28th January 2019. Sun, heat and beaches!

Now I know this is really a diary for our benefit, but on the basis that friends and family back in the UK are reading this I feel I must give a warning and apology for what you are about to read!!!

We woke this morning to clear blue skies and gloriously warm temperatures. We had decided to take the ferry over to the other side of the river that flows into the bay as there were some walking trails that looked good.

From the ferry landing we took the Maramatotara track, taking us through forest. I still can’t get used to the fact that the forest is so tropical but I dont have to be on the alert for snakes, or anything else nasty come to that! By the time we reached the road it was already hot, and still not 10 a.m! We hoped that as we approached houses at Flaxmill Bay that there might be somewhere for coffee, and yes we could see a coffee shop up ahead. But, closed on Monday’s!!! Never mind! On we went, finally getting to Cooks Beach. And yes, Captain Cook was here back in the 1700’s, charting New Zealand and doing so with the help of the planet Mercury, hence Mercury Bay.

We walked along the beach, looking at all the rather glamorous houses, no 2 alike, and wondering why there were no beachside bars! We did eventually find a good coffee shop, alongside a builders merchants, craft shop and tiny grocery store that sold little!

By this time it was really hot, so back to the beach so Geoff could swim. I paddled, up to my thighs!

A leisurely lunch back at the coffee shop then a walk back along the beach to pick up the track again. We thought we would stop at Lonely Bay and were right in our assumption that it wouldn’t be lonely down there! It was a beautiful little bay, plenty of shade by rocks and under trees which we needed. Geoff of course couldn’t resist the chance for another swim, and so for the second time in one day, I sat on the beach! (Judith, I hope you are impressed!!!)

Eventually we walked back to the ferry and back to our accommodation. It has been so hot today with hardly a cloud in the sky. Absolutely beautiful.

The view down to Lonely Bay with Cooks Beach in the background.

There are more photos and videos to add to the blog but they will have to wait until we are somewhere with better WiFi. Watch this space!