When I left the UK I was very concerned that the weather in New Zealand would be too hot and humid for me. Although the last two days in Milford were warmer the weather in New Plymouth has been the hottest so far on my trip and that was a dry heat. Today it didn’t rise above 21C, which is just perfect for me.
Because my cousin has been feeding me rather too well I felt a longer walk was needed this morning. I really like their house, which is built on a slope and is consequently split level. It’s what people in the UK might term a bungalow, but it is very spacious and the birds certainly love it.
I retraced my steps of the previous day. It’s amazing how much shorter things seem when you know where you are going. Very soon I was on the beach again. This time I was determined to walk the complete length of it. The sand on many beaches in New Zealand at low tide is really compacted and walking on it is just like walking on tarmac. Stanmore Bay is almost a complete semicircle with a stream at one end and cliffs at the other.
It is more than a kilometre in length. There were a few more people on the beach than yesterday possibly for two reasons; it was sunnier and it was a Saturday morning. I walked right to the cliffs at the far end and back again. On the return journey I simply had to photograph the Pohutukawas, which provide natural shelter for many people visiting the beach.
The other feature, which attracted my attention was the beautifully painted toilet block featuring the Waxeye, which I have yet to see this trip.
Most people who were there were up this end of the beach no doubt because of the amenities including a children’s playground and cycle park. The central part of the bay has rock pools so most people would swim at this end. I passed a couple of Oyster Catchers there on my return journey. I decided to take a selfie against the cliff just to prove I’d done the entire length.
By the time arrived back at Dawn’s house I’d done a pretty brisk 10k.
In the afternoon Dawn drove me down to Gulf Harbour at the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsular. I had gone there years earlier when Auckland was preparing for the Americas Cup. It is a nice development where the sea has been allowed to come right in. Apparently Stingrays can be seen swimming there. There are a few restaurants and some very exclusive high rise developments.
We took a tour around the harbour and were fortunate to witness the arrival of the ferry from Auckland.
We returned to the restaurants for a selfie and a up of coffee. I shall really miss Dawn and George when I head of for Waihi tomorrow to spend Christmas with my cousin Mary.
