Fishing - Waihi Beach

Great news - we have finally a fishing charter operater working out of Waihi Beach and not only that he is reknown for catching fish. Brian Harrison has fished the local waters for over 30 years and knows the ins and outs of fishing and how to catch them.We have been waiting for quite sometime to get a local charter guy who knows the area well and Brian comes with very good references from the locals who can attest to his ability to find and catch fish.

Brian is surveyed and ready to go. His boat can take up to 6 fishing and he will provide bait and tackle if required.

Brain will also do Eco tours in the inner harbour - his boat can take up to 8 persons for the Eco tour where Brian will relay the local history of the area including maori history - Look for more details in the very near future on www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Maori Tourism - new product Whiritoa & Mataora

Mataora - The Living Face

Mataora - The Living Face, the story of Tamoko and Maori Arts & Crafts

On Saturday we went to experience a new product soon to be launched in Southern Coromandel specifically a product based around Whiritoa and Mataura.

Whiritoa means weaving warrior in Maori and is a beach with a white sandy foreshore. I had been to Whiritoa several times but never down on to the beach and never up into the bush and along the hill tops. It was amazing looking down into the water, looking at the sea caves and out to Mayor Island and further north the Alderman Islands.

We finished our trip with a visit to Mataura and lunch looking down on Mataura Bay - maori land that only tribe members get to visit. The view was something else - picture post card stuff that really caught the eye.

We learned during the day about the local area maori  - customs, history, culture & mythology and their relationship to the sea, the land  and with the underworld- history of the area told like never before.

We look forward to being able to promote this product in the future to our guests.
Check out www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html for more information in the future.

Visit to the Waihinui Marae in Waihi

Last night Ali & I went with other tourism operaters in our area to the Waihinui Marae in Waihi for a Marae expeience and it was such great theatre. Lots of history,ceremony, spiritualism and protocols - all in all a moving & marvellous experience.

The kapahaka group was really good  and very entertaining with everything from songs, waiatas, hakas to poi dancing and stiks. The kakhaka group had uncles & auntys brothers and sisters as well as mums and kids - a great family showing.

We look forward to being able to offer the marae visit as one of the local tourism products here in Southern Coromandel.

For more information on activities in our area www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Pike River Coal Mine Disaster

The recent tragic disaster at the Pike River Coal Mine in Greymouth has driven home the dangers that go with mining  and the everyday dangers that miners have to face.

Those of us not in mining take it for granted - miners do what they do both above and below the ground but in no way are we aware of the real dangers they face on a daily basis. Only with a tregedy like Pike River do we really learn the risks they willingly face on a daily basis

In Waihi there is an opencast gold mine and an underground gold mine so there are miners here that can relate in a small way to those in Greymouth especially those who go underground. The Newmont Waihi  mine rescue team was on standby to help if required and the mine here in Waihi is as important to Waihi as it is to those at Pike River.www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Kia kaha -our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the lost miners.

Waihi - Adventure Tourism

Newmont Waihi Gold, Red Bull and Vision Waihi Trust are teaming up to hold an event on December 4th in the open cast mine in Waihi. On December 4th the best down hill mountain bikers will meet shoulder to shoulder in a 250 m vertical spiralling descent to the bottom of the Waihi open pit goldmine.The unforgiving nature of the rock base and man made obstacles makes this course one of the most challenging down hill and free ride mountain bike events ever to be seen in New Zealand.

There will be extensive viewing for the public around the iconic Cornish pumphouse as well as limited granstand seating.Finals are expected to be between 4 - 4.30pm approx

For more information on the Martha Gold mine in Waihi and gold mine tours www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Maori Tourism Product - Waihi & Waihi Beach

It is really exciting that we are going on a couple of  famils this weekend to see the potential launch of 3 Maori Tourism  products in the Southern Coromandel - specifically in the Waihi/ Waihi Beach areas. While we have been in business for 5 years we have only been able to advise guests as to what they can see and expect when they visit Rotorua  for their stay or day trip but to have potential products on our door step in great not only for guests but also the local Maori communities and ourselves.

It willl be great to be able to share stories about the local Maori history of our area and give guests some understanding about Maori culture first hand.If we can help sell these 3 new products and get them established we should be able to increase the nights stay at Waihi Beach Lodge which is a win  for the local product and ourselves.

To check out other activities at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Something different at a comedy show in Tauranga

Saw a great  show in Tauranga - a comedy act by Jim Owen - an Irish comedian based in Melbourne - a show about nothing specifically yet we could all relate to it - just everyday things like putting out the rubbish naked and making the bed! How to get the duvet  cover on by climbing into the cover and pulling the duvet through like spiderman - doesn't everyone do it that way - it's the quickest!

Anyway just before the show starts a girl in front of us took out a small toothbrush and started cleaning her teeth - quite oblivious to the rest of us and carried on for the next 5 - 7 minutes or so - never seen anything like it in my life. The toothbrush was one  you might get on an aeroplane or similar

For more information on activities at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Waihi Beach Sign coming from Waihi to Waihi Beach

Have had an interesting time dealing with WBOPDC who in turn deal with Transit Waikato over wanting to get a sign up on SH2 coming from Waihi towards Waihi Beach advising passing motorists that Waihi Beach exists. I have been dealing with WBOPDC who are very supportive of our request and are putting their weight in behind our submission to get a sign. Transit Waikato however have been very negative about having a sign even to the point of saying their is no economic benefit to Hauraki of having a sign on SH2.
Whoever wrote the letter saying that has their head in the sand - any tourist we can keep in the area for a night longer benefits the region by spending more on food, accommodation, meals, petrol and activities  etc and with the Hauraki district having petrol stations, supermarkets, cafes and activities they are one major benefactor - I was wrong in thinking it was obvious to everyone - obviously not!

To find Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/map.html

International Guests

Image from Mike Hill Photography

Just had a couple from Russia arrive this morning after a thirty three hour flight and last night we had guests from Sao Paulo Brazil - got me thinking about just how far guests actually come to New Zealand and specifically Waihi Beach. We talk about being along way from Europe and we really are but we notice it more especially when it's our turn to travel.

We get amazing compliments about Waihi Beach & New Zealand in general - 'Kiwis are nicer than Australians and is a much nicer country' was one we had this morning - not sure if we lost something in translation or thats what they meant.

Our Russian guests have been saving/planning the trip for 5 years and are here in NZ for 2 weeks. They are not letting the long trip get in their way - already they are off walking the beach and planning tom have a swim -we think its too cold but they explained that it's warm compared to St Petersberg - they swam in the Ohinemuri river on the way through the Karangahake gorge and thought it was warm.

Our guests from Sao Paulo had been to Australia to see their grand children once before and this time they included a week in New Zealand - they will be back too as they loved what they saw.

To see more great Waihi Beach photos - www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/photos.html

Waihi Beach - a hidden jewel

Had 2 different lots of visitors this week - the first a friend over for the World rowing championships at Karipiro and the other a group of agents from Australia  - both seeing Waihi Beach for the first time. Thieir comments were enlightening.

My friend could not believe Waihi Beach and all its beauty - he is a kiwi living and working in Australia and he was ina we what we have to offer here as well as commenting on how convenient the central location was to get to other towns ie Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga or Karipiro etc

The agents - 3 kiwis living in Australia and the other an Aussie - they all sell New Zealand from Australia - thought all we had here was a beach but after we gave them a quick tour and showed them a small sample of other activities now believe that guests could easily spend 2 to 3 nights at Waihi Beach on their travel around New Zealand - music to our ears.

To see what other guests have to say about Waihi Beach Lodge www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/guestbook.html

Herbs and summer veges

Managed to dig the ground over last week and we are ready to go - well sort of. Just need a well thought out plan as to what goes where.Have also added compost from the compost bin - been fermenting for 6 - 12 months so looks reasonable so hopefully will do the job.

We have 2 small garden patches so I think we'll have the herbs, capsicum etc at the back door patch where we can get easy access and the balance of our plants - lettuces and spring onions down in our other patch behind the garage.Ali may have other summer veges she wants to plant - will check when she get's home.

Out cherry, tomatoes have been planted for a wee while - at least a week or so as have parsley and chives. Will co plant (companion planting they call it now) basil along side the cherry tomatoesas apparently tomatoes love basil. I know with cooking that basil really adds to tomatoes but didn't know about the companion planting.

For more information on eating out at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html