Let's finish that trip

One wild and windy day, we explored as far Hicks Bay at the tip of East Cape but we explored slowly and enjoyed what we saw.  We set out to see the church in the background but stopped to visit the beach, then saw this little graveyard.

Then wandered on to the beach to marvel at the driftwood.  I've never seen so much on a beach.  If we lived closer I would have loaded up a lot of it and brought it home. 

Obviously the local children find it good fun to play with:

 I did bring home two pieces, one of which Georgia took an immediate liking to and turned it into a gift for her cousin.

We didn't linger a lot on our way home but did stop for lunch and to walk around Opotiki.  A little church on main street caught my eye and, of course, I just had to have a look.  It's true, you never know what you will find inside a church.  Each little church is different and has its own flavour.

 Mission Church of Hiona Saint Stephen's

I always get a little thrill when I see something I've never seen before.  Not sure what this says about the parishioners but it gave me a smile.

 

But what really caught my eye was this:

That's something I haven't seen before.

As Chris and I were heading for home we were discussing how some of the people we had met would not exactly take top marks for hospitality.  There was a sort of wariness about some of the local people towards us "tourists", a stranger danger sort of thing.

We joked that the lady at the cafe at Te Araroa could easily take a unit of a Kiwi Host course for the locals.  And her 12 year old son could also provide a unit on customer service.

We'd arrived mid afternoon and a lad was packing up the tables and chairs outside the cafe.  We asked were we too late for lunch and, with the most beautiful smile you could imagine, he told us no, go on in and "do your order."  The cook could be seen in the background as we approached the counter and, because we were so late, we asked what was easy. 

"It's all easy!"  she replied with a smile that matched the one we had received outside.

We ordered fish and chips and sat outside reading the paper in a sunny courtyard.    The lad who had been outside soon appeared as our waiter with my order.  He told Chris with a smile that hers wouldn't be long, "She's still working on it."  The courtesy and friendliness offered by that lad was absolutely second to none.  It was something you can't teach, it's something you learn at your mother's knee.  If you want the pleasure of being served by this lad, you must call there on a Sunday, that's the only day he works to help Mum out.

And the fish and chips were first rate, best I can remember having.  That lady knows a thing or two about batter.

Maraehako Bay

According to the Pacific Coast Highway Bible Whanarua Bay is considered by many to the prettiest bay on the coast.  And well it may be. 

But at the bottom of a similarly steep driveway, and the next bay along the road, is Maraehako Bay, our destination.

We were just in time to catch the soft evening light on the adjoining bay.

To sit in the courtyard:

And watch the day draw to a close out over the sea. 

We had expected "absolute sea front accommodation" and we weren't disappointed, any closer and we would have had wet feet.  The quirky buildings are all built by the owner Pihi, over multiple levels with steps and ramps and decks hither and thither amongst craggy rocks and cliffs and giant pohutukawa trees.  That's our room with the yellow door, just up a few steps from beach level, with the kitchen above. 

It's a peaceful, secluded paradise in a little bay with a freshwater spring and little waterfall with hammocks strung above the stream - and resident eel.  No photo, you can only see him at night with the aid of a torch.

A torch is also  needed to visit the little cave on the other end of the tiny bay where little blue penguins surf in to nest for the night.

 This is not a beach for long walks in the sand, but I enjoyed scrambling over the rocks, fighting to keep my footing.  I only fell a couple of times, lost a bit of skin off my elbows and knees but it was fun!

Maraehako means "a place of meeting for good people".

Continuing on the Pacific Coast Highway

We called in to the Visitor's Info Centre in Whakatane and a delightful young lady presented me with a little booklet saying, "This is the bible for the East Cape."  What a great little publication it is,  jam packed with information about each and every beach along the highway.  The road hugs the coast, most of the time right beside the beach with bush clad mountains on the other side most of the way.  We passed through dozens of bays and little beaches and The Bible provided information about them all.  Whether they were suitable for swimming, better for fishing, diving, whether the beach shelves steeply.

The Bible told us that visitors are welcome to inspect the Marae grounds at Omarumutu.  Normally we, as pakahas (non-Maori), would not enter upon marae grounds unless specifically invited.

 Motu River

A little past Motu River, we stopped at Omaio, I was hanging out for a cup of coffee.  I think it was around 4 pm by then and this was the first place we'd come to since lunch time that offered a cafe.  The staff didn't seem very happy to see us arrive, they were obviously getting ready to leave for the day.  I may have made them grumpier still if I'd known I'd been served instant coffee before I left the premises!

Following the advise of The Bible and the lass in the cafe we went around the corner to find the public toilets with another marae with an elaborately carved entrance on one side of the road.

 and the shingley beach on the other:

Just a little further along the road an old abandoned church caught our eye.

We were quite restrained when it came to churches and gave in to temptation only a few times.  Couldn't resist this one with daffodils alongside the road.

and a few sheep lazing in the sunshine on the other side of the road:

Chris hit the brakes and backed up when we passed this sign.  Neither of us has ever heard of a pig dog training school!  The Bookbinder sign below it just added to our amusement.

Ohope Beach (I'm pretty sure).

I didn't take notes of what these signify but I don't think I've seen a carving before that includes a yellow haired pakeha.

 A competitor approaching the finish line at Ohope of the multi-sport "Monty's Revenge" (25 km mountain bike ride,  17 km in kayaks and final 12 kms run)  We'd seen some runners passing through town and a young marshall told us where the race would be finishing.

We will arrive at Maraehako Bay soon.