21st-22nd March 2009: Around Raglan

After Jenny and Eric left Raglan to catch their flight home, Tim and I stayed for an extra night to make the most of the weekend. We stayed in the Harbour View Hotel, an old-fashioned building built in 1905, with high-ceilinged bedrooms and a shared bathroom down the corridor. I imagined ladies in long skirts treading those same floors long ago.

The next morning we climbed Mount Karioi, the only significant peak in the area. It was a sunny, clear day - summer just doesn't want to end round here - and we had beautiful views over the Tasman Sea, Raglan Harbour and the surrounding countryside. We didn't see a single person all morning.

On the side of Mount Karioi

Back down by lunch time, we made our way to Kawhia, via a quick stop at Bridal Veil Falls. The road to Kawhia is 40-odd km of gravelled road, and at the end of it is a hot-water beach. An hour or two each side of low tide you can dig a hole in the sand and see it fill with hot water from underground springs. It is slightly strange to watch a few dozen people sitting in holes dotted along the beach, but great fun. Lacking a spade, we availed ourselves of existing holes that had been abandoned and enjoyed a soak.

Photos of the whole Raglan trip are here.