Pt2 Day 27, 28. Zero days at Parua Bay / Opua - 13&14/03/16

Cheryl and Malcolm were out last night but left us their car so we could shoot down the road to the Parua Bay pub for a meal. Very popular place and good hearty food!  I reckon I needed to put on some weight before the Northland forests section!

After a good night's sleep, we borrowed Cheryl and Malcolm's van and headed back to Urquharts Bay. There was a nice little walk out there onto Busby Head that was apparently quite nice.  Thought it might be a good "wind down" walk after yesterday's terrain!  Ros had also mentioned it as she had been out there on a gorse weeding party the day before we arrived back at Tidesong! 

So set off for a loop around the headland past very friendly cattle, an old gun emplacement, more regenerating bush and back via Smugglers Bay (which we had visited at the end of yesterday's walk).  Total ended up being about 5km - gps track here.

Clear view also of Marsden Point - they were in the process of flaring off gas, with an unusual (according to locals) amount of black smoke. Indeed, at the end of the walk we passed a fireman walking down as they had reports of a fire on Busby Head. We assumed it was someone mistaking the flare off.  When we got back to the road at Urquhart's Bay, there were about 4 fire appliances. Turns out a boatie fishing on the eastern side of the head thought the flare off was the headland on fire. Better safe than sorry I guess!   

Cattle whisperer - first thing we come across as we start the walk.

And another.

Bream Head gun battery.

Insides the observation and ranging post.

Observation post build into an actual rock for camouflage!

That's where we're going.

Flare off at Marsden Point, across the water.

Big slip off Busby Head. Bit of a crumbly edge so discretion advised!

Right out at the end of Busby Head looking back to Smugglers Bay and the end of the Te Whara walkway from yesterday.

The end back at Urquhart's Bay. B dipping her feet with flashing lights from fire engines all around!

Had lunch at a pleasant little cafe a bit further found the harbour near Reotahi (still bulking up!!).  B decided she wanted to walk another few kms round Reotahi point so I dropped her off and drove round to there other end to await her - someone had to do it :-)

Walk around Reotahi Bay.

Shaggies!

Jetty near McLeods Bay at end of Reotahi walk. Last point for TAers to catch ride across to Marsden Point

Friends of Cheryl and Malcolm's - Kevin and Trish - were leaving to take up a position at a church in New Plymouth.  Trish kindly invited us to join them and a few friends at the camp for a barbeque dinner send off.

A huge thanks to Cheryl and Malcolm for putting us up for the two nights and being so generous with vehicles etc.  Such wonderful company - we're certain out paths will cross again. :-)

Another good sleep and in the morning Cheryl dropped us off near the town basin for us to wander down and catch the 1045 bus back to Opua.  Arrived at Ria and Andrew's place around 1230 which gave us plenty of time to shoot into Paihia and restock for our Northland forest jaunt starting tomorrow a.m. (Tuesday).