So today was a stonker of a hot day... so we made track to Kawhia. It's only about 45 minutes drive from here but neither of us had ever been.

It's classic small coastal town New Zealand... general store, quad bikes as normal transport and all the locals know each other.

We headed for the ocean beach and found out it was a typical west coast black sand beach... translation BURNT FEET! Yowsers it was SO hot it was burning our feet through our jandals.

Once we got settled we ate our bakery lunch and just chilled out. I swam in the surf for ages and got dragged and thrown around in the tide. Mike came in eventually and pulled out the mean body surfing skills... something I just couldn't get down. Stopped at the store for an ice block on the way home.

Great day - although we are both burnt despite being coated in sunscreen. Kiwi summer stuff and we're just glad that we made it to the beach at least once this summer.