A trip to the South Coast

A break in the weather meant a jaunt down to the South Coast of Wellington. It was a stunning day but any breeze that was blowing was still bitterly cold. Our climate can be harsh here so any day when the sky is clear blue, the wind low and the sun shining brightly is a day to get out and about.

It has been a long time since we visited this wild, wind-swept and often stormy stretch of coastline. When the southerlies pound in the sea is an extreme and dangerous force.

It is also near the entrance to the Wellington Harbour and around the road to the west is the runway for the airport.

Across the Wellington Heads the land is no less rugged or any more hospitable.

The channel into the harbour has many jagged rocks and reefs so navigation is done very carefully, often with a locally based Pilot to steer foreign ships safely into the harbour.

There are no safe swimming beaches but plenty of rocks to climb and explore.

Diving is a popular past time for the people brave enough to go into the icy waters.

The sea here is a mix of Cook Strait (that divides the two main islands of New Zealand) and the Pacific Ocean.

Sadly the high, snow-laden Kaikoura mountains at the northern part of the South Island were hazy but they help explain why the air is so very, very cold at the moment.

After braving the rough, stony beach to take some photos, including this one of one of the regular Ferries that cross Cook Strait

and of this aeroplane coming in to land at the airport, we headed to a popular café in nearby Lyall Bay to enjoy a hot drink.

From the footpath near the café the view goes back to the airport and beyond that the beach we had just stopped at to take the photos.

In contrast this is a sandy beach and people surf and swim here although the water is never particularly warm.

Bracing and beautiful summed up the experience.

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A stroll along Wellington’s waterfront.

Yesterday dawned hot and sunny again! We had a mid afternoon pick up from the airport to do so we packed a picnic lunch and headed to Oriental Bay. As it turned out we joined many thousands of others who were enjoying the weather and the wonderfully accessible waterfront that Wellington Harbour now boasts.

We ate under the benevolent gaze of St Gerard’s Monastery (the lean is mine, not the buildings, although I think there are concerns over its strength in an earthquake now)

We watched people enjoying this stretch of beach along Oriental Bay.

This is an area of very desirable real estate and you can see why from views such as this.

After lunch we joined the throngs and strolled along the waterfront and found these points of interest. A bollard painted pink.

Others along here were yellow. A poem by Katherine Mansfield about how windy it can really be in Wellington and along the harbour’s edge.

This wonderful statue illustrating that at times the wind is sooooo strong that one can lean into it without falling forward. I really like this chap and his flexible back.

And a new feature on the waterfront for people to leap from into deep water below. This chap was very sure of himself and I captured the marvelous splash he made.

On the way back to the car we passed these two buskers who had wisely chosen a spot under a Pohutukawa tree and within the shade of a building. It was a very hot afternoon.

We are very fortunate to have such a pleasant waterfront to enjoy in Wellington.

In addition it is a very busy working port. It is interesting and vibrant, containing new innovations and older personalities.

And we only managed to walk a section of it yesterday. The photo below shows the part we did not get to yesterday.

I will go back again and take some more photos to share with you.

The theory and practice of summer

In theory we get summer weather here when large, slow moving high pressure weather systems move over the Tasman Sea and settle above our small homeland. This seasons such systems have been very rare.

The good news for us is that right now we have such a one and we are enjoying blue skies, sunshine, hot temperatures and balmy wee breezes. This weekend has seen people out in droves enjoying our beautiful beaches and outdoor areas, putting summer into practice.

Today we headed to Plimmerton and walked along the path by the sea. I sat and relaxed for a bit and took some photos.

This red-billed gull came over to see whether I had any food on offer and rather quickly dismissed me when all I could give him was my attention and the lens of a digital camera.

It was very hot on the beach and someone had set up a make-shift area of shade using an old rain umbrella firmly attached to a long piece of driftwood.

In a very surprising turn of events the umbrella did not move. Usually it is too windy for umbrellas at the beach!!!

In the hazy distance sat Mana Island and faintly in the background the outline of the South Island of New Zealand.

And these people were really enjoying swimming and paddling in the water.

Now it is time to eat our barbeque dinner outside. It is our third meal of the day to be eaten outdoors. Mmmmmm summertime.