A couple of Sundays ago, Leone and I went exploring around the Tutukaka coast. Just 40 minutes drive from Whangarei, the long, white-sanded, rarely-if-ever crowded beach at Matapouri is a favourite destination for many in the region. As well as the beach there's a bridge over a river for kids to jump off into calm, deep water at high tide. There's a shop for icecreams and fish and chips and, a new addition since I last visited, a coffee place.
We'd decided not to let the dull, overcast skies put us off and were rewarded by the skies clearing after we'd stopped at the Tutukaka marina for lunch.
Matapouri Beach looking left
The beach looking right
Little Ngunguru School right on the water with it's natural swimming pool over the road
It never ceases to amaze me that you have so few folk in such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice here during our sunny week.
I guess to start with we don't have a big population but, still, I always think there should be more people out enjoying the beaches rather than hanging around the shops waiting to be entertained. Enjoy the nice day while you can.
DeleteAhhhh....a day or more spent on the foreshore would be wonderful, for sure! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always good for the soul, isn't it, Lee?
DeleteThis is Art Deco weekend in Napier so when I looked at that beach I was already in a nostalgic mood. So many beaches and so much warmth and blue sea are just adding to my nostalgic mood. I can just put myself down there on the beach and feel the warmth between my toes.
ReplyDeleteHi Graham, That's the beach where we walked through the cave to the next beach with the wild waves crashing through the narrow entrance below us on the rocks. The cave entrance is closed now for safety reasons. I'm so glad we did it while we could!
DeleteThank you Pauline. I'd not associated this with the caves but I remembered the school. However I couldn't find a reference to it in my blog. I'm sure that I blogged about the caves so I shall go back and try and find it.
DeleteWhat a beautiful place for a school and an explore.
ReplyDeleteI agree. What better location for a school!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so peaceful!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely piece of coastline, Messymimi.
DeleteHello Pauline,
ReplyDeleteHope all is well. Those school children are so lucky to have the swimming hole just across the road.
Have a great week.
Bev.
Hi Bev, Best school swimming pool I've ever seen. Reminds me of my first year at a country school when we swam in the little creek at the back of the school.
DeleteHow wonderful to catch up on a few of your posts Pauline, you do live in such a beautiful part of our huge planet! I love your photos of your 'spot'.
ReplyDeleteRose, What a wonderful surprise. I thought you were lost in the snow in Scotland! So good to catch up with you, I've just been reading of your solo travels. You've made me so nostalgic for Scotland.
DeleteI haven't been to Matapouri since I was a teenager, we use to go camping there.
ReplyDelete