These pictures were taken in and around Ohope on February 12, 2005.
I
got invited to the beach by a lovely couple from the Jewish group who
have a cottage (or in kiwi terms, a "bach") in Ohope, about three hours
from Hamilton. Summer is just starting up. We have lovely weather. Here
is a first look at the beach.
That
would be the ocean in the background there :) For those following
geography, Raglan is on the Tasman Sea. Ohope is on the other coast of
the North Island that faces the Pacific Ocean.
The
beach was beautiful. It reminded me a bit of
Waihi Beach, but was a bit more diverse in make-up. I found non-clam
seashells for the first time on a New Zealand beach, and the walk we
took alternated sections of pretty sandy beach like the one here, and
wilder, more rocky sections.
Here
is the beach from the bottom end of the lookout :) It was sunnier than
it looks in this picture. We had fabulous weather for a walk. We drove
up to the lookout, then took a hike all the way around it for most of a
morning.
Another
view of the beach from the ground. I think this is another example of
pictures can't convey it. I would rank this walk right up with
Karagahake in terms of memorable New
Zealand hikes. There is nothing like this in Canada.
Heading
into one of those sections where the beach changes on you. Here, we are
still in a sandy section, but a few paces away we will round a
bend and hit rocks.
I
got invited to the beach by a lovely couple from the Jewish group who
have a cottage (or in kiwi terms, a "bach") in Ohope, about three hours
from Hamilton. Summer is just starting up. We have lovely weather. Here
is a first look at the beach.
That
would be the ocean in the background there :) For those following
geography, Raglan is on the Tasman Sea. Ohope is on the other coast of
the North Island that faces the Pacific Ocean.
The
beach was beautiful. It reminded me a bit of 
Here
is the beach from the bottom end of the lookout :) It was sunnier than
it looks in this picture. We had fabulous weather for a walk. We drove
up to the lookout, then took a hike all the way around it for most of a
morning. 
Another
view of the beach from the ground. I think this is another example of
pictures can't convey it. I would rank this walk right up with
Heading
into one of those sections where the beach changes on you. Here, we are
still in a sandy section, but a few paces away we will round a
bend and hit rocks.
And
here are the rocks :)
And
again :)
And
some more :)
And
more...
And
now, we are back on sand :)
A
last look at Ohope Beach.