"Sundaze", Sacred Hill Vineyard, Puketapu, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Anothet weekend, another open day at a vineyard. This time it is Sacred Hill who, although they do have a cellar door, are only normally open to groups by appointment, possibly to be fair as they are a bit out of the way. In January however they team up with the Puketapu Pub and have Sunday bands, wine and food. Unlike Taradise it is not BYO so it is a bit more like just having lunch at a vineyard. You can bring chairs and sit on the grass but we chose to leave them in thr car and just used the benches.

New Years Day, Waipatiki Beach, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Spent the morning on the beach just up the coast. Excellent little spot for the day. Some big waves crashing one after the other onto white sand beach (and on top of Linda).

Waipatiki Beach is pretty hard to find on the map, in fact Google does not seem to know it exists. It lies 20km north of Napier with view back to Bluff Hill. We missed the first road off the SH2 and so went mostly on an unsealed road, but the first road is sealed.

Waipatiki apparently means “water of the flounder” in Māori. It was once an abundant fishing estuary valley. The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake lifted the flats up in the air and formed the current sea front and stream.

Lessons from the day:
- Buy a less bendy umbrella
- Take picture of beach before you leave
- Wear more supportive swim wear in big waves

Picture of Waipatiki Beach from Public toilets !

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The last of 'The Storm' has moved on. It was not as big as 'The Great Storm' of 2011 but there are certainly a few bits of beach missing and the grass is reverting from blonde to green(ish).

Today is the last full day of our holiday. The Trouble score is now 5:5 and our brains can't take no more.

A final rain coat assured walk along the beach. A final BBQ. Drank all the dog ends. Time to go home tomorrow.

Click heels. Waimaramover.

Linda in motion, Waimarama Beach

Surf's up, Waimarama

Waimarama Beach

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

There's Trouble in the Bach ...... Steve pulls a morning 2-0 win over Linda to draw level 4-4.

Sunrise over Bare Island, Waimarama

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Rain is expected this afternoon so had a walk on the beach first thing then went to find some lunch out and ended up at Clearview in Te Awanga. As we drove back it gave a few drops of rain, the first we have seen in months.

Upon reaching home the thunder and lightening started to wail and the rains came! Very exciting. We can't recall seeing thunder and lightening for 5 years since we were in the UK, it just doesn't happen in Wellington.

Clearview for lunch

Rain at last at Waimarama bach

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The morning starts with a stunning sunrise.

We drove briefly over to the neighbouring Ocean Beach, a much smaller enclave with a white beach.

Back at Waimarama, it was really busy with tractors and boats mainly due to a fishing competition.

Waimarama Sunrise over Bare Island

Tractors park up while fishing boats are out in Waimarama

The return of the Waimarama fishing boats

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

"Is it Saturday today?"
"No it's Friday"
"Oh, OK"

It's a great holiday when you actually don't know what day it is.

We popped out to the new house today to get a quote done, then took the opportunity to call at Abbey Cellars vineyard for lunch on the way back.

Why, well New World in Havelock North have several Merlot, Cabs, Malbecs from Abbey and they have been very good so we thought a trip to Bridge Pa was in order.

After a tasting we had some Rosé with cheese board and got talking to the owner who is a farmer by trade and a self developed winemaker. Riesling was picked yesterday and Chardonnay is due to be picked soon. The reds will stay on for a bit longer yet. He agreed that 2013 may surpass 2009 and 2006 vintages due to the everlasting summer. We bought some 2006 as that us not available in New World.

Back at the bach now but, hassle hassle, just off to help a bloke, no idea who he is, launch his boat off the back of a tractor into the sea "OK, I'm on my way, this ain't my full time job you know".

Wine with cheese platter at Abbey Cellars

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

There is a strange noise afoot today. It sounds a bit like something is being strangled while trying to drink a pint of water and having an asthma attack. It is in fact coming from Stephen. He has decided that today would be the idea day to start learning to play the harmonica. This is slightly made worse by the available instrument, me thinks from a Christmas cracker, which is has only 10 notes rather than the required 12 and is tuned to sound like a dead cat. But wait. Linda has recognised the song being attempted is indeed Silent Night, that classic seaside tune. Get in there !

Harmonica in Waimarama

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

We are out walking the beach today at low tide after a mornings sun-reading. The rock pools down the south end are exposed for a short while so we are just aimlessly poking around them.

We went for a walk this morning as well the other way. OK, that is enough exciting news for the day.

Currently recovering from the exhaustion with glass of rosé.

Oh, BTW, 2-2 on Trouble.

Rose at Waimarama Beach and Bare Island

Rock pools looking out to Bare Island at Waimarama Beach

Trouble Game (called Frustration elsewhere)

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The day started clouded today but unfortunately for the parched Napier farmers no rain came with it and it is now clearing up.

Earlier we have been out to sort a few things out for our new house today and so paid it a passing visit. The cabin was of particular interest to us as we gave it little heed during the purchase, but we now intend to stay there while some renovation occurs to the main house. As you see below we will be downsizing somewhat.

Anyway, back at the beach now and just off for a walk.

Perhaps some corn and baked potato on the barbie may go nicely with a wine'o'clock cab sav.

Then perhaps a game of Frustration (Trouble) to see if Steve can break his loosing streak (0-2).

Cabin in Napier

Waimarama Beach

BBQ at Waimarama

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The weather forecast says it is going to be cloudy today. It isn't. The sea has however calmed down to just being semi angry with a more constant roar.

Of great interest to us Wellingtonians is that ants abound everywhere. We do not see many insects in Welly as the get blown away. Luckily they are of the none biting variety and we keep the food locked away so they just wander around.

I also note that we are slipping into not wearing shoes and cooking everything on the barbie. What is becoming of us?

Bare Island, Waimarama

Decking view at Waimarama

Seagull !, Waimarama

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The wind is blowing from the south making the waves crash together in a salty bubble bath, with spray whisking off to the north. The sun is however still breaking through unstoppable in its efforts.

Dan, Bronwyn and kids have come up for the weekend to do real paragliding but the wind has put an end to their day prematurely.

Linda is mastering putting up a traditional deck chair, or at least she may master it sometime soon. Steve is flying a paraglider stunt kite in front of the Bach.

How to not put up a deckchair

Kite Flying at Waimarama

Getting ready for evening meal

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

The noise of the waves is exceptionally loud when you are trying to get some peace on the beanbag on the decking. The seagull also wants some food but it ain't getting any coss I am not for moving. The rain that was promised has again not arrived so the everlasting summer continues.

Linda is plowing her way, like an unstoppable cruise liner, through her books showing no mercy to the authors patient word smithing. Ah the seagull is back with two more friends. Bob Hope still.

Went shopping for food and drink. Exhausted from the prices. Doing barbie this eve. Stars bright outside.

Bach in Waimarama

Evening sky over bach in Waimarama

Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

We have just arrived at our bach for our final holiday (of the 3 months).

We searched New Zealand high and low before settling on booking a beach front bach in Waimarama where we plan to go deep Kiwi for a while. The Bach is modern with direct access to a sandy beach with high tide lapping up to the property.

Waimarama has a single shop and a cafe but little else so it's barbies for us mainly.

First view of Waimarama

Arrival at Waimarama Bach

Cheers, Waimarama

Feet at Waimarama