Usual morning routine, then headed south on SH1. Turned off the main road to find another LotR filming location at Waitare Forest. Drove through the small town, and onto the beach ("this beach is a road" - sign). One rapid U turn later, and we were parked on dry land & playing on the driftwood covered beach. On the way back to the car, saw a sign about the shipwreck of the Hyderbad, 1.8km south, along the beach. Lovely walk - found several nicely rounded pieces of wood (possible pendants) & the kids discovered various fishy corpses - most notably a couple of very small sharks that looked like they have been "finned" (coincidentally, the subject of a documentary the previous evening). A few protruding ribs of the ship are still visible, slowly rusting and being buried by the sand dunes.

Then to the forest for a short walk through the pines, being careful to avoid the huge logging trucks, hurtling along the forest roads!

Another 20km to Otaki, & the turning to Otaki Falls (another filming location!). 10km drive along unsealed roads with very precipitous edges and a couple of extremely sharp curves! Beautiful picnic area at Boielle Flat where we ate lunch, then explored the bridge over the river & discovered a DoC hut, in the middle of no where! Spent a fun 20 mins looking around the very basic hut, and chopping wood!

Eventually dragged ourselves away, & the drive back to Otaki in about 5 mins, whereas the journey there seemed to take forever! Quick stop at Shields Flat on the way out - Historic Reserve, & home of a farming family & a lot of dry stone walls!

Another 20km to Paekakariki & a holiday camp cabin ($85) - dbl & bunk, own kitchen, shared shower & loo. The kids immediately gravitated to the play area ("there are two trampolines!")

Before tea, walked across the Queen Elizabeth Park to the beach for a short walk - kids played in the stream, & inevitably got soaked!