Ohiwa Beach, Opotike

An early start as we have 200k to go to Ohiwa and we need to shop on the way. 200k in Oz takes approx 2 hours, but 200k here can be double that, due to windy roads, more traffic.Did our shopping in Bethlehem, just outside Tuaranga, and it's the first big shopping mall we have come across since Auckland. We didn't get lost but couldn't beleive that there was no bank there.(Didn't bother checking out the stables!) On thro some flat countryside with lots of monstrously high leylandii hedges which serve as wind breaks and sun traps for the fruit behind. This is the Kiwifruit growing capital of the World and also excellent for growing avos!(Avocados) On to Te Puke which could be the puke capital of the world, it does have a Puke hotel. It also has a Puke bank so we can get some loot. We then have an impressive coastal road for a while,tho not quite the ocean road, but nice enough,except once again there is nowhere to stop and take pictures. There is a rail track parallel to the beach/road so we can't get over.A few k's more we go thro Cheddar Valley and a lovely drive to the camp site along a winding estuary road. At the end ohiwa Beach busy but not crammed in, a lovely beach. More next time