After a few days at Pongaroa the Safari moved back to Greytown and then south east to Tora on the coast. Along the way … some more wind vanes.

We had not been there before and did not know what to expect. After what seemed a very long drive on narrow twisty roads and over a mountain range (photo above) we came to what looked like a holiday camp called Tora, but no sign of any other caravans/motorhomes (there should have been at least 50 ahead of us) and also no sign of the coast so we pressed on – and on – and finally reached the coast but still no sign of other humans for several more km, then suddenly there everyone was in a paddock beside the sea.

The coastline was very rocky with curious fine layered shale rocks with sandstone inclusions and limpid pools at low tide. The limpets were enormous.

It was paua (abalone) country judging from the number of shells lying around plus the number of NZMCA members poking around the pools at very low tide, plus lobster country as we watched a fishing boat checking on lobster pots twice a day.

Local fishing boats are hauled out by bulldozer rather than tractor …

Not a good coastline to founder on as a nearby shipwreck attested. Entrance channels to little bays were well marked.

Yet despite its remoteness there were quite a few baches and large holiday homes scattered about. With magnificent views.

We spent several days there enjoying the ambience.

Penny had a lovely time with another foxie named Lucy with a very sweet nature. She was a standard size so a little bigger than Penny who is a so-called miniature. For some reason the breeder clipped the top of Lucy’s tail. I think Penny’s looks more aesthetically pleasing yet it used to be the custom to only leave a stump