Day # 104 - 106

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The last few days have been spent poking around Otamure and surrounding areas. The beach is lovely here and it would be a real treat to come back in the summer months. Our first day was spent sheltering from the weather and a few domesticated chores. We managed to get out between showers and enjoyed a scramble over rocks at the Southern end of the beach and around to Andesite Point. Lots of deep rock pools to explore around here but unfortunately the wind and rain drove us back to camp to warm up.



Day 105

Today the weather has been a little kinder, allowing us to venture over the hill to Tauwhara Bay. Access is through Watkin Powell Reserve at the Northern end of Otamure. What a lovely secluded beach. Down the Northern end high on the hill there is a private lodge called Nebeska Vala. They also have a cabin closer to the beach and Motorhome parking. Wish we had known about this little gem of a spot earlier.

Suffering from a little cabin fever this afternoon we decided to ignore the cold blustery wind and get on our bikes. Lance convinced me to bike up and over the hill to Whananaki to explore. We ended up at the longest footbridge in the Southern Hemisphere. (495 steps, 395 metres). No you cannot bike on it! It is however pretty impressive. I just love the old baches around here. Some of the baches have their names hung above the doors………….Purple Palace (yes it is a purple), Base Camp, Mansion House, and the best name goes to Freddies Foxhole😊. It all adds to the character of the place. After a few photos and a stop to shelter from the rain we made our way up the hill (me in Granny gear!) and back to camp. Not a bad day considering the weather.



Day 106

On our bikes today, then back over the hill to Whananaki to explore the Motutara Recreation Reserve. It’s a good track through private farmland and a Farm Motor Camp then onto the Reserve. The track leads up to Trig Station then out to Motutara Point with a couple. A couple of bays and decent cliff top views are worth leaving the track to take a peek. 1 word……….Stunning! Just look at the photos. The Farm Motor Camp here is open in the summer only. It looks basic but what a cool place to camp with good access to some beautiful beaches.

Later this afternoon after refuelling at camp we headed North on our bikes towards Roimata Pt. Big climbs up and over to view the bays. 1st bay was Moureeses Bay, what a beautiful sandy Bay. It’s right up there in our ‘If we win lotto……….…’. Next bay and stop was Rockwells Bay. This bay is a pebbly bay with plenty of rock structure out in front. While we were there a group of divers were heading off the beach, obviously heading out to gather some Kai. After Rockwells Bay I started the climb back towards home and left Lance to carry on North to the top of the next hill to suss out the view over to Tauranga Kawau Pt. Lance caught me back up eventually as I was grinding away in Granny gear! Kindly asked if I was ok………my response was ‘Don’t talk to me!’ (I did make it up over the hills without stopping though😊). It’s time to reflect (with a beer in hand) on today’s beautiful scenery and how lucky we are to experience it.

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Comments

[Mumtraveller]

Happy memories
Hi folks I have just caught up with your blog and it's so lovely to read and to sea all the fabulous places you have been on your wanders. It brought back happy memories for me of travelling around New Zealand for 3 months in 2011 ...some in a motorhome some with hospitality swaps. I wa wondering if you had a home to go back to eventually or will you continue to live like gypsies ? Happy travels lynne

[NoahGenda NZ]

Not sure if we will end up back in our hometown when the year is up. Just going to see where the road takes us. Heading down south in the new year. Likely to look for some seasonal work to help with the finances. Glad to hear you are enjoying the blog.:-)