We left Muriwai beach in a heavy drizzel rain so tipical for New Zealand. But earing our Wet-gear this didn´t bother us. North we went, up and down. In Waimauku, in on of the vegies & fruits shops, that are slightly overpriced and so far always were run by an Indian we baught pears, carotts and strawberries – yes it is strawberry time! As we were chewing on our carotts some other customers did their weekly shopping reaching the 30$ mark quikly. That allowed them a free ice cream, what they declined looking at the missarable weather. A look at us a bit of a chat and there he were holding a huge banana icecream in our hands.
The following day the sun was up and we the short distance from Parakai to Shelly beach was done before too long. Ther we found a little town, just some hand full of houses. It is situated along Kaipara Harbour, a shallow bay sprading over about 60km with thousand of arms, famous for fish. This time it wasn´t the fish but the fishing charter we were after, as we had arranged for one to take us along with the fishing guests to carry us from one side to the other of the harbour. Acroding to Sharon from the charter office we should were expecting to be picked up at 5am and she recommended the campground at the harbour. There wes not much movement there. Besides the jetty, there was a coffee shop and the Campground – Campervans only, No tents allowed. To get a better picture we went to sit down with a cappuccino. The lady didn´t look friendly at us. We had a chat with the other guests, locals, said how much we liked the really good coffee – she could smile! After some time we asked about a tent site. She explained that there was no way, something about common ground…. 2000$ fee. But just go behind the fence of the campground, keep on going along the beach around the corner, there noeone will see. Just be aware of Ruscal, he is eighter positive or negative. He is freinds with the owner, lifes on the ground. We went sitting along the beach on the common ground, close to Ruscals home : a build up coach, a quadbike, a 4WD and a boat. There was music playing but noone to be seen. He must have been doing his snooz. We waited doing yoga in the sunshine, and discussing the strategy. There he was, a 75 yr old caracter, one of the selfe-made Kiwi guys, with arthritis in both knees. No way, too small was his answer, when we asked if he could get us across the harbour with his boat. Well, the other boat is living next morning and we are not allowed to pitch up a tent.. Ruscal thinks «just go around the croner, where noone can see you. That will be fine». Positive! There we go, we got a free night even though using toilets and water tab just because they didn´t want our tent on the ground.
Unfortunatly the boat didn´t go the next morning as it was too rough. That left us cruising around all the Kaipara harbour area on the road, what took us 3 days.
After the experance at Shelly beach when it was time to stay in late afternoon the next day and there seemed to be no campground for long we just went around the corner off the road and found Berry, a south african, emigrated to UK and 5 years ago to New Zealand. He is buliding up a place, has allready done a wonderfull job planting a garden, especially palm trees and now workes on the run down house and green house. Just put up the tent around the corner, below the young palms! Water is no problem, help yourselves from the tap in the house – and take a shower if you like, you find it to the right entering the maindoor.