On waking our plan was to drive to Taupo and camp near the lake. I threw a spanner in the works by offering a last minute diversion to the coast. We turned off a roundabout towards Whakatane.

Gary was very excited at the thought of going to the beach and camping! We arrived at Whakatane and spent a good few minutes strolling around town trying to find a bakery to get some fresh bread for lunch. We ended u buying Gaz some new flip flops, sold to him by the fact that there is a bottle opener built into both soles....a gadget that is now used whenever an opportunity arises!

We went to Ohope, voted the New Zealander's top beach. We sat on the beach, which was windy and not our favourite beach at all. Saying that I was having a grump on, so it would have had to be spectacular to impress me that day!

We drove along the coast road, enjoying the sea views and stopped at the DOC campsite in Matata. Tucked behind sand dunes and quiet, we decided to make this home for the night. We got a good shady spot and made camp. Gaz was in the sea shortly after this and we took a long walk along the almost deserted, beautiful white sands.

After a camping culinary feast we shared a 50cent shower... You had to put the coin in the box on an adjacent building at which point water started immediately and lasted 3mins! Then we strolled onto the beach to see the moon rising... The photo doesn't do it justice at all but you get the picture. We hunkered down in a wind swept tent and dozed off in the tent, which Gary described as a tardis!