Dec 5, 2025 Beach Comparison
We traveled north to picnic along the waterfront. About an hour later and a pleasant drive over coastal hills we reached Waipātiki Beach with it’s calmer water and tan sandy beach.
Even a lifeguard tower, unmanned today, so we didn’t swim!
The Pohutukawa trees are small enough here to see the feathery, fireworks burst of flowers up close. At the base of the long red petals is a drop of nectar that the local birds were busy licking up!
About half way back to Napier we stopped along the Pacific Coast Highway 2 at a picnic table to enjoy our sandwiches and compare this black cobble, pebble ‘beach’ with Waipātiki beach further north.
The waves here were much more powerful, you could see rocks and sticks rolling in the surf, as well as the steep drop-off right in front of Robert!