Tokerau

Hmm. I wasn't sure about camping at a 'proper' camp site again. We'd stayed in DoC (Department of Conservation) sites with Cat and Andy - simple, lots of space, almost no people. Houhora had had a few people staying but also a large number of 'permanent' caravans and mobile homes. OK, but too crowded for our liking.

However, Tokerau, on the Karikari peninsular, was so lovely that we stayed 2 nights.  (We can't seem to stay away: this was our third visit to this remote and empty piece of New Zealand.)  There was practically no one else in the 'holiday park', so we picked a site overlooking the beach within easy sound of the surf. The beach wasn't ninety miles long - 'only' approximately 15 or so kilometres - but a beautiful expanse of flat sand. Seeing the cars driving up and down, I realised why the sign at the beginning of the peninsula read 'Use Inland Road when flooded' made sense: many drivers used the beach road instead of the tarmac.

We cycled for miles; listened to the tui and the oyster catchers; watched the sunrise. Perfect.