Tip Top.......twice!

I would like to think that I am getting better at early mornings but today proved me wrong! When the alarm went at 06:20 I was in no mood to move! But move I did. I had a bus to catch...

We were off to the tip top (or should that be top tip?!) of New Zealand! 

After a couple of stops for pies (they love their pies here) and a look at yet more kauri trees, we arrived at the Waipapakauri Ramp which takes you on to 90 Mile Beach (although obviously it's only 54 miles long!)

The bus driver then bombed it along the most amazing beach, you could see tyre marks of those who had been there before us, and occasionally a truck passed in the other direction, but generally we had the beach to ourselves. There were rolling waves from the Tasman Sea on the left and ever increasing sand dunes on the right.

After a quick stop the bus hung a right and literally drove right up the middle of a creek to find us a really high sand dune. Boogie boards were then given out and the trudge to the top began. It was hard work! Now the sand dune was REALLY steep, and I am sure Thomas and Simon, who appreciate my skiing prowess are already laughing at what I am about to admit! I would like to say that I went from the top, but sod that! As already mentioned it was REALLY steep! So I was more than happy to start from lower down, and because I was lower down I was able to fit in more runs than most. 

It was hot work! 

The bus driver "Stitch", was proper Kiwi. He either started or ended all of his sentences with "Sweet....as!", and he blasted 80's music out on the bus speakers. My soundtrack for the day consisted of Bob Marley, Bazza White, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, INXS and Jacko, just to name a few. Tres old school!

Next stop was Cape Reinga. Captain Cook has been here too! He did get around! Actually the Maouri's believe that when you die your spirit travels up 90 Mile Beach and then departs from Cape Reinga.

Given that the cape is the meeting point for the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea I had expected a fierce wind, but it was actually fairly calm, and although overcast was also quite warm. And I even found a sign post at the lighthouse to remind me how far away from home I am! 9,735 miles from London!

 

We stopped at a gorgeous beach, Tapotupotu Bay, before heading to Mangonui for what the bus driver referred to as "the best fish and chips in the world"! A bold claim! His words were "the British invented fish and chips, but the Kiwi's perfected them"! I have to say that they were damn good!

The other Tip Top in the title is the ice cream. Tip Top is the main brand of Kiwi ice cream, and the producer of the Hokey Pokey. We went past the first shop to sell it! The Kiwi's do love their ice cream, and I love the Kiwi's all the more for that! I have tried such fabulous flavours, fig and honey, salted caramel popcorn, gingernut, Ferrero Rocher, and today it was Turkish delight, a taste sensation!

 

All in all a very good day, and very excited about tomorrow.......