whangarei. It takes me a morning or afternoon to settle in, but once I have I soak up its laid back attitude and small town atmosphere.
I had the good fortune to be able to visit Hahei Beach, in the Coromandel, twice this year. Once before Christmas and once after. I couldn't resist this shot of a pohutukawa the kiwi Christmas tree. Every year I promise myself that I will spend some time under a pohutukawa tree enjoying the sudden burst of colour, the salty tang of the sea, and the sweet cool of the pohutkawas embrace. I even went out on the boat at Hahei (thank you Cathy's parents) and explored the coves about the coast and the magical islands that disappear into the horizon in this part of the Coromandel. Summer is good :-)
We walked. Getting there is the easy bit :-) We also boated around later that day. Very pretty.Lovely to hear... read more
on Cathedral Cove Beach or Narnia...