FOOC Auckland
Well we are back from the classic kiwi post christmas trip to the beach. We stayed at Port Waikato on the west coast about an hour from home so not too far for the ds's in the car - and me who turns green on the windy roads here very easily! We had a bach (beach house) here until we sold it last year so this time stayed in a chalet at the camping ground. Although after this trip we are now bach hunting again.
Port Waikato is a unique place which I think you would either love or hate, wild west coast surf beach, majestic sand dunes, miles of black sand, rockeries for the ds's to hunt for crabs, rock pools to swim with the water wild life when the tide is right but very spit and sawdust, 1 chip shop and a 'dairy' that sells everything you might need except alcohol. No mobile phone reception, we had a TV in our chalet which the boys were very excited about as we didn't have one in the bach. It's a place to catch up with families you meet and relax as the world goes by. Sadly we picked the only 2 days it's rained in the past few weeks but despite the weather we surfed, played tennis, beach cricket, monopoly an other board games, had bbq's with friends, ate fish and chips on the beach and watched the sun set over the horizon and rise on one early morning beach walk.
We also visited the bush carnival where locals and visitors compete in horse competitions - barrel races etc....take part in wagon races - pushing and pulling wagons around barrels with a poor littlun in the wagon being bounced beyond belief, old fashioned sack races, steer riding and the highlight of the day - sheep riding - which entails placing children backwards on the back of sheep so they are holding the fleece at the rear end, slapping the sheeps rear end as the gates to the race are opened so the half scared to death animal charges at full speed into the paddock with child holding on for dear life until it falls off and hopefully avoids being trampelled by the sheep. Fear not St John's are on hand to deal with casualties and there are always a few. Afterwards everybody heads to the beach for a mass surf, this year in the rain.
I have until now been unable to remain annonymous except for one set of friends who know us away from the Port. In keeping the place and others I ditch the makeup and hair straighteners, spend my days in wet suits, shorts and flip flops etc...hence my usually very straight hair reverts to it's unruly natural state, hairy legs are de rigeur etc etc.... Scarily the parents of one of the girls in ds's class have bought down there, they are also the local vets and we know them to say hello to although not terribly well. Mrs vet on seeing me on day one exclaimed - oh mrs sibble I nearly didn't recognise you . Needless to say the first thing I do on return is de-fuzz, shower and straighten hair etc....
www.portwaikatoholidaypark.co.nz/Port_Waikato_Holiday_Park/Click_Here_for_Image_Gallery_IDL=102_IDT= 1317ID=7729.html