Blustery day at the southern edge of 90 mile beach. Due to quicksand one is advised not to take hire cars on the drive. I spoke to a Brit later on who had taken the trip by coach, easy to spot the vehicles that did not make it.

She Tsu-Hsuan - or as she prefers to be called Shannon. Photo taken at the ferry crossing from Rangiora to Rawene. Shannon is from Taiwan and is in NZ for a year. At home she taught english, her grammer is better than mine (no surprise there) and had as many questions as the number of kilometres travelled.

Ferry crossing - very rough and plenty of spray

View up the Hokianga harbour from Omapere entrance.

Missed a blog somewhere - 13th June 2010

Shannon and I decided to visit the west coast across from Kerikeri. Shannon works in the hostel and surrounding fruit farm, so this was her day off. Drove across to the bottom of 90 mile beach at Ahipara after calling in at the information centre at Kaitala. Spoke to a lovely lady originally from Essex - so naturally took the mick about Essex girls.

Very blustery day, sunshine and showers. Did not stay long at Ahipara but moved on to Manukau, Broadwood (both of us got wet just visiting the loo). On the advice of the Essex lady we took the road leading down to the car ferry. Scenery very good, just spoilt by heavy squally rain showers. Again a great many hawks around, need to check the bird books to see what kind they are.

Just missed one ferry - typical - and whilst waiting for it's return approached by a local woman who asked for a lift. We had passed her further back up the road. Obliged but not happy - she proudly said that she lived rough (no power, etc etc) did not wash her hair, clean her teeth - ugh. She smelt too !!!!! Anyway dropped her off and she disappeared into the hills. Cannot imagine wanting to live with someone who is so unclean.

Ferry crossing quite rough, locals said it was the worst for quite a while, spray coming in over the front ramp onto the car - had to use the windscreen wipers. Should have cost us NZ$18 but ferry man did not collect. Smelly said that they did not always take the fare off of passengers.

Drove along Hokianga harbour - they call it a harbour but in UK terms it is a big long sea inlet - great scenery again, got petrol in Opononi which was a blessing and arrived at the south head - Omapere. Plenty of signs to say this is a reserve for the kiwi - as they only come out at night no chance in seeing one.

Had a late lunch in the car then bored Shannon with extracts of western music. She says that she did play the piano and flute but had only heard of J Galway and Elton John. Feel there could be some education coming on here. Fancy not knowing about Meatloaf and Bat out of Hell!!!

Once the rain subsided we had a walk out to the head - very windy but not too cold and then down onto the beach. Like most beaches here it was deserted, people had been on the beach though. Took the photo looking up the harbour. The opposite side of the inlet to us, the North head was entirely made up of big sand dunes, the brochures show people sliding down them. Must be rocks just below the surface across most of the inlet as the sea was quite rough and plenty of spray, could not get a photo though.

Took the road back to Kerekeri via Kaikohe, whilst it was getting dark the roads through the valley and hills was a good one to drive. Arrived back at the hostel about 5.30 pm. A great day out and enjoyed by the both of us.

After we all had eaten Shannon showed me her photos of the south island taken during the summer - travelled with three friends to most of the sights - good photos.

That's all for now, need to recharge the batteries.

Mick