Today we planned to ride along Ninety Mile beach. There is 4 entrances on the way. The next one is about 20km away, then 50km and finally 70km. We aren’t at the beginning, there is already 20km behind us. But we have a little problem : the tide is too high now so we cannot go. After a check at the reception we decided to take the main road and join the beach later.
This morning, I woke up at 6.30am to catch the sun rise. Unfortunately I realized a little bit too late that the sun rises east, while that beach faces west… That will be for another time then…
Preparation before departure
Finally we were ready to leave at 10h30. Not the best timing. We are now coming around Pukenui (Google Maps). The wind is quite strong. We are riding toward the north west and the wind comes from the west so it’s really annoying has we must fight against it rah! We can see Houhora Heads just front of us.
Roughly two third of the way later
After something like 50km we quit the main road to join the one of the DOC camp.
We discover a wonderful beach with white sand! Wonderful! (I need to find more synonyms for describe beauty because there is too much in this country.
These camp have only toilet and cold shower, that’s it, nothing else. We have to pay by ourselves: put the money is an envelope and then put in the metal box which is on the right leg of the first sign board. The price is very interesting because it cost 6$ only but the cold shower will cost me a life I think haha:-).
“You are here”. Yes we are, thanks 🙂
That’s how much space we have. Just a little 😉
Maybe you think that what I’m doing is crazy? I can tell you I’m not! If I compare myself to Peter. That’s his “tent” : a piece of plastic sheet. He makes me feel I’m going to sleep in a 5 stars hotel with my tent haha 🙂
Finishing setting up our ephemeral camp
Tonight, we are really in the wild. It reminds me Iceland, more precisely Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) (Google Maps). So natural, so quiet, so peaceful, just perfect 🙂
It’s time to visit around. A track goes directly to the beach. Let’s go! 🙂
The sand is so thin!
Big things 🙂
Flat things.
I’ve seen a sign announcing a protected area where some rare birds live here.
Its name is: Tuturiwhatu pukenui (photo). This bird has a funny look. It stays almost always on the ground and run “the head in the handlebar”. You can listen to its sounds here.
Its name is: Toreo Pangeo (photo).
Ooh, Aahaaa! The beach… 🙂 That’s it for today. Tomorrow Cap reinga in reality!
Massive clouds over there. I hope it won’t rain. Especially when I thing of Peter’s shelter haha.
Wouah ! So amazing pictures. And you’re in winter. It will be gorgeous in summer !! This place looks so peacefull. Ah, I miss the sea. You can stay for hours without any move in front of those marvelous sights. Good luck for tomorrow, you’ll reach your goal :). Say hello to Petter. Where is he come from ?
See you later in words !
Max
Hello Max, you are right, that’s marvellous :-). Today it’s like 23 degrees, I don’t want to imagine summer 🙂 so hot!
Peter comes from Czech Republic. See ya 🙂
Hey !! This place is so peaceful… and i loved some of the photos.. looks a little bit like huge plage de bordeaux in the begining of the road but the place is so different once you are near the see.. with birds cutee !!
I should have had a bigger zoom to take better pictures of the birds. Maybe, next time, once I’ve worked, I’ll by a new camera 🙂