10th Dec 2010 - Quiet Backroads Towards 90 Mile Beach
From Rawene Motor Camp through to Ariha, about 47 miles. After trying to see Clendon House - a house with a long history, not grand, but very much of the early days of NZ. But it was only open at weekends and today is Friday. So we got lunch for our journey and caught the 11.30am ferry for the short crossing across the estuary. Then the road was speedy along the estuary followed by a climb over a modest saddle and then down to where we headed for the coast. Then had lunch about 11kms along at Broadwood, where there was a four square mini mart. Then another 20 kms to the next junction, and then a quick 17kms over a slightly less hilly road until we reached the junction for Ariha. Originally we were planning to continue to Kaitai but after a dip in the sea (steve) at the start of 90 mile beach and reading the guide, we decided where we were was better (more choice of accommodation). So we are pitched at the Ariha YHA and campground where we're paying $13.5 each. We found some Speight's dark ale, which is a Newcastle Brown sort of thing, and so unexciting.The picture is actually from yesterday - just as we were arriving in Rawene we passed through an area of mangroves. A beautiful area, backed by low sandy looking hills.
From Rawene Motor Camp through to Ariha, about 47 miles. After trying to see Clendon House - a house with a long history, not grand, but very much of the early days of NZ. But it was only open at weekends and today is Friday. So we got lunch for our journey and caught the 11.30am ferry for the short crossing across the estuary. Then the road was speedy along the estuary followed by a climb over a modest saddle and then down to where we headed for the coast. Then had lunch about 11kms along at Broadwood, where there was a four square mini mart. Then another 20 kms to the next junction, and then a quick 17kms over a slightly less hilly road until we reached the junction for Ariha. Originally we were planning to continue to Kaitai but after a dip in the sea (steve) at the start of 90 mile beach and reading the guide, we decided where we were was better (more choice of accommodation). So we are pitched at the Ariha YHA and campground where we're paying $13.5 each. We found some Speight's dark ale, which is a Newcastle Brown sort of thing, and so unexciting.The picture is actually from yesterday - just as we were arriving in Rawene we passed through an area of mangroves. A beautiful area, backed by low sandy looking hills.