A few days at the Awhiti Peninsular - New Zealand

Last week we met up with the Kiwi Wroes at Grahams Beach on the Awhiti Peninsular on the Manukau Harbour,  a couple of hours from Auckland.

I had found a Bach (Holiday House - NZ speak) that would take the 7 of us

on 3 acres, with great views and just above Grahams Beach

The Kiwi Wroes arrived on Thursday afternoon with all the catering

After unpacking - all dressed for a trip to the beach

after some ice cream and watermelon

Grahams Beach is tidal - and it was out

Ethan was looking for "bigger" waves

but good practice anyway

Grandpa W. checking everything out

Time to take the nets to check out the fish

Here comes a boat

With a dog

A tractor towed it off the beach

Now to the rock pools

and I to the driftwood

Good dinner of Chicken skewers, sausages and barbequed corn and Salad

Immy in her new clothes

The trampoline was a real hit

Drove towards Manukau Heads Lighthouse and stopped at this delightful old church

Manukau Heads Lighthouse

Ethan was first to get to the top

Grandpa and Ethan above, and Mim - the photographer below

Lovely views from the walkaround of the Lighthouse

Looking back down to our cars

Back to the Bach and that trampoline

and the Wroe's portable pool.

The Bach has a rowing boat

so that was the next adventure

it was moored at the bottom of the cliff

down a steep stair case

Dad's Saturday morning pancakes

and they are very good

Back to the trampoline

Ethan is on the "high" today

Sarah attempts a "read" in the cabin's hammock

while the kids play

Sarah and Ian with their ice creams in the shaded portable pool

Ethan and Mum take on a footy game

The Bach was on the opposite side of the Manukau Harbour from Auckland Airport

So the kids could check out the planes - this one they named as Jetstar - and they were right.

The Bach had bikes, so Ethan and Immy road down to Grahams Beach with Sarah

and we drove

More rock pools at low tide to check out.

Back to the bach for some more trampolining

This time Immy took to the sky

This Bach was perfectly set up for a family, piles of things there for kids, all kinds of sports items, hockey, tennis, various footballs, loads of DVD's etc. etc. - really was a great place to spend a few days with Sarah, Ian and the kids - and quite honestly the weather was great.  There was a Vineyard next door - which Sarah and Ian tried out, the scenery was lovely, the beach so interesting at different tides and the peninsular so very quiet.  We all thoroughly enjoyed our time there together.