Next Stop Papamoa Beach

When I left Sulphur Point I wasn't sure where next but I
thought I would easily find a freedom spot along
Papamoa Beach somewhere. That wasn't the case. I
had nearly given up and come to the end of Papamoa
Beach road when I spied this little road with the beach
and sea at the end. Haha... I thought and made a quick
left hand turn... Ideal!  I asked the people in the house
I was parked outside and they were more than happy for
 me to park and overnight there. The street didn't appear to
have a  name either on my map or GPS or at the end
of the road. I called it 'Short' street!
 

So here I am... Parked in the sun with a view out to sea...
 

It was great and very quiet... Which didn't last!  I found it
was the favourite place for quads with all their fishing gear
to access the beach, also people with Sea Horse type contiki's
came along. Not much was caught though... The problem
being the usual... The wind, or the tide or the light...
I was joined by two young fella's in a van who with their blow-up
'Lilo' and having lots of fun in the surf, parked for the night.
The other people I met were the drivers of the city bus service buses.
It was the end of the line and they often seemed to have a few
minutes to spare which they spent gazing at the sea and chatting to me.

It was a great spot for me... And had Internet access.

I wandered down to the beach at low tide to look for  Tuatua
but none around. I walked along the beach and met a  few
fisher people, all locals but catching nothing.
 

The houses along from where I was parked...
 

The sea to the south...
 

And to the north... It wasn't quite a benine as it looks, the waves
and current were strong. it's the open Pacific Ocean and
no islands to break it up.
 

And the moon rising. Beautiful.
 

My Next Stop... Te Arai Point

Several people had mentioned this place to me... It's an Auckland
Council reserve that allows freedom parking. I wanted to have a
look... so here I am.


 Parked as close as possible to the beach and sand dunes.


Grass and sand at my doorstep... To the north...

And to the south. A beautiful day but it didn't last.

 
 Over the dunes behind me is a pine forest.

And I'm sure you know what I would find there...


 
 The weather forecast is predicting rain and cyclonic weather...
So off I went, bag and saw in hand...


Past these beautiful daisy's that I'm sure are noxious weeds...
And found bountiful pine cones and dry wood and
stocked up all my baskets and bins with firewood again.

 

The next day was grey and overcast so I went for a walk before the rain.
It's a beautifully maintained reserve... Toilets, rubbish bins,
a dump for buses and motor homes with a tap. The sign says
'Water not fit for drinking' but it's probably alright if boiled.

Old Pohutukawa trees and picnic tables.


A Kingfisher surveying his territory.


 
There are two parking areas the bottom one seems more
popular with over nighters.

 
There were two, then three, then four and more.
Today the weather, as predicted, is windy and heavy rain
so a good place to be parked and off the road. 

 Looking back from the top car park across the
dunes to my bus.

 The rock at the southern point is very popular to climb.

As I walked round there I discover another smaller rock...

And in between a tiny shelly beach. I bet the waves are
pounding through here today.

Another rocky little bay...

And the view to the south... Where today's weather is blowing from.

Back on the north side... the day is getting darker and darker.

 
It was mild and humid, I expected rain any moment as I set off for a
walk along the hard sand.

The misty view of the rocks and grey sea and sky...
Where does one end and the other start?



And back through the dunes and lupins to my bus.