The arrival of summer inspired us to get out and complete one of Northland’s gems this week…Mangawhai Cliff walk. Ashamedly, after living in Whangarei for 15 years I have never ventured onto this coastal treasure! It has long been on my Northland bucket list so on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm, we bundled up our 8 week old daughter and headed coastal. The afternoon drive included complex debate about baby sunblock versus adult sunblock between two dithering parents…would we poison our little one with adult sunblock?...would she suffer terribly if her perfect little legs were burnt in the front pack?...could Josh’s brother with a doctorate in microbiology adequately inform us of the merits of baby sunblock?...It must be a class A parenting fail to forget the baby sunblock! I marvel at her funny life…falling asleep in one surrounding and then waking up against a sweaty daddy’s chest with spectacular views extending from Bream Head to the Coromandel!
We had the perfect evening, the clarity allowing us to see not only the Hen and Chicks, but the Mokohinaus and Great and Little Barrier Islands.
The track was closed earlier this year after large slips. This Northland treasure has thankfully been repaired and is now very much open. The 5km track was an evening delight and we finished it off on the beach with Hoki and Chips from Stingray Matts in Mangawhai. While patting ourselves on the back about introducing our daughter to nature and how much she’d be loving the evening out…our little friend decided to undergo her evening cluster feed on the drive home! After a couple of stops (with beautiful views) for our little friend to enjoy some dinner, we eventually arrived home at 9.30pm. I’m starting to feel like me again, getting into the kiwi outdoors on a sweaty, sunny evening.
Seeing our little girl’s face both bemused and amused by the passing trees and dappled light makes these trickier trips worthwhile.
In business news, we’ve had some frustrating moments with the delayed arrival of our sunnies this week. While promising Vilo fans that our latest pieces would be available last week, they’ve unfortunately been delayed. Thankfully they will be ready in two days, well in time for Christmas. We’re just hoping everyone can hang on until then!
New Womens Watch: Savannah
To plan your own Mangawhai Cliff adventure, visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/waipu-area/things-to-do/mangawhai-walkway/ . Make sure you carb load after in Mangawhai with some fabulous kiwi cuisine!
LIKE us on Facebook: facebook.com/vilonz
Keep up with us on Instagram: Instagram.com/vilo.co.nz
WATCH us on YouTube: YouTube.com/Vilo
