Northland: The Beaches of Doubtless Bay

My annual visit to Pauline and Northland seems a long time past.  In fact it started two weeks ago tomorrow and ended the following Saturday.  It's just over a week ago but it seems like a decade.  Pauline has already posted on many of our visits one her blog The Paddock.   Some of my photos will be of the same areas because I'm not only posting for my readers (many of whom read Pauline's blog too) but also for my blog in it's role as my diary.  

Pampas Grass (imported) or Toetoe (indigenous) at the time I didn't know how to distinguish the two.  It is supposed to grow to a maximum of 3m high.  I would say that's at least 6m even allowing for the fact that Pauline's well below its base.

 A beautiful area at the northern end of Waikato Bay

 and again but taken from half way down the bay

 Out in a 'tinnie' doing what Kiwi's do

 Waikato Bay beach looking in a southerly direction

Tokerau Beach looking in a southerly direction across Doubtless Bay to Cable Bay and  down to  Mangonui probably about 16 k away as a theoretical crow would fly across the bay.

and looking back to Whatuwhiwhi (pron Fatufifi) where we had just spent the night

 Tiny Parakerake Bay within Doubtless Bay at Whatuwhiwhi

Parakerake Bay at Whatuwhiwhi looking down over Doubtless Bay to Monganui

Taipa Bay looking north over Doubtless Bay to Whatuwhiwhi

 Taipa Bay looking north over Doubtless Bay to Whatuwhiwhi

 Taipa Bay Beach

Going for a walk

Being a Tourist in Sydney: The Last Day

The last full day that I spent in Sydney was a Sunday.  We didn't venture very far from Fiona's pad in Coogee in that we just motored and walked from the apartment along Coogee, Clovelley, Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi Beaches and the intervening coastal paths.  It was a lovely, leisurely and very warm day.

Early morning (as seen from the apartment balcony at breakfast) lifeguard training

By late morning every child in the area seems to be joining in one of the training programmes for water safety and awareness and first aid and swimming.

There was an incredible family feel about the whole thing with parents watching and helping and competitions too.

Tamarama Beach

Tamarama Beach: sitting on the café deck watching volleyball and the world pass by

with a couple of pugs which everyone stopped to play with

and a last look at Bondi

with some rock fishing

and a sight I confess I have never seen when people fish from the rocks below my house in Eagleton on Lewis (after all can you imagine pink Crocs on Lewis?)

And that, folks, is probably my last Sydney and Australian post bar one.  The last one will have no beaches but will, I hope, be well worth waiting for.

Fishing: It's in The Kiwi's Blood

If you live by the sea or a lake in New Zealand (and the majority of the population does) then fishing is just part of everyday life.  Not, of course, everyone fishes but if you don't then you know someone who does.  In Northland I photographed a lot of people doing just that.

We met this group at the far end of a tidal spit we had waded out to and walked along

The only person I've ever seen elegantly dressed in a skirt.  Oops. Thanks Monica.  That should, of course have read
The only person I've ever seen fishing elegantly dressed in a skirt.

Coming back after a fishing trip

Even the White-faced Heron was on the look-out for a fish or two

Could you find a more beautiful place to fish?

but you wouldn't want to have to walk there

Whether you are netting

or casting

Landing the Catches

Just a few kilometres from the bach where we were staying was the little settlement of Pukenui where there is a jetty and a small harbour.  One afternoon we arrived in time to see several boats unloading their catches: a fishing boat and a mussel harvester.