Magical Matauri
Call me strange but I find camping really romantic. No really – well, okay, I admit, not all kinds of camping
It has to be absolute beachfront but far from the madding crowd, there has to be great swimming, fishing and diving and it has to be, okay, it has to be Matauri Bay and the diverse loop of beaches and bays that it heralds.
So why romantic? Well my love affair with the horseshoe shaped surf spot of Matauri Bay began with my first kiss there one blissful summer holiday. The classic kiwi childhood summer break. Barbecues on the beach, burnished glowing faces, salty hair, furtive glances and the heartbreak of departure – what was his name again?
Matauri Bay
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In my early 20’s, I preferred to visit outside the peak season. One year, I was whisked there for a romantic Valentine’s weekend. My hunter gatherer showed off his masculine prowess by diving for juicy mussels by the shores of Motukawanui, the main Cavalli Island and (oh joy) an angry cray, while I sat enraptured on the kayak, the hold for his salty catch. I contributed by digging into the sand while the tide rolled out, bringing up handfuls of squirting pipis. We lit up the gas stove on neighbouring Te Ngaere Bay and cooked our catch with lashings of garlic, olive oil and still slightly chilled sauvignon blanc. After dinner we snuggled under the stars and a sleeping bag watched the incredible light display. Bliss!
Sure, there are other beachfront camping spots in New Zealand, but are there many where the subtropical climate makes the waters warmer for so much longer and where the sheer number of beaches and bays means you can always find one to call your very own. Different choices depending on the turn of the wind and the level of energy required. Fancy some diving? – the Cavalli Islands and sunken wreck of the emotive Rainbow Warrior; lay on a beach today? - Tauranga Bay; energetic surf day? - Matauri or Taupo Bay
And what if the rain rears its ugly head? Well is there anything more romantic than the sound of rain tapping on the roof of your tent, listening to waves crashing outside while bouncing around on an inflatable mattress – not for this simple, giggling girl.
The camping ground still stands – no developers have knocked on its doors and knocked it down, although round the corner a billionaire’s golf club is available for the suitably dressed. For the more simple folk, a hearty walk up to the monumental sculpture dedicated to the Rainbow Warrior. Sit atop there and lose yourself in the views of the Cavalli Islands and count how many shades of blue you can see in its glistening depths. Comparing the shades to your partner’s eyes – well, that’s a bit too romantic.
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