New Years day 2009

Woke up with a bit of a fuzz( well one of us did! which is traditional due to a late night with too much red wine on board. It must have rained very hard in the ight judging by the puddles, but we didn't hear it even in this mini biscuit tin! A beautiful sunny morning so we decide a day on the beach is in order. Found our way to the Whangaparoa Peninsula ( easy for you to say) and after having a look at Red Beach ,went on to Army Bay. Swam and sunbathed all day as we watched the beach fill up with holiday makers, in the main Maoris,who take up quite a bit of space,as they are generally on the large size. Speaking to Vanessa at midnight U K time seemed really odd, when you are roasting on a beach in just your swimsuit! Decided to make a move and called ahead to book a place at Sandspit camp, where we were really fortunate to get the last powered site! Arrived late that afternoon, due to heavy traffic all the way, but were in time to sit with a couple of beers by the beach once we had landed.
Sandspit was in a beautiful location, on a wide estuary, and when the tide was out in reminded us of Rock. The camp really was jam packed full tho and we felt a little like sardines!
Sandspit to Whananaki.
On the move north, obviously the right direction as we hear it's raining in Auckland.
We have bought a phone card for booking campsites, it was just ridiculously expensive using the mobile with an Australian sim, and we realise we can't just bowl up to site as we were doing in Oz, because it's so busy here. Spent some time in the phone box trying to work out how to operate the card, eventually succeeding. Nothing is straightforward when you are old, daft and losing your facilities! Tried a couple of sites,both full,and so finally got booked in at Whananaki which once again is on an estuary. It's a bit quieter than the last few sites, but there again it is 27K off the main road,along a very narrow,winding road.
We had stopped off at Whangerei on route to do a bit of shopping, as we had nothing for tea. it was like a ghost town,as it is a public holiday on 2 Jan also, and everyone had gone to the coast. We found a minimart open and got some less than fresh rolls, a packet of mince and some pasta no T-bone steaks tonight!
Back at Whananaki their claim to fame is the longest footbridge (over the estuary) in the southern hemisphere.