After a hearty breakfast of porridge and toast we set off from Baylys Beach camp site at 9:30am, starting our big drive south.
The first half of the days drive was long straight roads through agricultural land, and it wasn’t until we had joined the 16 heading towards Auckland that we started to see a different terrain. The rolling green hills and scenic lookouts were aplenty. Our first stop of the day was at Muriwai Beach for 1 o’clock lunch.
As we sat in the van and munched on our sandwiches we watched spellbound by the rough seas below crashing on the black volcanic sands. We then took a short walk to the viewpoint out on the cliff, overlooking the gannet colony, a place where 1000s of migrating birds come to rest for a couple of months to give birth to their young. Unfortunately for us we were 2 months early! From the picture below you can just see our van, as a spec in the distance!
As there were no birds to watch, we instead were transfixed by a lone fisherman stood down on the rock face – braving the rough waves.
Back in the van we got back on the highway and headed into Auckland (there is no way to avoid going into the city if you are going south). After stopping for supplies we continued south, turning right at Hamilton to Raglan, a sleepy beach town famous throughout the world for it’s surf. We pulled into the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park at 5:30pm, exploring the area would have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight we were looking forward to dinner in the van, and then a short walk to sink a pint at the local ‘saloon’.
You should have said the lone fisherman was Ben. We'd have happily gone along with it, I'm sure. :)
ReplyDeleteLike that photo, by the way.