Hawera has 2 local beaches.
Just 3km and 6km from town.
We went to Ohawe which is where the early settlers made the first discovery of Moa bones.
It also has a cemetery for soldiers who died during the Maori wars.
Alas we did find any Moa bones and the Soldiers Cemetery site was sign posted but was now just a cow paddock.
However the beach was great.
Typical of this coastline, with high cliffs formed from the constant pounding of the Tasman Sea.
Sandy stretches of beach with rocky outcrops that provide good fishing.
At low tide the locals harvest Kina , Paua and crayfish.
Quad bikes are used up and down the beach to launch longlines of various sorts.
The local river has a low flow at the moment but was still bubbling over the rocks.
It would be an impressive sight in mid winter.
From Ohawe there is a beach walk, south to Waihi Beach.
It is classed as "Moderate" and takes some 2 to 3 hours , one way.
In another life perhaps.
The erosion along this coastline has created some incredible formations.
There is a lot of sandstone and siltstone overlaid with ash layers from the massive Taupo eruptions and the more local Mt Egmont or Mt Taranaki.
Waihi Beach features this interesting scalloped ridge line.
Just as the lower coastline is dominated by Kapiti Island this area from Hawera in the south to Waitara in the north is said to be in the shadow of Mt Egmont.
The locals say "if you cannot see the Mount it is raining" and "if you can see the Mount it is going to rain".
But not today.
