BAYWATCH

I've probably bored you before when talking about where I live but I never cease to be amazed how beautiful it is up here and how uncrowded it is. It is like the place has never properly been discovered. Most people who travel up North I am sure by-pass Whangarei to go to Pahia and Russell, never thinking to head out East towards the coast.
If they did they would discover Whangarei Heads and the many beautiful bays that nestle the huge  and magnificent harbour.
When leaving Onerahi, the airport suburb of Whangarei you travel along the Whangarei Heads Road that runs out to the Heads alongside the water.
The first bay that is found is Tamaterau.

Tamaterau

This  gives a taste of what is to come.

Next is Parua Bay.

Parua Bay

Parua Bay is a huge bay with the largest population.
Here is what it looks like at night.

After Parua Bay the road cuts inland a bit before reaching McLeod Bay where I live.

Next bay along is Little Munroe

followed by Tauarikura

Taurikura by day

Taurikura by night

then McKenzie Bay

McKenzie Bay

and lastly Urquarts Bay where my sister lives

Urquarts Bay

Over the hill is the dramatic Ocean Beach where surfers play and Orca and Dolphins are often seen frolicking.

We went there today for our walk. The smaller first part you arrive at where the surf club is was crowded (must have been about 30 people there.

Walking left along the beach for about half a kilometre and going around the rocks we went along the second part of the beach for about 2 kilometres and there was no-one there.

Skirting the rocks at the end of this part we reached the third part of the beach which gores for about 5 kilometres and again there was no=one there. We waked about a kilometre, found a great spot to watch pounding surf and had a picnic lunch before returning. We found an amazing bucket washed up. It was plastic about the size of a laundry basket with rope handles. we filled it with seaweed for the garden and carried it back.

Thanks to the photographers who posted their photographs of this area on the internet. II will do the same with mine soon.