Day 67. We ventured out of Auckland for the day and headed for the stunning West Coast beaches less than an hour away.
En route, we stopped at Titirangi for a coffee.
Opinionoid: The coffee is New Zealand is great. Faithful readers will know we spent time in Columbia where we found the coffee to be strong, dark and smooth. The coffee served in New Zealand is a quite different silky, milky and delicious drink. Although New Zealand doesn’t grown coffee beans, it prides itself on its roasting and preparation. One could argue that New Zealand is to coffee what Belgium is to chocolate.
Just past Titirangi town is Waitakere Visitors’ Centre with a vista down to the sea. In the visitors’ centre was a book about spotting wildlife at the seashore and we decided it would be fun to look for creatures on the beach. Amongst the many pictures of creatures in this book was a picture of a bright blue Portuguese Man o’ War, a strange looking stingy jelly-like animal which we agreed was best avoided while swimming.
Picture perfect view
After a winding and rolling drive to the West Coast, we reached our prize at the beach at Piha. We took a walk along the desolate beach beneath the moody sky with the waves crashing deafeningly beside us. It was hard not to take a beautiful photograph of the rugged natural beauty of the coast. We’ve had to limit ourselves here to just a handful!
Alone on the beach
The sand at Piha
Reflections
Green mussel
Pretty shells
Then lo and behold, what did we find on the beach …
Man o' war
It must be a sign!
Really fantastic photos! Love the man of war and the other beach shots.
We’re delighted to know you’re back in Fodland again. Go to the Bay of Islands if you have time. Give Raewyn a phone call. She’ll be really pleased. ‘Glad you’re having a great time! BOD & Aunty Audrey
Seems like you are having a crazy, amazing adventure! Had no idea that you had even left England, and it seems that you almost overlapped with me in South America, and Ruth in New Zealand! Hope the rest of your travels are as picture-perfect!!