Fire Destroys Hahei Icon

The double siren that sounded was unusual and the shouting that could be heard from the nearby fire station was unnerving.  Not sure what was happening, I ran out onto our road to see which direction the fire engines were heading, and there I stood in disbelief to see tall flames rising from the direction of The Cove Kitchen and Bar (formerly known as The Grange).


The fire engines and personnel worked frantically to take control, but their efforts were considerably hindered by the uncertainty of the restaurant's gas bottles and subsequent explosions.

The fire fighters did an outstanding job, concentrating on watering down the surrounding buildings, and they continued to work through the night in two hourly shifts.   

There were many onlookers and as many people wanting to help in some way.  Several staff and the owner of the Luna Cafe, and a group of residents supplied refreshments and support in the fire station kitchen, which were greatly appreciated.

Sadly, the iconic building couldn't be saved.  From a local newspaper report, it appears the fire may have been caused by one of the restaurant dryers.

This is a great loss for our small community, especially for the owner and new restaurant owners who had spent much of the winter renovating, and were eagerly awaiting the upcoming busy summer season.


The Church Restaurant, Luna Cafe and Maddens Icecream/Pizza Parlour will be open in the evenings throughout summer, with restaurants also open in nearby Cooks Beach, Flaxmill Bay and Whitianga.

Click here to read more and view video footage.

Northland - Full Of Surprises!

During the quieter winter months, we try to get away (in our nine metre, self-contained motorhome) to discover other parts of N.Z.  For various reasons, neither of us had travelled to the north for over 20years, so we decided to spend three weeks discovering Northland.  The region is dominated by the diversity of its east and west coastlines, and the farming and forestry land that sits between them.

Travelling north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, we drove up the east coast staying in places like Waipu Cove, the Bay of Islands' Kerikeri and Russell, and the more remote Tauranga Bay.  

Waterfront at Russell

Matauri Bay

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

All of this before we drove ourselves to a dead-end at Cape Reinga (the very top of the N.Z.'s North Island)!  Thankfully it was a glorious day and we made the 15minute walk out to the lighthouse.  


For a short time we were the only people there and it was quite breathtaking to see where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meets. It's quite a drive but the road is great.  If you don't feel like driving, coach tours and scenic flights are available from Paihia.




Driving back down, we stopped at the township of Awanui to visit the Ancient Kauri Kingdom.  Here, we met a remarkable man named 'Johnny Chainsaw' and our thirst for 'Kauri Knowledge' also began.

'Johnny Chainsaw' & Pat,
 Ancient Kauri Kingdom, Awanui

Kauri Museum, Matakohe

Ninety Mile Beach was as rugged as we'd expected - totally different to the calmer east coast beaches.  We travelled through Kaitaia and took the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene.  Once through Kaikohe, we travelled to Dargaville and on to the heritage Kauri Museum at Matakohe.  Surprisingly, we spent several hours experiencing the history of the mighty Kauri and Northland's pioneering past.  The museum is really well done and an absolute asset to the area.

Kerry Strongman - Master Carver & Sculptor -
centre with Anita and Pat

Our last 'Kauri Stop' was at Wellsford to visit the gallery of sculptor Kerry Strongman, which was highly recommended to us by 'Johnny Chainsaw'.  We were extremely fortunate to meet the man himself, hear his story and learn about his art.


As we were 'Motorhoming it', our nights were spent in designated camping areas and selected holiday parks.  Our pick was the Russell Top10 Holiday Park - Fabulous hosts and great facilities! 

Whilst we stayed in some wonderful places and enjoyed some great activities, the highlight of this trip was the amazing people we met.  People touched our lives in ways we never expected and definitely weren't ready for!  The hospitality and generosity shown to us was unbelievable and we wish to thank them all for sharing their time, knowledge, experiences and gifts with us.

Mercury Bay Estate Vineyard - Yummo!

Yes, winter has arrived, and although the temperature has dropped a few degrees, we have been fortunate to have some glorious sunny days too.  And, there's no better way than to spend a winter's afternoon than sitting in a vineyard admiring a spectacular view.  

Just 10-15mins drive from our home, is the Mercury Bay Estate Vineyard, located at Cooks Beach.  Turning off the main road, you drive up a steady rise with the vines to your right. Walking into the 'Cellar Door' is quite something else.  The woodwork and cabinetry is outstanding - the type you just want to run your hands back and forth across.  We were greeted by Pam, who proceeded to tell us some history and explain the various wines available, which was extremely helpful for us beginners!

The Cellar Door

Mercury Bay Estate Wines

Before taking our seats outside, we went with Pam's recommendation of the Mussel Chowder and we also chose a tasting of four wines. The view across Mercury Bay was stunning and the warmth of the sun on us was delightful.  And to top it all off, our chowder (accompanied with freshly baked bread) was scrumptious and very filling - certainly no dinner was required that night!  

The service and overall experience was excellent.  We'll be back for sure... Next time we're hoping for a cold, rainy day so we can enjoy the cosy, indoor cabin setting too.

2012 Beach Hop - Day 3 Onemana Beach

The fabulous weather continued this week, much to the delight of ourselves and the thousands of other people who attended the 2012 Beach Hop.  This is an annual event based in Whangamata and is held over five days.  Starting in 2002 as a one-day festival with 6,000 people, this event has grown rapidly to a five-day busy schedule, with over 1,200 registered vehicles and approx. 80,000 attendees.

On Friday morning we drove over to Onemana Beach (approx. 50mins from Hahei) for the "Castrol Edge Thundercruise" and these Rock 'n Rollers certainly didn't disappoint!  The workmanship and countless hours of dedication was amazing.  A great event and we wish to thank all of you involved for sharing these treasures with us!

Catch This!

This week, it seems, summer finally decided to turn up in Hahei!  We've had four fabulous days in a row now, two of which we've been fortunate enough to spend fishing.

We had a near perfect day on Tuesday, where we caught mostly Snapper and Trevally, although we were hampered for some time by an irritating three metre shark.

He must've have thought it quite fun to continually circle the boat, then try eat our fish as we brought them to the surface, before finally attacking Pat's line, hooks, bait and Tevally all at once!  Shark 1 - Pat 0.

Our time out on Wednesday wasn't as long as the previous day, but Pat's skill and expertise shone once again with him catching many of his favoured Tarakihi.  Hmmm, there's nothing quite like fresh fish for dinner.

The Nukes Play Eggscentric

The Nukes, a ukulele trio from West Auckland, played at the Eggscentric Cafe in Flaxmill Bay recently and it was a superb night!  Not knowing what to expect, we went along with open minds and we were blown away by these guys - so much so that we bought their cd!

The trio of David Parker, Ben Collier and David Thiele (affectionately known as 'Snapper') are highly entertaining and their humour, fabulous lyrics and instrumental talents combine for a fantastic night out.

If the opportunity arises to see these guys play live, don't miss it.  For more band info and their upcoming gigs, click here.

Megan & James - Engaged!

Late last week we had a lovely couple from Annapolis staying with us.  After an eventful day and their evening meal, they decided to take a walk along Hahei Beach.  We commented to them on what a beautiful evening it was and that it was a very romantic thing to do.  Little did we know that James had bigger plans in mind… he was about to propose to Megan!

We were thrilled to share their news the next morning that Megan had said ‘Yes!’.  And, after a week of travelling (including a three day stopover in Hawaii), James admitted to being relieved at handing over the ring.

We wish them a lifetime of love, laughter, good health and happiness together!