70's style car here at Waihi Beach

We had the priviledge of seeing up close a 350 GTI car over the weekend and it was in mint condition. For their owners it was their pride and joy and their kids thought it was pretty cool too. Looking under the bonnet was something else - I have never seen an engine that pristine looking.

These cars were the kings of Bathurst in the 70's and 80's so have real history with petrol heads. For a non petrol head I just admire the way the cars look -all the chrome & mags sparkling and the car looking cool with the thud thud of the engine - just great !

We advised the owners about the pre Beach Hop day up in Waihi in mid March so may be they will get to show it off there - it sounded great and looked a picture.

For more info on how to get to Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/map.html

Kiwis achieving in Sport

It was great watching the Hallberg awards tonight - it made me proud to be a Kiwi. For a little nation we punch above our weight and perform really well on the world stage it seems in what ever sport we have a crack at.
Doesn't matter wether its paraolympic skiing or snow boarding, cycling, netball, softball, hockey, rowing, rugby and rugby league, swimming, mountainbiking, athletics, yachting, basketball - the list goes on and who would forget the All Whites at this years world cup in Africa - unbelievable for such a rugby mad  and tiny nation. It seems not a month goes by when reading the paper we read about yet another kiwi doing well somewhere on the world stage

Kia Kaha to all the sports people - you make us New Zealanders all proud. Watching the awards tonight really drives home how successful we are as a country and what a great environment we have for sports people in New Zealand.

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

Tourists - treat them as customers

In recent days we have had guests that have had appalling treatment from hotels and rental car companies when they have arrived in Auckland.

In one instance a hotel had guests in a room above a night club  and there was only 1 window that opened into what turned out to be the hotel gym. When the guests were woken @ 2.30am with the noise from the night club after much protesting they were shifted  many floors away  to a room where they could not hear the noise and had regulation windows. My question is why they were ever put into the room as it was right above a the night club and was always going to be a problem when they could easily have been put into the room the ended up in and no hassles - our guests do not have nice things to say about the hotel.

In another instance our guests arrived at the rental car company at the international airport in Auckland- a nationwide company - and asked for a map only to be told they had run out. A similar answer  was given when asked if they could hire a GPS - we've run out - people arriving in a country where they don't know their way round and they are offerred no help. The rental car company did not even accompany the guests to their car for the initial inspection- just very poor customer service all round.

Sometimes companies forget who their customers are!

For more information on Waihi Beach and how to get here www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/map.html 

Torpedo fishing

Put the torpedo out last Thursday for the first time in about 6 weeks to try to get some fresh fish. Went with our neighbours and had fish n chips for dinner and then had a few quite ones while we waited for the fish to do their thing.

Long story short - there was a little sea lettuce, quite a bit of bait taken and nothing in the first lot of traces and 3 keepers on the last few hooks - snapper. We had put out the line for 20 minutes and hoped for the best.The fish tasted great and it is even better that we caught it our selves. Not the largest fish we have ever caught - just pannies but good to eat just the same!

There have been several others down on the beach at various times and they all seem to have been doing ok so the fish are around.

For more info on torpedo fishing http://www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Waihi Beach cones

You would think the Waihi Leader would be up to speed on things happening in our piece of paradise here at Waihi Beach. It took them all of January to mention the cones & publish a photo - they had been up nearly a month and may I say they are still up - having survived two storms they are still there in the sky line.

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

Fishing - Waihi Beach

Great to see that Brian Harrison of Waihi Beach Charters is doing ok I have seen his boat Chalky 1 go past several times in the last week or so therefore I am asuming he's doing ok - great for Waihi Beach

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

                                         

Waihi Beach- top efforts by visiting guests

Had a couple of guests recently who did their bit in an emergency by helping two old guys who had trouble getting down the last bit of the walk back to the north end of the beach from Orakawa. One guy was a little delerious and the other a little frail and one of them fell on to rocks and the other fell on top of them - quite a scene.

Our florence nighingale and her hubby were on the scene as they were in behind them on the walk and helped them by arranging for an ambulance and helping hold bandages in place until the medics arrived.

They were very animated when they got back to our place reliving their efforts - pleased they had been able to help.

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