Even when New Zealand is not rubbing your nose in it’s astonishing and varied beauty – it’s still really lovely and to the casual observer, unspoilt.
We came to Whatakane (pronounced fahk-a-tah-nee) primarily because we (I) wanted to go and play on Whakaari (aka White Island). So with that booked in for tomorrow, we set out to explore the area a little. Whatakane is a large town by New Zealand standards, and other than being a launch point for Whakaari, it’s not particularly touristy. There’s a long main drag filled with everything you’d need from a high street, there are coffee shops and KFC and supermarkets. It’s just a normal town, yet it’s really pretty. It’s squeezed between the coast and towering cliffs covered in dense bush; you’re never more than a stones throw from a beach or a forest.
After exploring Whatakane for a while we headed 5 minutes along the coast to Ohope – a small village stretched out along a lovely long beach. There we spent a few hours strolling over the headland to Otarawairere Bay and playing on the sand for a while.
Whatakane and Ohope are not really tourist destinations, but they are truly lovely places.
Now we’ve regrouped at the motel in order to do some laundry and recharge our batteries before heading back into town later this evening for a while.
The Obligatory Blog 