A beach path through the sand dunes, leading down to the wide open east coast beach - a scene etched in most New Zealander`s minds - the hot sand that has to be run and hoped quickly over, wild native grasses and` bunny tails` to be picked, brought home to sit in a glass to remind us of our holiday, along with the bag of smelly shells still with their inhabitants in - but after washing them out, if you listen carefully with the shell to your ear, you will hear the ocean, swishing in onto the sand . . .
A man and his dog . . . My son Cameron with Bella - both love this beach with a passion. Cameron surfs every day if he can, Bella runs and runs, chasing seagulls and shadows. Cameron, with his family, lives a couple of blocks back from the beach, he reckons by the time he is 40, they will be living on the beach !
Looking back along the beach towards the Maunga (Mt Manganui) with the distant Kaimai ranges in a blue haze - these are the ranges I have to travel over from my lush Waikato valley to the east coast - this long range of hills are like a spine down the side of the North Island, starting in the Coromandel, running right through, separated by narrow valleys and with a different name as they spread.
I must admit, I do have a stronger `pull` to the west coast of NZ, it is wilder, has black sand mostly, with a strong and distinct feel about it - the east coast is lovely but abit too tame for me. I love the wind and crashing waves of the west coast - might be something to do with all the iron in the sand or even my Irish heritage - who knows . . .
4 comments:
I too love the west coast of NZ. We stayed in a lovely beach cottage near the Pancake Rocks when we were there. I love to look at the pictures from our trip....so beautiful. I always tell friends that NZ is the most beautiful country I have seen yet. Wish it were summer here, we are freeeeezing!
Yes, your photos would be like so many photos of NZers enjoying our beaches. Such beautiful photos too. I like the Mount but don't go there often ...like you it's the west coast that makes my heart sing, I love the wildness of them, I love how they are so empty of people, just the wind the sand and the surf pounding on rocks. Maybe it's my Irish heritage too.
I wish happy years with family members.Regards.
Love those photos! I haven't been to New Zealand, actually. Never thought that beaches there are so nice! It's nice walking around the beach with your loved one, or even with your pet! It just relaxes you, seeing how beautiful the scenery is. I wish I could go to that place soon!
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