Takapuna Inferno

Time to rub your noses in it; yes, I am about to start complaining that it is too hot. The middle part of the day is an excuse to move around town with the AC pumping. We get in the car, explain once again to Jay that we can wind down the windows, or we can turn on the Air Conditioning, but that doing both would simply throw freshly cooled air straight out of the vehicle. The boys are both bloated with pink by this time of day that even Jay can not resist a little nap time. We park up somewhere in the shade and move on to a cafe and take in the view. Today was the view from Titirangi, suburb of Auckland, down over the forest, to the beach, with a vanilla milkshake and a huge slab of caramel chocolate cake.

It had cooled off enough by half three to head down to the beach via the appropriately named Zig Zag path. Covered by the trees, the path immediately leaves any sight of civilisation, yet drainage holes and small wooden bridges clearly mark the path as man-made and regularly used. A half hour walk opened onto the well kept lawns before the beach. But the tide was out, so far out that I couldn't even see where the sea even started. So we made do with playing on the playground before hiking back up the hill and returning to our new home, the district of Takapuna. Just North of Auckland Central, which means across the Harbour Bridge. The 'well-heeled' area comes across as a permanent holiday resort. The Beach, the row of bars and restaurants along the front, as many yachts as there are cars, and the fact that we are staying in a caravan park on the top end of the beach make me easily forget that while this area fills up with visitors at the weekend, it is 15 mins bus ride from the busiest Biz centre in the country.

The experienced NZ traveller in me is easily forgetting the london throngs, and is very quick to describe 100 people on a mile long beach as a bit hectic. I'm longing to get away from a bustling metropolis, which is annoying as I already have done so once in the last week, and now I'm doing it again. Although in this one, when I drove round a car park to find all spaces occupied, a pedestrian that was returning to her car waved at me as I left and shouted, 'hey mate! I'm just about to leave'.

Will hit the proper country side soon, and more news on the big vehicle decision. I'm sure you're all on tenterhooks about which Mitsubishi had what it takes. Well, be prepared for a shocking twist ending to that plot line.