House Sitting Papamoa - Hahei via Waihi Beach to Auckland

End of our walk from Homunga to Waihi Beach

We arrived at Dale & Don's early November to house sit for them while they headed off to Bali for 10 days to celebrate Dale's 60th. Arriving the day before they flew out to go over looking after their property and next door which they have on Air B&B. There was to be some house keeping with the change over of guests and a few wee jobs to keep Bill out of trouble too.

Wendy & Bill walking around the waterways of Papamoa

Cycling to the Mount through Reserves

Papamoa Beach is a lovely long beach - great for swimming in the summer - great for walking and biking at this time of the year.

We managed to get a couple of good rides in while we stayed. One day we rode down to the Mount and return - 38.6km taking just over 4 hours by the time we took time out to take in the scenery & have a coffee. We rode down to the Mount mainly on back roads and reserves as the main road is pretty busy for bikes. On our return we came back along the beach which was pretty cruisy with our electric bikes taking it easy through the salt water at times. It was a lovely way to  travel and the day couldn't have been better.

Another trip we got in was with brother Wayne when he came down with some quality home brew to share with Bill - to Maketu from Papamoa Beach. This trip was 52.8km return and with a head wind all the way home. Thank goodness for electric bikes! Part of  the trip is on the Papamoa East Connection- 6.8km of lovely new shared pathway running alongside the new motorway, and the rest was on reasonably quiet roads. 

Maketu is a very scenic coastal settlement with a population of just over a thousand people, predominately Maori.

Beautiful day for a ride back from the Mount

It has a very relaxed feel about it. Wayne has recently converted his bike even though he wasn't keen to get one initially. But we have noticed now with them converted, we are riding further, so hopefully that means more exercise too. Certainly some great spots to see.

Replacing a few glass panels kept Bill out of trouble 

A bit of ironing keeps Sheryl out of trouble
(Yes - they are sheets!) 

We had hoped to do a ride with fellow motorhomer Wendy but unfortunately the weather wasn't very obliging so we did an 8 km walk around the area. This part of Papamoa has grown huge with a lot of new development, and with it new shopping centres. Plenty of food places and even a cinema. There is a large wetland passing through behind the area, landscaped to take away excess water in times of downpours but other times looking a lovely feature with walkway/cycleway running along side.

We couldn't come back to Tauranga without a visit to the Dentist - one of my new crown's was giving me a bit of grief which thankfully was easily remedied and without an injection so I was able to enjoy a lovely lunch with Bill down along Tauranga's waterfront afterwards. Tauranga as we have mentioned earlier in another blog has been undergoing quite a transformation in it's city centre with lots of buildings being renovated and a few new ones going up. So last time we were in town it was pretty noisy, thankfully it wasn't today.

After a catch up with D&D on their return from their trip (Dale not that well after picking up a tummy bug) we headed off the next day back to Waihi Beach for a quick catch up with Graeme & Claire who have settled back into routine after their couple of months overseas. 

Lovely Maketu Beach looking back to Papamoa

Waihi Beach was as lovely as ever and with Claire having some guests coming for lunch we headed off for a 4 hour walk that we had on previous visits to Waihi Beach considered but not had the time. Graeme drove us out to Homunga Road where we descended down to Homunga Beach. This was definitely

Caught up with Cuz Warren & new Bike

the right direction, it was pretty steep. After just over 2 hours later it was time to have some lunch on Orokawa Beach, a quick nap and then onto Waihi Beach - a 10.5km walk. Beautiful scenery. Great walk.

Looking down to Homunga Bay and across to Waihi Beach

With only just over a week to go till we head off to Perth for 7 weeks (25th November), we had a couple of days with Sam & Pauline at Hahei Beach. We spent the day taking our time to travel up the East Coast through Whangamata, Tirua and onto Hahei. There are some lovely beaches along this coastline, but not quite warm enough for a swim yet.

 Sam & Pauline use to own and run the General Store which kept them very busy for the last ten years. Now they have it leased out so they have have time to enjoy their lovely home and gardens along with family and grandchildren. It was lovely having the time to catch up (even if the All Blacks did loose to the Irish!)

Bill playing with a Gun again!!

Drinks & Nibbles at Hahei - great transport 

Then it was onto Wayne & Kate's in Auckland once again to get ready for our trip. Pack up the Bus and car and put into storage for the 7 weeks we will be away. And hopefully a cycle or two.

Cycling around Hobsonville Point
now with new walk way open

Delicious Graeme - spoilt once again 😋