Easter 2009 (and a few days either side).

(These are just a few of the pictures taken during this trip. Some quality of the pictures has been lost as they are reduced to 25% of their original size. This blog extends from the Seabird Coast on to Coromandel, Otama, Oputere. View Broken Hills pics on a seperate blog.)

Seabird Coast, Kaiaua 3-6 April 2009

The week before Easter '09 saw us parked up on the shell bank between Kaiaua and Miranda on the Seabird Coast. Along with a number of other motorhomes we enjoyed great weather.

There was plenty of opportunity for simple photo opportunitieswhilst being observed by the most forward of the locals.Most of the time here it was a midday low tide that as you can see didn't provide much in the way of fishing opportunities.Glowing mornings looking east to Coromandelto bright sunsets over the western hills were natures show each day.
Ngatea Water Gardens 6 April 2009
The 6th saw us leave the Seabird Coast and head for Thames with a passing stop at Ngatea to visit the Water Gardens.Many pictures were taken of this extensive parkunder the watchful eyeof a number of the gardens inhabitants.
Thames, Thornton Bay, Raupara Gardens and Long Bay, Coromandel

After a nights stay at the Thames Golf Club POP, costs $5/nightit was off to Long Bay, Coromandel with a couple of stops on the way. First was Thornton Bay, looking back towards Thamesand to Coromandel in the north.A good oyster spat catch on the rocks ensures a good feed of oysters in the future, yum!A short diversion took us to the Rapaura Gardenswhich in my view doesn't compare to the Ngatea Water Gardens both in price and what you see.

Long Bay Coromandel

Final destination for the day, 7th, was Long Bay, Coromandel.There are a number of walks both round the bays and in the bush that provided a number of willing subjects.After saying goodnight at Long Bay tomorrow would see us travelling over the hills to Kuotuna and Otama on the 9th. Otama
I have blogged Otama before and don't propose to add anything again except to say that it's now a rip off. All you get are paddocks, bore water and a couple of long drops at the cost of $10/pers/night. Over the hill at the Kuotuna Motor Camp you get every facility for $13 and a little further south at Simpsons you get the same as Otama, right by the water for $5/van/night. Otama - forget it greed has taken over (and you have to pay CASH)!!!

Kuotuna

Whilst we were more or less trapped into staying over Easter at Otama (never again) we did spend the 14th at Kuotuna in the motor camp before heading south. The following pics shows some of the coast in the areaand the man made boat launching area.The rest of our time through to the 19th was taken up by drifting further south past Simpsons Beach through Whitianga to Oputere then back to Broken Hills and home via Thames and the Seabird Coast. The following are a series of location titled pictures.

Coroglen Cattleyards and river.

Oputere Flora and FaunaFor pics of the DOC park at Broken Hills see the seperate blog.

Seabird Coast - Kaiaua & Miranda 8/9Feb09

As with all my blogs I only put up a few pics but take a great many.  The majority that are not posted are interest type as opposed to location for obvious reasons.  Some time in the future I will have a website of all the interesting pics with an invite to others to add their pics to the site . More on that to follow. 

If you are interested email me at motorhominginxs@gmail.com . 

SEABIRD COAST

On the 8th of February 2009 we stopped for the night on the shell bank with some 15 other motorhomes.  We were told that over the weekend there were some 120 there at one time.  The pics that appear below are a few of the many that were taken.  As a stopover it's certainly well worth it.

The Seabird Coast is an extensive shelly beach on the shores of the Hauraki Gulf at Kaiaua and Miranda.

For ever moving with the sea.

With a bird sanctuary at its southern end.

A favourite stopping place for motorhomers for a night or two.

When there it;s easy to see why it's called the Seabird Coast.

Enjoy watching the birds coming and going

and where they have been.

Other Pics

I took a number of interesting pics a couple of which I have added below.

Fish out of water.

Left your table and chairs at home?

Moonrise over the Hauraki Gulf.

And then it got really dark.

Sunset over the Hunua Ranges.

A very busy sky was the intro to a very windy day.

Life for all is finite.  Enjoy it while you can.