The weather has been glorious today right from the start. Temperatures got up to the mid 20s and we had our breakfast outside on our balcony! Admittedly it was a little later than most mornings but we felt like being lazy!

In fact we have had a fairly lazy day. We walked into town after breakfast - well sauntered might be a better way of putting it - and decided on our eating plans for dinner. Then we returned to our motel for coffee and spent the rest of the morning relaxing with our view!

Whitianga harbour

After lunch we made a bit more of an effort and drove the 25 miles or so to Whangapoua, a little settlement north of here. It has a lovely beach, which we walked from end to end and back - a distance of about 2 miles. I have resisted the temptation to collect shells so far this holiday but couldn't do so any longer today. I chose some to take home for Emily, including a perfect clam and a black scallop. We had thought we might swim in the sea but it was a little rough by then (a pleasant breeze had sprung up) and we are easily put off!

Whangapoua beach

We journeyed back to Whitianga - stopping to view Kuaotunu beach on the way - it was a bit rough, rocky and seaweedy here! OK I know we are fussy! But just like Goldilocks we found the perfect place to swim - the other end of Mercury Bay from where we are staying. It was calm, sandy and weed free and reasonably warm - though Steve may disagree! It was very shallow so the top half of the water was warm even though the bottom half was a bit chilly! It has taken half the holiday to achieve but at last we enjoyed a swim in the sea!

Variable oystercatcher

We sat on the beach for a while before returning to town. We had decided to get a take away dinner from the local Italian restaurant. This worked out well as the food was good but our view was better than the restaurant's!

Tomorrow we have plans to be slightly more energetic but for today that's it - the sun has set and our lovely view is disappearing into the dusk - but the sound of the sea stays with us all night!