The summer didn't turn out to be the best summer weather-wise right across the whole country but that didn't stop us from having fun.
We had a little 5 day break to One Tree Point in Ruakaka over the summer school holidays and timed it just right for the sun shined down 2 days straight where we cooled off in the waves at Ruakaka...this is turning out to be my favourite beach - a long stretch of white golden sands, good surf for boogie-boarding, yet not much wind so the beach shade tent sits up nicely!
The holiday home was fairly basic, but very roomy and beachfront with a great view of the Whangarei Heads.
The hammock was most popular for chillaxing and reading a book - Cameron almost lived in it!
Daniel was so cute asking "can I have a go in the 'hankie'?"
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| Pohutakawas were in full bloom at One Tree Point. |
After our little escapade to One Tree Point, we had a couple of weeks at home enjoying the school holidays, then Daniel had a wee holiday at Lezanne's whilst the rest of us explored Whangarei and Paihia.
Whangarei lived up to its great Northland sunny hot weather name!
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| The quaint village town basin of Whangarei |
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| Whangarei Harbour simply gorgeous |
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| Whangarei Falls - stunning |
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| Tiny town on the way up the Tutukaka Coast, a tyre swing on the side of the road |
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| Matapouri Bay on the Tutukaka Coast- a great day boogieboarding. |
Paihia was loads of fun exploring and relaxing.
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| Nicola spotted a stingray moving just over the railing! |
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| Nicola & I had fun biking round Paihia. |
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| The Kingsgate Hotel, Paihia |
Not much has changed there since we went there 20 years ago.
This time however, we explored Waitangi which was steeped in history and a good learning experience. What a gorgeous piece of land and outlook.
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| Treaty House, Waitangi (originally James Busby's residency) |
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| Copthorne, Paihia |
It WAS a summer of fun. It is sad to leave it behind, but there is the hope of fun things on the horizon to come, whatever the weather!
