The Porch Kitchen & Bar - Semi Finalists for 2011 Monteiths Wild Food & Beer

Photo credit Peter Levshin

Congratulations to The Porch Kitchen & Bar for making the semi finalist in the 2011 Monteiths Wild Food & Beer challenge. Top effort Riaan, Carla and your team at the Porch.

It is, great for the Porch and Waihi Beach and it shows real consistency in the quality of food provided. We are very lucky here at Waihi Beach with the options available and the quality of what we have to offer from all our eateries.

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

Waihi Beach and honeymooners

Orakawa Bay

Waihi Beach has done it again - last night we had honeymooners from  Madrid ,Spain on their way back to Auckland and then on to Sydney Australia -then home.We knew we had a booking but it was not until we spoke to the young couple did we realize they were on their honeymoon

There is something magic about the beach that attracts guests/couples and it works its wonderful magic spell - these guys will be back - only sorry they had one night in their 3 week New Zealand stay.

For more info on honeymoons www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/specials.html

Waihi Beach - and nature

If we ever needed an example of nature doing its thing the above images show sand having been taken away from the Mako Rd entrance. You used to walk down the sand to the beach but now the entrance strainers are just hanging there with a 3 to 4 foot drop on to the beach and this is not just at the entrance but quite away along the beach on both sides of the entrance so probably thousands of metres of sand disappearing and in a month or two it will be back.

You can't beat nature and it will be doing it's thing long after we are gone.

Still our guests last night really appreciated the beach and what it had to offer for their evening and morning walks. We have a pretty special beach and we were pleased to be able to share it with our guests from the US

For more information on Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz 

Waihi Beach - publicity in NZ Herald on the weekend

Photo credit - Mike Hill Photography

It has started to work already - some businesses at the beach have had a booking already following the weekends article in the NZ Herald's The Weekender and it has only been a few days - just shows what good publicity can do.

For those who have not seen the article check out

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10740184

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

Waihi Beach - is not Waihi

Great article today in the NZ Herald - The Weekender on Waihi Beach - pity about the title - the article  is on Waihi Beach but the title says Waihi.

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10740184

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

Waihi Beach Island view Cone watch

After a couple of recent days of strong winds and rain I can report that the top cone is still in place - relatively un moved.

But the other cone has been really blown about and is lucky to be still up the tree  as it has been blown from side to side

                                                                                                                                                                          

  

Op Shop Ball feedback

We are looking for feedback on the 2011 Op Shop Ball held recently.

Your thoughts on everything from the hall, theme, band, supper, bar prices and offerings, photos, ball ticket prices etc

We are happy to take constructive ideas or suggestions back to the committee.


To find out more about activities at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Rubbish at Waihi Beach

Its holiday time again and we have already rubbish in a green bag left at the bin adjacent to the beach entrance at Mako Rd. It is the repsonsibility of the homeowners, who rent out their home, and the visitors who rent, to ensure rubbish goes out on the right day and gets collected.

What happens next is a dog will get at the rubbish and get blamed for the mess - sorry but it ain't the dogs fault as it should never have been there in the first place.

Come on people - if we all take responsibility for our own rubbish the beach will look pristine!

For more information on Wiahi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz 

The Porch Kitchen & Bar - Finalists for 2011 Monteiths Wild Food & Beer

Congratulation to the Porch Kitchen & Bar at Waihi Beach for again being finalists for 2011 Monteiths Wild Food & Beer challenge. Great work and consistency shown here as this is the third year in a row as finalists for the whole of New Zealand.

Fingers crossed as defending champions you can defend your title.
For more info on cafes at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Hauraki Rail trail

                                     

It is pleasing to see the Hauraki Rail Trail progressing with stage 1 and on target to open later this year hopefully in time for RWC 2011. Regardless of when the trail opens it will be a great asset to the Southern Coromandel region including Waihi Beach.It will also add to the shoulder season as clients can ride pretty much all year round but the ideal times will probably be from September to May.
In what we have learned so far stage 1 is a 2 day ride and stage 2 will add a 3rd day to the ride.The trail can be accessed from Thames, Paeroa, Waihi or Te Aroha - watch this space for more details.

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

Waihi Beach Op Shop Ball - the good & the bad

One of the many great paintings at the

Op Shop Ball 2011

The 2011 Op Shop Ball was a resounding succeess with special mention to the team who helped make the night the success it was. The months of meticulous planning, set up, the night itself and the clean up were all a great compliment to the team involved - great effort and thanks to the wider Waihi Beach Community for your support.

A couple of not so good items - would the person who took the fan from the Balinese chill out area please return it as we need to give it back to the owner who loaned it to us for the night otherwise we need to replace it at a cost of over $100.00 and thats much needed funds not going to Christchurch. Would the low life that smashed a windscreen of a car parked over behind the school front up and replace it for the car owner - you know who you are. In both cases you wonder where people get off pulling these stunts because they aren't funny let alone responsible and someone else always suffers.

We are not going to let a few dumb stunts ruin what was an outstanding night - roll on 2012

Waihi Beach - Op Shop Ball 2011

We had a wonderful occassion in Waihi Beach last night in the major local fundraiser for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund. The Waihi Beach Community centre was fantastically well decorated by the Op Shop ball creative team and was a site to behold. The layout was spectacular and colourful and not  a stone was left unturned to make the night special for Waihi Beach.

The international theme  for the ball was well picked up by all the attendees , young and old, who got into the spirit and came in their outfits/frocks/team uniforms/regailia - just an eglectic mix of colour and fun.

The Tim Armstrong band were just the ticket - as soon as they started playing the dance floor was full and crowded and their play list had most on the dance floor at some stage during the night and some all night.

Thanks to all those who helped in the set up prior to and the clean up today.

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

Op Shop Ball 2011 - Waihi Beach creativity

We are blessed with creative women at the beach and this years Op Shop Ball is a prime example of their capabilities. With only hours to go before the ball starts the finishing touches are being applied and the hall looks  a million dollars with an eglectic mix of colour and creativity - well done to all.

For more information on what to see & do at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html 

The Blues - semifinal 1 game too many

                                        

I have to admit that the last weekends game against the Reds in Brisbane was1 game to many for the Blues. The best team by far on the night was the Reds and the Blues whilst they tried hard, especially in the forwards, were beaten all over the park.

The Reds back play was great to watchas the ball did the work and players were put into space.Contrast that to the Blues backs who looked like they had never met before and only assembled in the car park before the game - poor passing behind or at the man instead of infront of the man was a constant killer as was the lack of imagination in finding gaps to run into - the Reds had no problem with either.

For us few Blues supporters at the beach it has been a better year than in the past but there are still huge question marks over positions 8,9,10, 12,and 13.

Lets all get behind the Crusaders this weekend.