Our next port of call was Kairakau, a short distance as the crow flies, but a much longer trip zig zagging inland first to near Waipawa before then heading back out to the coast.
Looking south
Looking north
Once we were parked and settled in, again no phone reception, as is evidenced by the very large range of bluffs behind the camping area cutting out communications which were at best sporadic all of the way up the coast.
These bluffs meant that the sun was only on us until mid afternoon. It would not be a place to be camped during the winter months. The colour is provided by the early morning light.
The other end of the beach was a river mouth with a number of holiday homes and a small permanent population.
Looking back from the river mouth to where we were camping looking over the camp ground in the foreground, we are faintly visible in the background.
Mixed farming! Geese and sheep sharing the same paddocks.
Just before the beach there is this chasm cut between the coastal bluffs and a large singular rock formation.
From Kairakau we took a short drive to Mangakuri without camera. It was a very long sandy beach (which beaches aren’t around here!) with a very small settlement. However it has no motorhome parking available. We both felt it would be a very attractive place to come back to and spend some time.
The Vanninis' Manoeuvres 