It was a dull old journey and I was just telling Wend we'd made a mistake traipsing so damned far when we saw a sign for 'Giant Sand Dunes'. This perked us up no end, especially when we spotted an enterprising hippy renting sand surfboards. We paid our three quid, and after 15 seconds of comprehensive tuition were clambering up our first Dune.
These things really did live up to their billing. Absolute monsters up to 170 feet high made entirely of fine golden sand, which looks great, but makes them a real bugger to climb. Worth the effort though for the white-knuckle craziness on the way down.
We then visited the lighthouse at the top of the peninsula. Directly below is where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, generating waves up to 10 metres high in stormy weather, but as calm as a village pond today.
Another site sacred to the Maoris, visitors are asked to be respectful and refrain form eating and drinking on the headland.
I think we spotted a couple of Maori Chieftains who had special dispensation - either that, or they were fat tourists who couldn't resist their lard sandwiches until they'd driven from the site. Morons.
Great beaches near the lighthouse too, and because most of the afore-mentioned fatties are too lazy to walk further than 5 minutes from their cars, it was possible to enjoy some skinny-dipping without fear of offending a porker.
Camped on a nearby Department of Conservation site. A bargain at a fiver a night.
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