First stop, Bucklands Beach. Hidden behind suburbia, Bucklands is a quiet pebble beach only 50m from the roadside. There is a dairy for snacks and a few restaurants and toilet facilities nearby. We happily tucked into our buns and cokes and enjoyed the views.
Next stop was Eastern beach nearby. With a large car park, toilets and picnicking facilities, this must be a summertime favourite. In early September though, we had the beach to ourselves and especially enjoyed the shade of a large tree.
With lunchtime approaching, we took a longer drive to Maraetai where we stopped to have fish and chips for lunch from the beachside cafe. The seagulls seemed keen on our food too! Maraetai is a great beach to visit, with picnic spots, childrens' playground and boating facilities nearby.
Our final stop was Beachlands. What better way to end the day than with an ice cream! We drove to the fascinating marina and walked around to see the boats. The local dairy stocks ice-creams and there are cafes and restaurants to enjoy the local feeds and views. On our way back to the car we watched the boats being stored in the yard with a huge crane - stacking boat upon boat.
Such a splendid day! Can only imagine what it's like in the summertime!
