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

Brian Harrison - Waihi Beach Charters RIP

Juat a note to say how sad we are at the recent passing of Brian Harrison from Waihi Beach charters.

Full of the joys of life and a real character Brian retired from teaching to take up his real love - fishing and  after 30 years of fishing in the area he knew where and when to fish - seldom did he come home with out a feed.

His arrival on the scene here at Waihi Beach was great for tourism as finally we had a fishing charter guy who knew what he was doing, he was safe & reliable and he was someone we could work with - unfortunately not for long.

We extend our sympathy to Judy and her family - Kia Kaha

Activities at Waihi Beach

Guests at Waihi Beach Lodge have all sorts of options available for them to do while they are in our piece of paradise here at Waihi Beach.

They can

• walk in the Karangahake gorge and see gold mining history from the late 1800's 
• walk over to Orakawa Bay & back
• walk from Homunga back to Waihi Beach
• they can visit the gold mine up in Waihi or take a mine tour.
• picnic up at Anzac Bay or on the beach
• they can take a fishing charter and go fishing for the day
• play golf at one of the local courses
• chill and relax on the beach
• they can also hire a Harley or be a pillion passenger and do a trip around The Coromandel

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

Rena Oil Spill

Image Mike Hill photography

Relieved that the spill is being contained at this stage and fortunate the spill is not heading our way.

Great to see that the rate of getting the oil off the boat has improved markedly.The salvos and experts are doing a great job in trying conditions.

Huge thanks to all the volunteers who have given up their time and expertise to date to help clear the beaches and the ocean/streams of oil.

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

Rena Oil Spill update

Went to a meeting yesterday in Waihi Beach to get the latest on the oil spill.
The head of Maritime NZ  covered of how the grounding happened and where the oil was on the boat - hundreds of tons in about 5 different places and a real mission to get off the boat and totally weather dependent.Maritime NZ had done imaging to plot where the oil was likely to go and whew the weather and tide gods are smiling on us here at Waihi Beach.

Also at the meeting was a marine scientists from Waikato University who covered off the effects to bird life, the echo system and fish and shell fish.

Great to hear from both that the priority is oil, oil oil and getting it off the boat.

At Waihi Beach we are sooo lucky the currents and tides are taking the oil spill south towards Whakatane.Doesn't sound right saying we are lucky at some other regions expense - probably fortunate is a better word.

It was great to see at the meeting groups taking ownership - the coastguard, the local marae, the boating club  all doing their bit to look after our beach and our waters watching for any signs of oil.

For more information on the oil spill www.waihibeachinfo.co.nz/waihi_beach_community_info.html

The Rena grounding and Waihi Beach

The Rena grounding at the Astrolab reef is a disaster for fishos and divers alike not to mention the communities up and down the BOP coast who are potentail recipients of the spilled oil that is starting to darken our coastal shores. The echological damage to the reef and the surrounding coast will not be able to be adequately measured with time being the only healer.

For locals who have time to lend a hand check out the webpage below for your options www.waihibeachinfo.co.nz/waihi_beach_community_info.html

Astrolabe reef is a favourite fishing spot of  Ali  - she caught a large kingfish there (65kg's)  back in the day and has fished there many times with great memories of good fishing - will it ever be the same again? Will it ever recover?

What about the oil that is leaking onto our coastline - how are we placed to deal with that. If it reaches Waihi Beach do we have a plan to deal with it - I am not aware of a plan - I'd love to know what it is if there is one.

We all know what a paradise we have here at the beach and what we think of our marvellous coastline - lets hope we don't have to have to clean oil from our beaches this far north. You only need to look at the BP spill in the US and the damage done to the nearby coast, marine life,birds and fishing to get an idea of the scale potentially of what we have on our doorstep!

Waihi Beach & RWC 2011

                                   


We had the opportunity to host a visiting Italian photographer Sergio Ramazzotti covering off stories for Tourism New Zealand yesterday and this morning. He has done 3 stories - The Whaka carver up in Doubtless Bay, Art Deco in Hawkes Bay and the Black Ferns.

He was here at Waihi Beach to shoot some more images for the Black Ferns story by showing images of kiwis playing rugby at grass roots level and so off we went to watch Waihi Athletic train last night up in Waihi. He snapped his shots from almost anywhere and after an hour or so he was done saying he had what he needed.

His last shot was of a young guy leaving training in his bare feet with his training bag over his shoulder heading home - he thought that was priceless. I had to explain to him about kiwi kids growing up always being in bare feet more so in summer and when it rains

This morning around 7 ish we went torpedo fishing off the beach and luckily we were able to have fresh fish for a late breakfast as a kawhai took one for the team and became our only success.

For more on RWC 2011 and Waihi Beach Lodge www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Waihi Beach & Great Barrier

                                            

Whilst we were on the Barrier last weekend they were running a fishing competition "the Black Jug" where entrants put in $100.00 each and the person with the heaviest fish took the total prize money - in this case approx $3,500.00

The heaviest fish was 19.5kg snapper but there were also 15kg snapper unfortunately my phone camera shots do not show up that well so I can't show you the fish). The heaviest king fish was 15.5 kg caught on a 4kg baitrunner rod & reel by a young woman - amazing feat to bring in that fish.

I am sure the Barrier would give Mayor Island a run for it's money fish wise - something about the deep blue water.If you want to find out more about fishing at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Waihi Beach early morning sky

Woke up yesterday morning to a real moody skyline. Not so bad yet but signs of whats to come if the forecasters get it right. If you look closely there are 3 or 4 boats fishing and the weather did not seem to worry them much and the sea was really flat - perfect for an early morning fish.

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

Waihi Beach early morning

I had not been down on the beach in the early morning for some time until this morning. We took some guests from the USA torpedo fishing and what a morning it was. The sun had just come up and was peaking through - and initially very few people on the beach but as the morning went on more and more were either walking  surfing or swimming. It was so peaceful and with it being high tide the waves were crashing near the shore  and made for a fantastic morning.

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

Marlin caught on the way to Mayor Island

This magnificent 120kg marlin  was caught yesterday by a local on the way out to the Mayor.
From reports the fight to land this marlin took only approx 30 minutes and the happy angler was over the moon and the happy anglers first marlin.

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

Waihi Beach - a great place to get married

                       Orakawa Bay

  Over the summer period it seems there are always weddings happening in and around the beach. It is not un common for there to be 5 or 6 weddings here on any one weekend and its not hard to understand why.'

At Waihi Beach we have a great beach - some get married on it, we have photographers like Mike Hill from Mike Hill photography - he takes such natural shots, we have a range of venues - The Secret Garden, The Porch Kitchen & Bar, The Flat White Cafe, The RSA, The Bowentown Boating club and the Waihi Beach Community Centre - great options for weddings at the beach.

Additionally we have a great choice of caterers, hair & make up, florists etc that help make that special day one to remember and we can accommodate their families & guests.

For more information on Honeymoon packages
www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/specials.html

Waihi Beach Guests

It is amazing who we get to come and stay as guests - recently we have had mountain rangers, tourism promoters, accountants, financiers, pharmacists, marine technical sales people, gold mine technical folk, managing directors, nurses, spooks and wifes of spooks- nudge nudge wink wink - and an engineer who worked on a nuclear reactor on various submarines chasing Russians all over the oceans for 3 months at a time, as well as insurance claims advisers - the whole gambit - that is without covering off lawyers, policeman  and normal everyday roles.etc

This is what turned up earlier this week at our place - $175,000 and it will all be yours.

For more info on waht you can do at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.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

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 - whats swimming in our waters

The image above is from Whitianga where recently this shark was spotted - we just need to remember this is their domain and show them respect. Recently I noticed that the north end of Wiahi Beach was closed for 3/4 of an hour while a shark was swimming too close for comfort - this is the respect they need to get and they will move on and remember it's their domain

Before Xmas I was out fishing for the day with some friends on Brian Harrisons boat Chalky 1 from Waihi Beach Charters   - out near Mayor Island we saw 3 sharks of various sizes in total - one about the same size as our boat and another we had hooked on a line for a while. They were not interested in us - curious but nothing more and after a little time they swam away.
Foe more info on activities at Waihi Beach www.waihibeachlodge.co.nz/activities.html

Local charter business starting to get support

Had a ring from Brian Harrison from Waihi Beach charters the other day thanking me for a piece I wrote about his new charter venture - taking fishing and scenic charters from Waihi Beach. It seems some keen fishing  guys had seen the blog and followed up with him and booked the charter , went out to the Mayor , caught fish and had a great day.

It is great to see a new operater getting support from the many visitors to Waihi Beach and the surrounding areas and it is up to all of the to tourism busineses at the beach to support their activities. It is the greater good that is important - we need to see the big picture and then as individual busineses we will all get a slice of the larger cake.

It was a little humbling getting the call - I was just doing my bit and supporting an activity that we need to thrive here at the beach - great to hear that Waihi Beach charters is getting doing well.

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

Activities at Waihi Beach

I am amazed at the list of activities that are taking place/have taken place at the beach over the Xmas/New Year holiday period

• Various bands played at the pub - Jimmy Barnes, Shapeshifter, Fat Freddys Drop, Black seeds etc
• Fun run - Bowentown to the surf club
• Sports Day on New Years day in front of the surf club
• Sand castle building competition
• Waihi Beach Village Fishing competition
• Open Days at Athenree house
• Miss Waihi Beach
• Fresh Produce market every sunday  9am - 12 noonish opposite the Beach Pub
• Spiritual & Hollistsic fair
• Gypsy Fair
• Ukulele lessons
• Thundercats
• Newmont Waihi Gold 4 day golf tournament at the Waihi Golf Club

I may have missed some out but great for Waihi Beach when you consider there are other activities that go on all year round!

• Mini golf
• Gold Mine tours
• Walks to Orakawa & Haumaunga bays
• Fishing charters
• Kayaking to the gloworm caves
• Harley tours
• Swimming with the dolphins
• Train rides to Waikino station
• Indoor and outdoor bowls

 And much more

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

Honest Kiwis at Waihi Beach

A friend of Ali's called in last night to report his torpedo missing. A keen fisherman who regularly fishes at Waihi Beach - put out his torpedo and line but on retreaval all he got back was his line and 8 hooks and his torpedo missing. We advised him to alert the coastguard and the police just in case there was a torpedo handed in.

Great news this morning he called in again to report some one further along Seaforth Rd had found his torpedo washed up on the beach - found his ID inside the torpedo and contacted him - good news all round - there are plenty of honest people about - you don't hear of the often enough.

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

Mayor Island

                                         

Yesterday I went on a fishing trip to Mayor Island with a few neighbours and had a great time, The Mayor (Tuhua)  was fantastic - there in all its glory and waters around it just so clear. At one stage there we could see twenty odd feet in the water and watch the blue and pink maumau swim around. But it was a reminder what a great asset we have out there - how beautiful and preserved the island is and surrounded by clear clean waters.The pohutakawas were not out yet - some patehes were seen but more to come over the next month when the Mayor will be surrounded with red flowers.

The fishing wasn't too bad either - we landed terakihi, gurnard, grandady hapuka in great numbers, porae, blue cod, pink maumau, mackeral and a couple of snapper that were too small and had to go back. We also saw several sharks - one as big as two - two and a half meters - remember that this is their domain.

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