Waihi (21st Jan).

What else should be done on a Sunday, other than a fantastic walk, a dip in the warm ocean, and a great home-cooked curry? Today is that day. We left Hamilton after watching Chelsea plaster the Albion (4-0), and set off for Karangahake Gorge, which was about 45 mins from Hamilton. (Everywhere seems to be about that!) On the way we stopped at Morrinsville which is a cattle town, and they seem quite proud about that!

We got to the Gorge, but realised we had been there last time, plus it was raining and there were no spaces in the car park, so that was that. We decided to carry on to Waihi, another very pretty seaside resort.

We admired the lovely beach but decided to walk first, so we set off for Orokawa Bay, which was a 2.2 Km walk across 2 headlands.

The views on the walk were amazing......

And at times it was like walking through a primeval forest

It was hot and sweaty work (about 27 deg C), but well worth it.

The first view of the remote bag did not disappoint.......

and the secluded beach offered wonderful photo opportunities.......

I also managed to take a couple of panorama photos with the phone, one of which may become a canvas, if all goes well!

I think the canvas is the one below!

Even a dead seabird became part of a photo...

as did some other 'old bird'!

It was time for the return walk through the vegetation .......

and past the weird curly ferny mystical Maori thingies....

After this we did a bit of swimming which was warm and refreshing, before we managed to consume 2 pies each after a trip to the bakers: One steak and one raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake pie each. Julie reportedly had a 'pie coma'! Now we are back home and that curry is cooking in the kitchen....smells wonderful!