Kids up first! Gwyn made them crumpets for breakfast, much to their delight! Less delighted to do school work with L while D packed car! Eventually set off just after 12 after saying goodbye to Gwyn, and set off west.

First stop: Titirangi for food shopping and to buy a NZ road map. Then drove down to the beach (black sand!) where there was a kids playground. After 20 mins playing, followed the scenic drive to Arataki Information Centre. Lots of information displayed & great views of forest and coastline. Picked up info leaflets about the Waitahere Ranges Regional Park. J rather intrigued by the carved "totem pole" outside the centre!

Then drove down very steep and windy road to Karekare. Walked through the Pohutukawa Glade walk, across the black sand dunes, to the beach - looked like something from another planet! Walked along the beach towards "The Watchman" (rocky headland) whilst watching the huge waves crashing in to shore, and the rain clouds racing inland, towards us. Realised that we were going to have to turn around, just before we got to The Watchman, and it started to pour down, almost horizontally, for about 10 mins. All had waterproof jackets on, but still got soaked!

By the time that we had returned to the car park, the rain had passed, and the sun was shining! Photographed the Karekare Pou (carved area guardian statue), then short walk to Karekare Falls, before driving to Piha.

Tiny cabin ($50) at the Piha Domain Camp, with large shared kitchen area (very slow twin hob cooker!) - took two hours to make beef & ginger in cream with boiled spuds! Used the cabin's tiny fan heater to try to dry out our sodden shoes, thus turning the cabin into a sauna for the night!