Sunrise

The sun conveniently rises straight along the boat ramp which gives an easy leading line.  On this calm day we took the boat down the coast to Awaroa beach.  It is known as the beach New Zealand bought.  It was owned by a business man and when it came up for sale two Christchurch men thought it should be protected and be in public ownership.  They started a crowd funding campaign to buy it.  The images of blue water and golden sand caught the publics imagination.  The three million was raised and the beach is now part of the Able Tasman National Park.  There is no road access and most people come by water taxi.  There is an airstrip for light planes.  Behind the beach is a big estuary which can be waded across two hours either side of high tide.  The surprise was there is a restaurant in the trees behind the beach.  I had a coffee and carrot cake and people watched.  Although there were a lot of people coming and going the beach is long enough that you can feel you are alone.