and Dolphins in Ngunguru.

Ngunguru - Beautiful

Well if you are heading to spend anytime with us here in Tutukaka, if you are coming up from the South you are more than likely going to be passing through the most wonderful of seaside settlements, Ngunguru - (Nung - a - roo).  It is my personal opinion that as soon as you come around the corner and pass Munro Place you know you are somewhere special.  Infact I will be so bold as to say you will take a deep breath in.  I still do, after two years, I still draw breath.
From Ngunguru you look over to the pristine sandspit, and with a lot of work from very dedicated locals this sandspit has been given back to the people of New Zealand for the generations to enjoy that have yet to see day.

Last game of the season

Today, being Saturday, our household was up early with the usual scurry of Saturday sports activity.  It was Jack's final game for the season, so ALL of us had to go and watch.  Seems strange that so much effort is made when it is someones last time doing something, or last time for a while doing that thing, I was thinking today that if that much effort was put into everytime someone did something this world of ours may just spin a little smoother for many.
So our team played well, aged around 9 they are starting that competition feel and also the game has become more about flash play than forward play, which makes for a very quick game with much cheer from the side lines.


Mum and Dad enjoying the day

 On the way home through Ngunguru, and just after that deep breath that I have warned you about we heard a sqeal of delight from our daughter in the back seat.  "There back!" she gasped.  As all eyes looked at the estuary we saw what her proclaimed delighted was about - Dolphins.  A pod of 5 or 6 playing in the blue water between the moored boats.
So we pulled over and scrambled down the banks to watch.  Amazing to see them about 20 meters away playing and jumping around.  Pure magic.



Dolphins playing in Ngunguru



So on your way to stay with us at Oceans and as you pass through Ngunguru and take that breath in as you pass Munro Place, keep your eyes on the water for the dolphins.  Take the time to stop and enjoy the beautiful scenery that has been returned to the people.  And if you have the time (you should always make the time) turn right towards the school before you head up the hill to Tutukaka.  Stop and get out of your car and walk on the sand and climb the dunes and explore what is NZ at its best.  And if you are lucky watch the dolphins play.

My meaning of life for today that was found?  Seeing Nature and being honoured enough to observe the Dolphins at play.  Who knows if they have stress about things to get done, or wondering if that dolphin really likes them or is just after something else...who knows, but if they do have stress they take time out to play.  Lesson there.

Cantab in Northland

Well I missed the blog for Friday.  With very good reason I will have you know.  Oceans was rocking, restaurant full, customers waiting for tables, bar humming with that good vibe that you get on Fridays at Oceans. 

Joeren from Dive! Tutukaka was celebrating his birthday at Schnappa Rock, just down the road so all up Tutukaka had that fabulous Friday night feeling.  Not so great for the Saturday Morning buzz.

Not only do I love Fridays but really it has become a bit well known with some of our locals.  It is a chance for us all to catch up after the week and prepare for the weekend ahead.  You will drive into Tutukaka and think "does anyone really live here?"  The answer is a BIG YES and they are awesome.  The fact is that Tutukaka is not just the Marina area, only so many people can live in the direct area.  But Tutukaka and Ngunguru (settlement that is 4k before you get to Tutukaka from Whangarei) are just two small populated areas of an amazing coast and we are going to be blogging about those too!

So we say farewell to Friday and say happy birthday to Jeoren.  Sleep and wake to SATURDAY.  Ohhhhhh how I waited for this Saturday.  It was like the Christmas countdown from childhood.  Crusaders in the final.  The bar staff in red and black, Crusaders Music (Conquest of Paradise).  If you don't know the music we have added on the link below. 

	Vangelis - Conquest of paradise .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

primed to activate from EVERY speaker we could find, TV's operating and the rush of dinner service to get through as everyone tried to gulp down their food before kick off.  And as is typical with the Christmas countdown of childhood, you find you are ready and waiting way before you are able to rip off any paper.  So you wait,............

Finally I got to turn down the CD music (felt like a DJ with our sound system) and pushed the crusaders theme to full. 

For those of you who haven't guessed or don't know, I am 100% true blooded, forever loyal to the Crusaders!  Steve and I may find ourselves anywhere in NZ or the world doing what we do, but our drawers are FULL of red and black gear, we will always cheer for the red and blacks, we will respect the team where we reside but always Crusader fans.  And that is what was great about this final, NZ united!  We were all for those 80 minutes Crusaders fans. 

I won't lie the result was gutting but there was soooo much pride in what the boys achieved. over 300,000 kms traveled, no home ground and the stress of having a homeland that was hurting from the recent earthquakes.  Respect is also given to the Reds with the flooding and the attack of Mother Nature on their homeland.  So if I was being honest it really was a final of two deserving teams.  Both played well and both played a hard game.

As the bar emptied after the game and we started to lock up and prepare for Sunday it was still a good day.

Sunday is Sunday, a day to rest and relax, we have to say good bye to some of our guests but we get to welcome new guests.  Bitter sweet.  And paradise for me was found this weekend in being a part of something wonderful.  I am not trying to shake my promise of finding my meaning of life in every day, but I am being honest.  this weekend it was in so many moments that there are none that have ownership over another.  And I am looking forward to welcoming the new week ahead and our new guests and those returning to visit and stay with us again

Thursday and tsunamis

Can you believe it is Thursday again!!!!!  Is it an age thing or a reality thing when all of a sudden days and weeks are seemingly stolen from right under your nose?  You barely have mourned the loss of yesterday before you are farewelling today, surely that isn’t right.

Another beautiful day tin Tutukaka

So we woke again to a beautiful Tutukaka day, they have to be coming from somewhere right?  So where ever it is that is cold, raining and grey, we pass on our apologies we also pass on our sincerest thanks.

At 7.03am there was the earthquake located at the Kermadic Islands and 20k deep, registering at 7.6.  I have to say that the response of Civil Defence, the locals and visitors was fabulous.  Cell phones not only chimed with the warning, they rang with people ensuring the message was getting out, then the chimes and rings where joined with the sound of the civil defence alarms.  One located outside Schnapper Rock and the other located on the corner of Oceans Resort Hotel.

View from Ngunguru School

Ngunguru School was fantastic!!!  Having two young children attending and the knowledge that the school sits practically on the beach it was a wonderful relief having the knowledge that the school is well and truly ready.  Children were photo registered, lined up and marched promptly up the hill to a safe place, a place where all parents knew.  When my two got home that afternoon and were grilled “in a nonchalant way” not only were they aware of what was going on and aware of the serious nature of the situation, they were also relaxed and feeling safe.  AWESOME.  Of course there was concern if “Mum and Dad were going to be all right” and that is normal, and they have been reassured that we too have a safe place and a list of rules that we follow when the alarm sounds.

However it didn’t eventuate to much marine wise but it did allow the people of Tutukaka the ability to realise that the situation, should it occur again, has its process, has its communication and has very skilled people ready to jump into action.  Coastguard NZ and the other volunteer services all ready to go should they have been required.  It also gives everyone the chance to review any processes.  If it should ever happen as an extreme event I can put my hand over my heart and say I feel safe living here.

Oksana, Lukasz and Carlie

I am an incredibly proud Cantab, I will be wearing my red and blacks on Saturday.   Today I was proud to be a Tutukakian (not sure if that is a word), what a wonderful, wonderful bunch of people live on this coast.  You really do need to meet them

Click here to see a video that features two of our locals about the tsunami today being interviewed, one of which is the wonderful Kate Malcom from Dive! Tutukaka.  Kate and the team at Dive! Tutukaka have a great product and are very proud of the coast and the beauty of our Marine world.  So if you are coming this way and want to see why we were voted the second best coastal area by National Geographic head out on Perfect Day, you will never question again:)

Kind of obvious where my paradise was today, my meaning of life.  It was the pride to be a part of this community and a part of our team.  You will see it and feel it when you arrive here too.

Tutukaka and Oceans Resort Hotel

So this is the first time, of few that I will admit that this morning was a morning that didn't highlight all the beauty of our coast.  I don't think it really helped with the 5.15am alarm and then driving to town for the BNI Breakfast meeting.

However being a member of the Thursday Chapter in Whangarei definatly has it's bonus's, surrounded by great people and people who support you in your business and you support them. The Networking though valuable can not compare to the friendships and relationships that are made, and it is the later that keeps you going every Thursday.

Coming back to Tutukaka, it was still raining and there was flooding in the farm lands.  You can't help but drive past the cows and horses and feel a little sorry for them in the rain, (think that is the 'city' girl mentality coming through).  With all the rain you would be surprised to read that driving into Ngunguru there is still a lifting of spirits.  I don't know if it is all those NZ baches lined along the water, or the fact that you can see across to that elusive Sandspit, it could be the boats that are moored, straining against their ropes, eager to get back out to the open sea for sailing and fishing.  As Ngunguru is left behind and you start that climb to Tutukaka you know you are coming home.  2 minutes later you start that down hill drive (watch the locals on this hill, we nail it!!!)  And there it is....HOME. 

I must be one of the luckiest people you are going to read about on any blog.  I have two amazing children, soon to celebrate their 8th and 9th birthdays, I get to work with my wonderful husband, Steve and we live here.  Our work is our home, our home is our work. The team we have around us are fantastic, our locals are amazing and supportive and the guests that we welcome are eager to share this wonderful experience.

So what was my paradise found today?  Coming home and getting to work and be apart of something so special.