We were up with the birds this morning and away immediately after
breakfast. Chris was intent on returning to the Kaikohe auto electrician where
we had had the pump switch replaced. I was keen to return to normality as far
as the water supply was concerned, so did not voice my disappointment about
leaving so soon.
As we retraced our route back down the Karikari Peninsula to the main
road we were delighted to see a hawk rise up in front of us with a small dead
rabbit in its talons. Better to be divvied up for the family off the road than
risk becoming road kill itself. In fact there was a lot of road kill today, nearly
all squashed possums in varying states of decay.
 |
| Tutukaka horror |
Now on State Highway 10, we came on down through the lovely seaside
settlements of Taipa and Coopers Beach beside Doubtless Bay, then on through
the scrubby swamp at the head of the Whangaroa Harbour, passing a sign that advertised
“Septic Tank Cleaning: Steve’s Takeaways”
which highly amused us, up river to Kaeo and on over the raised fertile lands
about Kerikeri, passing olive groves, avocado and citrus orchards, finally turning
onto a back road through to Ohaewai, rejoining
the main road west to Kaikohe, arriving about two hours from our overnight
camp.
The technical whizz who had attended to our needs previously fiddled
with the pump bits and reassured Chris that the new sounds were acceptable, and
so we headed off again. Chris made noises about heading back toward Kerikeri,
however I convinced him that there was little point in retracing our direction
given the Northland Trip was rather ruined. Instead I suggested we continue
south toward Whangarei but then detour around the coast road before reaching
home.
 |
| Lunch stop at Sandy Bay |
 |
| Coastal views frm near Tutukaka |
So we followed State Highway One on down through Kawakawa where the
Hunterwasser toilets are to be found, then on to Hikurangi which these days is
home to so many of Whangarei’s commuting workers. Here we turned east and
travelled up through rural country, more dead possums, gorgeous pheasants here
wiser than their English counterparts and staying off the road, families of
quail scurrying across the road, nikau palms reaching up to the heavens, ti-tree
and totara, unhindered woolly nightshade. The road, while all the while sealed, winds up
and down out of narrow valleys, finally spitting the traveller out onto the
sand lined shore at Sandy Bay. There we parked up and lunched while watching a
couple of girls in wet suits try their hand at surfing. Alas the waves were
less obliging and they finally gave up.
Further south we pulled into Tutukaka and found the waterfront double
story apartment building now fully tenanted, the road level shops all busy and
the residential units seemingly occupied. But we were shocked by the exterior
colour change; some oddball has decided the building is more attractive looking
like a fun palace, bold colours here and there bringing the tone down a notch
or ten from the upmarket resort this is supposed to be. Tutukaka is all about
the more well to-do folk who can afford the fancy launches and the life style
that goes with it. Shocking pink, turquoise, and every other garish colour just
doesn’t cut it! |
| Beside Ngunguru River |
Ngunguru is just another hill away and we were soon checking out the two
spots where NZMCA members’ self-contained motorhomes can stay, all for $5 paid
to the local community. We elected to stay at the southern end of town and
settled firstly behind the hall under the massive pohutukawa trees well
screened from the road, however we soon found that the television reception was
hopeless and relocated to a more exposed part of the parking area.
Once set up we went for a wander across the road and out and about Snell Point, a rocky
outcrop which protrudes into the river. We poked around, scaled a couple of
banks for views and generally messed about the shoreline, before heading back
for a quiet afternoon. After nearly 250 kilometres, The Chauffeur deserved a
relaxing afternoon, or at least until he was called upon to prepare dinner.
As I write this up, fireworks have started up, now a week after Guy
Fawkes; this is the main gripe people have about fireworks; that it just goes
on and on and on… There should be restrictions as to how long it can be played
with. Maybe it is their tribute to Leonard Cohen who passed away today?
Actually, I think these folk wouldn’t even know who he was!
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