Location: Waiheke Island, North Island, New Zealand
With one last day in Auckland, I chose to visit a nearby island (because being on one island wasn’t enough). Waiheke Island sit just to the north ( I think) of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf. Although small, clocking in at 92 km2 , it still boasts a population of almost 10 000 people! It has beautiful beaches and quaint little shops.
What it also had that day was gale force winds thanks to Cyclone Gita that was barreling down on the South Island. By the end of the day, you could not come within 50 feet of the beach as the wind would violently hurl thousands upon thousands of sand particles at you, mother nature’s way of voicing her displeasure and of providing you with a free body exfoliation treatment!
Who needs to go to the hairdresser for a blowdry when you can get one for free right on the beach!? I call this photo: If Julie had a beard….
Gita did put a damper to the rest of my day and I wasn’t able to fully take advantage of all that Waiheke has to offer. Once I was able to rinse out the sand from my eyes, my scratched up corneas were able to see that this was a pretty lovely island filled with beautiful beaches, fertile vineyards and bountiful olive groves! Just best to be enjoyed when Papatuanuku (mother earth to the Maori) was in a better mood.
No comment has given me such joy before. This will be printed and framed upon my return!
I laugh, but I will definitely not stand to be corrected on a fact that I have diligently researched and included in my thoroughly respected blog. That, Sir, is crossing the line!
“In the Māori world view, land gives birth to all things, including humankind, and provides the physical and spiritual basis for life. Papatūānuku, the land, is a powerful mother earth figure who gives many blessings to her children.” – taken from the Encyclopedia of New Zeland
https://teara.govt.nz/en/papatuanuku-the-land
Dear Canadian traveller. Why the beard? I speculate as I await your reply:
1. You have become more comfortable with being out of your comfort zone.
2. With hockey playoffs a month away, your inner clock has you yearning for the customs and rituals of your homeland.
3. Your next destination is Islamabad.
4. You KNEW the Tree Tea Oil facial was a bad idea.
5. The fuzzy peels of kiwis are probably NOT to be eaten.
6. Auckland roughly translates to “Land of Bearded Ladies”.
7. You ran off with a circus.
I say goodbye for now. One quick clarification: “Mother Earth” to the Maori is actually Mamatuanuku (not Papatuanuku).
Happy trails!