So, I am starting our travelling blog again.
This week we went to Castlepoint in the Wairarapa. A fantastic beach - sandy and rocky area with a lagoon, lighthouse and amazing rock formations. At high tide you can't walk on the beach unless you want to get wet to the waist as the waves crash up against the rocks - put their to help stop erosion.
While walking along the beach - I had a revelation - well not really perhaps more of a reminder of what I already knew. "I love being a tourist" whether it is in a different country or my own little southern Pacific Island, I find doing different things is energising and revitalising.
So here goes -
Tinui
We drove around a little village on the way to Castlepoint. It's a place most people just drive past without giving it a thought. But it is worth a stop. It is here that the first ANZAC service was held in 1916 - one year after the landing of Gallipoli. The locals have worked hard to restore a church, police village, cells, and little post office. A little dog came to say hello and also a local knitting bright yellow daffodils (presumably as it is around cancer awareness day ie daffodil day). What a little treasure. We are going back in November to wander up to the cross on the hill - it isn't open during winter and spring,
We have been to Castlepoint numerous times, but we have never stayed at the little motor camp. What a little gem of a cottage high on the hills over the beach. If you are going there ask for Cabin Number 9. Perched high on the hill you can see magnificent views from the bed - extra special when you are also bought a cup of tea in the mornings. After a walk around the lagoon and up to the lighthouse we drove to the local pub for a meal and to watch the rugby - allblacks vs wallabies. What an experience. There was a big sign on the counter 'only lunch the takeaway menus served tonight'. OK - so we sat down there weren't any other alternatives for dinner at that time of night, and anyway we wanted to watch the rugby. We were asked to go to the counter to order - so we did, noting that the locals had table service. We ordered off the takeaway menu and noted that the locals had a different menu - steak, sausages, pasta and probably more. Burgers and fish were pretty good - so we were more bemused rather than disappointed. The pub owner - stood behind the counter all night, chips and burgers were brought to him, and the 3 young waitresses pulled beer, served food and his wife worked hard in the kitchen. He didn't do a thing - I lie - he actually took our order for dessert into the kitchen (it was after all half time) and then returned to his place behind the counter.
Mataikona
A few k's north of Castlepoint is a really interesting beach - at low tide you can see a geological wonder caused by the many earthquakes this region has seen - not sure how many thousands of years ago, but just a few I imagine. The little town is a beach bach place, and the locals have planted lavendar, agapanthas and lillies along the paths to the beach - which is where we had rather a scrummy lunch.
Rewanui Forest Park
Our last stop before heading back over the hill and to Jill and Graham's for dinner was the Rewanui Forest Park about half way between Masterton and Castlepoint. It was a two hour walk - challenging enough to hang on to fences and trees to pull us up the hills and balance us going down - and just for a couple of times - bottom sliding mud was the order of the day.
