Home from Home

Today’s plan is to head further down the Northland east coast to the DOC freedom campsite at Uretiti on Bream bay.

On leaving Russell yesterday’s sunshine is replaced by a grey overcast day and we speedily make our way through Whangarei with a short stop to look at the waterfall.

Impressive falls

On approaching Uretiti Beach the DOC campsite looks pretty full, but no matter as our plans have changed anyway.  Mrs M has been reading the big guide book and has seen that nearby Waipu is a little Scottish enclave and we decide to head there for a mooch about.

On entering the town we park under the Tsunami Alert warning sign and as we switch the engine off we are greeted by a loud air-raid type alarm!  Not wanting to be alarmist but somewhat surprised we decide to do what the locals do and just act normal.  Minutes later the Fire engine screams past us and we read the small print on the sign that says the Fire emergency alarm is also the Tsunami alarm but just a different tone.  Phew!

We then head into a lovely café, fully decked out in tartan, for a spot of carrot cake and some tea.  We then head past the Caledonian Park 

Just a flavour of Waipu Scottishness

(home of the WaipuAnnual Highland Games) and into the town Museum.  The Museum is fascinating and tells the story of Norman McLeod who left Scotland in 1817 and came to New Zealand via Nova Scotia, Cape Town, Melbourne.

The Route

The towns people are still proud of their Scottish heritage and we spoke to the nice ladies at the Museum about some of their family history and their own visits to the UK.

Its then off to check into the campsite and a quick bit of jumping in the rather cold waves on BreamBay.

Looks like Arran in the background !

Mr M