Castlepoint Long Weekend

This past weekend was the Labour Day long weekend in New Zealand...apparently it's nothing like our Labour Day long weekend in North America. Supposedly it marks some kind of event to ensure a 40 hour work week?? Obviously that doesn't apply to me, but I went away anyways. The Argies had booked a vacation house up in Castlepoint, a small sleepy little vacation town on the eastern coast of the north island, about 2 hours and 15 minutes drive north east of Wellington. Small as in there's only one road in and out of there, and it's about an hour to the nearest major town. I don't think anyone really "lives" there full time, more like vacation/weekend homes.

The big attraction is a pretty long beach, with good waves for surfing, a sheltered inlet that floods at high tide but then turns into an isolated pond and hard packed sand strip when the water subsides (people were driving cars along this strip pulling sleds and doing doughnuts), and then of course the lighthouse. Our weekend pretty much consisted of eating, short hikes and site seeing, more eating, a few crazy clue games (no not the boardgame "Clue", a verbal game of questions and "yes" or "no" answers), even MORE eating, and of course just chillin' and relaxin'. Definitely a good weekend to do NOTHING except enjoy the view, the weather, the company...and yes, the food.

As expected the camera gear went along for the trip...

One of two patios at the house. This one is on the left side of the house if you're looking at the house from in front. It's got a little flat grill barbecue.

This is the view from the patio above.

And the other patio on the right side of the house, adjoining the main room inside with large patio doors that open up on two walls.

There seemed to be a lot of this going on in the afternoons (above and below).

Le chef du jour.

Climbing up the sand dune is a lot harder than it looks. There is NO dignity from behind :) ...and what else can you do once you get to the top? ...might as well swim down...or run or slide.

9.8 from the Russian judge.

Sand and water...what else do you need for fun when you're a kid?