Return to Matarangi (and blogging)

It's a year since we've stayed in Matarangi and about half that since we posted anything on the blog and it's good to be back! School holidays this week and next so time for an autumnal beach holiday. Here's what we got up to on Monday.

Matarangi is one of those classic NZ beaches that just goes on forever.

Plenty of space for running around in the waves, digging in the sand and climbing on the rocks.

And for taking pseudo-arty shots of interesting arrangements of washed-up shells.

Not all is perfect in paradise though - maybe because a storm blew through over the weekend, maybe some other reason, but also washed up on the beach were seven little penguins. 😞

After a beachy morning, we headed to Kuaotunu for lunch and a play on a different gorgeous beach.

The girls enjoyed a swing with muddy puddle landing zone for those who didn't hold on tight

while Reuben discovered this happy fox painted on a stone that had been left for people to find. We're going to take him back to Auckland and hide him again for someone else to find. (The stone that is, not Reuben.)

while Dave and I enjoyed sunshine and self-entertaining children.

And here's another reason to visit Kuaotunu - it is indeed a very civilised beach.