Weekend away on the Tutukaka Coast

We just can’t get enough of sleeping in the back of our car!  So, off we set on the road again and had a FAB weekend away just to the east of Whangarei (about 2 hrs north of Auckland). 

This time we travelled fully equipped with our new put-put boat (small inflatable with outboard engine purchased to act as rescue boat for Phil on his kitesurfer and me on my windsurfer!  It is called the put-put, due to the sound it makes!) and Phil’s Kitesurfing gear. 

We had a lush day on Wooley Bay beach – about the first time that we have actually chilled out and read papers!  And then pootled around Tutakaka harbour in our put-put. 

Thanks to Phil’s work and my blown-out bicycle tyre, we had the most scrumptious meal in Tutakaka – 1kg of garlic prawns And choc mousse!  Yeah!  What a treat!   The story goes...Phil had been working ridiculously hard (one all-nighter, 2 5am starts and some late evenings) and Jo had cycled to work on her first day of school...burst tyre 1km from home, but no car at home...so phoned Phil in desperation, who couldn’t help her as he was on a total crisis deadline, so Jo had to walk / run with said bike 55mins to work...was 20 mins late, very sweaty and very embarrassed in her staff meeting.  SO hence the meal out!

Sunday saw us down at Ngurguru where we putted across to a sand spit and got out Phil’s kite.  Sadly there wasn’t enough wind for him to have a very decent go, so instead he tried some naked sunbathing…..one rather pink bum later, Phil hopped back in the water!

"Phil, it works better in the water."

The classy marine equipment...the beautiful girl...we're waiting for the call from 'Boating Weekly' for this front cover shot.

Well, sadly no prizes for style.

But we'll give him good effort marks.

Such a beautiful spot.

Another boat shot, just in case you missed the others.