After the cave, we continued our northering way, along the east coast, to Whangerei, the largest of the Northland's cities. There we scored the last of the free camper sites at the city's downtown marina. We spent the afternoon and evening stimulating the local economy and then continued on up the coast the next morning, landing March 22nd, finally, at beautiful Matapouri Bay on the Tutukaka coast; and one of the three free sites right on the beach. There, however, our good luck suffered a setback or two.
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Encampment at Whangerei marina (boats beyond the trees); all
in a beautiful park |
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| Big Kiwi neighbor |
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| Our van is 3.2m high! |
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| View out our windshield at Matapouri |
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Huge, broad beach, low tide; we decided to hike up between
the two hills for a look at Whale Bay, said to be the most beautiful
on this coast |
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| Huge broad hard-packed beach |
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| The whole area done in pohutukawas |
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| The climb up between the two hills |
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| She is smiling, but we have already resolved to head back down |
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From this point it was roots and branches for hand-holds and
steps gouged into slippery clay for foot-holds; more rain was on
way, and a couple younger parties ahead of us had demurred;
and two parties coming over from the other side said don't do it;
the fixed rope we used climbing up should have been a clue...
in any case, I suddenly remembered I have balance issues and
Vicki remembered she has an artificial knee, and so "on belay!"
and we inched our way back down; a nice walk on the beach
would be just fine |
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| Very long root of a cliff-hanging pohutukawa |
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| Different view of Matapouri Bay |
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| Islands and sea-stacks in the distance |
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| And a beautiful wild surf |
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