Eventually even the dunes peter out, to be replaced by a rocky coastline that is Cape Reinga – the top of New Zealand.
All posts by Sandra Graham
Wild, Wild World – Part 5
You might appreciate that with such a massive beach it would be supported by an extensive sand dune. Travelling 1km inland, we came to the place where the sand dunes met the bush. It provided a startling contrast.
Of course, where there are sand dunes, there’s adventure sports. No camels here, but plenty of punters sand boarding down the steep slopes.
Wild, Wild World – Part 4
Further along the beach, we passed the Hole in the Rock. Unlike the one in the Bay of Islands, this one is unaccessible to humans due to the wild surf, although there is apparently a seal colony there.
Wild, Wild World – Part 3
We’re only have way up Ninety Mile Beach. There are a few access points into the beach, but most people see it by 4WD. Which means that you have to know what you’re doing or your car can sink into the quicksand.
We stopped at The Bluff, a bombara where we spotted a few fishermen trying to salvage a catch out of the surf.
More accessible were the mounds of shells. Like middens in Australia, looks like the local Maoris have been using this place for a long while.
Wild, Wild World – Part 2
From 30 minutes up the beach the dunes of Ahipara were already quite a distance away.
Being a very open beach, the seas here are rough.
Very rough.
Wild, Wild World – Part 1
I’m starting a series of posts that revisit the northern most point of New Zealand. This is made of the expansive Ninety Mile Beach (which is actually only 55 miles long), accumulating in the impressive Cape Reinga.
We’ll start at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, at a town called Ahipara. This is a bit of a surfies hangout because of the good waves rolling in off the Tasman Sea.
Sunset is a good time to explore the nearby rock platform.
Water Temple – Part 5
The sun finally made an appearance just as we were viewing the main temple. On a clear day you can see mountains behind those clouds. That day we were just happy with some sun.
Water Temple – Part 4
We come to the first of the water temples – a few small ones. See how the ‘float’?
It reminds me of another water temple I saw in Miyajima, Japan, except that those were Buddhist.
But wait, there’s more…
Water Temple – Part 3
We arrive lakeside. There was plenty of activity, with local kids fishing and swimming, and pretty sky-blue outrigger canoes moored to bamboo poles.
Water Temple – Part 2
In the garden, statues of Buddha nestle in little alcoves.
Now, this isn’t a Hindu temple, but Buddha was a Hindu.
Static and Silence 