Mahia Peninsula, Oraka Beach

After the soak we found a free regional campground at Oraka Beach and spent the rest of the day and night there.

Approaching Mahia Peninsula; white cliffs, etc.

Another job for the department of transpportation

At the pleasant little Oraka beach campground

Great Norfolk Island Pines all around

Younger persons kite surfing in the lagoon

Awaiting her turn

Tidal bore on the lagoon; it got bigger

Pohutukawa trees around too; we'd see many, many more on
the east coast and after the East Cape

Late bloomers 

Morere Hot Springs

After Napier, March 3rd, we continued driving the east coast, out to the Mahia Peninsula. But first we stopped for a soak at Morere Hot Springs, an historic old hot springs resort now developed and run by the Department of Conservation. It is most unusual in that its springs are salt water, mineral-laden, but ancient sea water from a deep fissure. The Reserve has a number of hikes through a beautiful native forest, ample historical information, and pools of varying heat and privacy.

Entry

Picnic pavillon in the family area

Family pool, heated, but not hot

On one of the hikes; note the Nikau palms, more about which anon

Creek

Kauri trees, among others

Friendly feathered friend

Creek, flowing from the springs

The upper pools, varying temperatures, adults only

Among the ample historical information

Botanical info too

A baby kauri

A silver fern tree, the national emblem

Southern-most palm species in the world

And best of all...

Napier, 2018

We visited Napier in 2014, and were impressed, both with ts history and its architecture, and I did two posts: http://roadeveron.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/on-to-napier.html, and http://roadeveron.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/more-napier.html. We were back again this year and stayed at a freedom camp on the beach, again, about a mile down from the city. Much of that mile is walking track, playgrounds, garden, and other civic things. We heard from locals, later, that Napier has become a cruise ship stop. We saw no signs of this during our brief visit, but hope this beautiful and historic little town won't be cruisified the way so many others have been.

For kids learning to ride their bikes: a safe practice track, replete with traffic lights,
signs, rotaries, the works

Thus

Playground

Climbing structures

Gardens

We were about 3 weeks too late for the annual Art Deco
Festival

Napier was leveled by an earthquake and subsequent fire in 1931,
but rebuilt in largely Art Deco style in the years following; much
of the architecture persevered and is now lovingly (and profitably)
cared for

In another city park

Carillon

Art Deco graphic, of course

Still processing this one; someone help me!

Inside the city theater, completed 1938

Costume shoppe

Did I mention the whole Marine Parade, a mile or two, is planted in now-mature
Norfolk Island Pines?

Skateboard facility for little ones