Anzac Day - Waihi Beach

Image Barry Jesney

Today is very important  to us in New Zealand and at Waihi Beach as we give thanks to those who have gone before us and some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

We are very fortunate that these men & women went and fought for our freedom - without their sacrifice we would not have the fredoms we enjoy today - we are endetted to their selflessness

We will remember them.

Lest we forget

http://www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/

Waihi & Waihi Beach - The Nugget

Great event on the weekend to showcase Waihi and Waihi Beach. The weather could not have been better although I am sure the athletes would have liked it a bit cooler as the day warmed up.

I was a marshall for the day - out in a cow paddock behind the underground mine next to where all the tailings are dumped behind Baxter Rd. My job was to make athletes aware of the gate they ahd to get themselves and their bikes through and also to make them aware of the drain right on the otherside of the gate they had to head through. I was positioned at the top of  a hill  so I could see athletes coming or not as the case may be.

We had runners and bikers miss the turning - not see signs and end up having to jump fences to get back onto the course, a couple of ladies missed the turn up the hill - "too much talking" they said.
We had competitors who were so relaxed and so comfortable they could have kept going for many more hours - I was in awe - imagine running like that!

Great to see some who walked the course - especially the families who looked like desendants of some nordick tribe complete with their walking sticks(poles)

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

Bistro @ The Falls Retreat - Karangahake Gorge

After our walk in the gorge on the weekend we rewarded ourselves with coffee @the Bistro - the cafe at the Falls Retreat.

The setting seemed quite english - we sat outside under the trees watching the sheep grazing nearby.

The various slices were superbly presented and just delicious and some had the home made ice cream - we could not have asked for more.The coffee just topped off a great day

A great addition to dining in the gorge and in Southern Coromandel that really adds value and quality to the present offer - keep up the great work Brad & Emma!

For more info on dining at Waihi Beach and surrounding areas www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

The Karangahake gorge in April

On Saturday we went with Ali's family to the gorge for an afternoon walk.It was a sunny day and the gorge was magnificent.
It was a great reminder about what a great attraction we have on our doorstep.Ali's family are not from around these parts but they were taken with the natural  beauty on show and the goldmining history around almost every bend - the miners and their families had really hard lives and you could not really imagine how they managed some of the things they had achieved without todays technology and machinery.

We also saw something quite strange but awesome in the Ohinemuri river. After our walk we stopped by the side of the river watching and looking for any sign of trout. What we saw I have never seen before - not far from the bank closest to the road we saw initially 10 - 12 fish just swimming together and appearing to be rollong on the bottom and as we looked there were even more - may be up to 30 - 40 fish in total - they appeared to be spawning but we were advised it was too ealy for spawning. Two fishermen close by tossed lures and nymphs near these fish to try to get some attention but they weren't the slighest bit interested.

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

Island View Tuis - they are back

Just to let you know the Tuis are back and doing what they do best. Not sure where they go or why they appear to go but they disappear sometime in late December early January and reappear about now and it's great to see them back.

To see and hear the Island View tuis check out http://www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/

Breakfasts conversations

Over breakfast recently we had a very awkward conversation initiated by an Australian about race - Maoris, Pacific Islanders all being the same and she could not tell them apart. At the table, along with the Australian guests was a Samoan New Zealand guest with his German partner and ourselves.We explained there were quite a few differences starting with their appearance, accents etc. Our Samoan guest explained the visual differences as he saw them whilst our Australian guest said "they all looked the same to me". We led the conversation away from where it was heading into far more neutral ground.

The conversation was amazingly insensitive -we were suprized at such blunt observations considering the initiator had only just met her fellow guests. It occurred to us maybe it was to do with our well integrated New Zealand population (when compared to some other countries) that we don't ever have the need to remark on it. We have a multicultural society made up from folk from all over the globe and we are all better off because of it. We should be appreciating and enjoying the differences as it adds to the colour and flare of our wonderful country.

To enjoy a wonderful breakfast at Waihi Beach Lodge http://www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/