A = Ahipara, Northland, NZ

AHIPARA - Northland, NZ

Background and history ...

The LOCATION: A township in Northland, with a proud history of Maori settlement. It sits at the southern end of 90-Mile-Beach - which is actually 88km long (or 55 miles), and stretches from Ahipara in the south to Scott Point in the north. I'm not quite sure how 90-Mile-Beach got it's misnomer but there will no doubt be a story. Whatever, you can be assured it is a very long beach!

The NAME: Ahipara means "sacred fire" in Maori - and refers to a fire that was kept constantly burning by the local Te Rarawa people (iwi) on the site where the school is now located. 

The BEACH: An unspoiled sandy stretch with incredible sunsets, a legendary left-hand surf break, and many more natural wonders tucked into its environs.  

The TOWNSHIP: Flourished during the kauri gum digging era of the 1800s when Dalmatian and Croation immigrants came in their droves. This caused some consternation but the gumfields are still a main feature of the area today. Shipwreck Bay is a burial ground for shipwrecks, only accessible on the low tide.

The ALLURE: Having been through a period of being a sleepy northland beach town that not too many Kiwis bothered to venture to, it's now a place people are taking a bit more notice of - and, without doubt, it's a very lovely slice of NZ in the Far North. 

My Ahipara story ...

We spent a family holiday in Ahipara in January 2005. We rented a reasonably new Spanish-style family home with magnificent views - a great base from which to do anything, or nothing. The boys were 11 and 8. 

Life in this township was quiet and generally centred around sun, sand and relaxation. Somewhat tough for locals as it is a remote location and employment limited. Our week was chilled and one of gentle discovery of a very nice part of northern NZ.

One day we hired quad-bikes and went out along the beach, around the reef point, over the rocks, around the coast, and into the remote hilly sand dunes. We had great fun there but ew, they were very steep in some parts. 

Some years later we would do similar in the expansive sand dunes in United Arab Emirates near Dubai - that time it was in 4-wheel-drive vehicles with an experienced driver. Same sensations, different locations, similar sense of fun. In Ahipara, there was water nearby and it was a case of learning to drive these sand dunes on the job!  Sometimes felt like we were going to tip over - uh-oh, nearly did, but didn't!

We had two bikes (dune-buggies), my husband and I driving, each with a boy on the back. We rode out past the "Seaweed Picker huts" out on Tauroa Point; an enclave of remote beach shacks where old guys were living a rustic lifestyle collecting seaweed off the rocks and selling it, barely making a living. They earnt little, but a lifestyle without roads, internet, shops or mod-cons suited them. Throw in plenty of fresh seafood and bush kai (food), and these guys have always been a relatively happy bunch without the stresses and worries of city life. Unbothered, living by the tides and keeping mostly to themselves, only a few remain today. Where they call home is far from the beaten track, yet still close to civilisation and abundance. It's the land that means everything to them. 

We passed the seaweed pickers and their huts on our way to those dunes. We waved out. I had no idea these guys (Maori) lived here. 

These days travellers to the area can stay in The Huts - modern accommodation influenced by the seaweed pickers' huts.  

On that ride I used muscles I didn’t know I had, and also had a few hairy moments along the way!! Three males and two machines - restraint wasn't going to be a thing. Lots of shrieks of glee and thrill.

Dangerous things, overall, those quad bikes/dune buggies. They need to be treated with respect. Thankfully they had roll bars, although we didn't need them. Tipping over is a real possibility, but luckily we remained intact!

There has been some talk around closing off those sand dunes due to bikes and 4-wheel-drive vehicles upsetting the ecosystems and polluting the place with noise and brazen behaviour. The landscape was  pristine when we were there 15 years ago. Now - over-tourism ... 

Hooning the dunes

The boys did a bit of surfing, we indulged in good food (including a sumptuous 9lb crayfish caught by a friend), read books, slept in, lazed around, drove for miles along the beach (Sam had his first driving lesson on the southern part of 90-Mile-Beach with no one and nothing around), explored the locale, socialised with friends and neighbours and wound ourselves down to zero before returning to Auckland and the inevitable juggle of school holidays, work and routine.

A chilled and memorable family holiday in a fabulous location. Go there!

The dunes at 90 Mile Beach

Dune buggy fun

View from our Ahipara house - we took those dune buggies around that coastline into the dunes in the background

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Camel Power Club

A "hidden" musical duo from France who like to not be seen. But here they are in a video singing two of their songs - "Change It All" and "Fisher". I particularly like the simplicity of the latter. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPwH7e6mIrA

The band name is apt for this post - given all the sand dunes I've referred to!

Lounge music, light and catchy sounds of summer and relaxation. The video is simple "at home" footage - with great engagement between the two. Check out their other tunes.