We are still in Rodney District, just a bit further south.
Thursday was going to be hot pools day on the way out of Waiwera. But first we enjoyed the morning beside the beach. It was a lovely calm warm day, so we had a bit of a walk on the beach. Then I borrowed a hose to top up the water tank, and we had another trial with the washing machine. Wyn is starting to figure out the logic of it, to be able to avoid rinsing for a start, to make maximum use of the water.
We drove out of the camp and headed round to the hot pools, to find the park full of buses. This meant the pool complex was full of school children, maybe end of year treats. So we parked up in the bus park and had a re-think. Gosh I love those bendy buses, I counted up about 75 seats in one of them! We decided to flag the hot pools away – we’d had a good soak the previous day anyway. Instead we went for a walk along the beach the other way towards the river. We were heading to Whangaparoa for the night, so figured that we would go sooner rather than later. We headed along to the end of Whangaparoa peninsula to the Shakespeare Regional Park. We stopped in the first carpark for lunch, before discovering that the main park was further on. So we drove on, and parked up for an afternoon snooze, punctuated periodically by blimmin’ peacocks squawking. Then it was time for a quick shower and polish up, and back to the Silverdale and Districts RSA carpark back along the peninsula, they let us NZMCA members park up which is a lovely arrangement.
My cousins Annabel and Val drove around and picked us up and took us back for tea at their place nearby. It was great to catch up, and also to get some tips for places up north to visit when we come back.
Friday morning in the RSA car park is cloudier and muggier, which is OK. We’re heading west today, over to Helensville way, and hot pools at Parakai perhaps.