Awaroa

Clear blue skies and a soft breeze as we greeted the morn.
The itinerary stated a rest day with optional activities.
Pippi offered a morning walk up along the Estuary to take advantage of the low tide. We all decided to take up this option.
It was an easy 2.5 hour return walk. We walked along the estuary flats stopping to check out the DOC hut along the way. The backpackers were making plans to start their crossing across the estuary, having a 2 hour window period either side of low tide.  Up in the foothills, there were remnants of the old Awaroa schoolhouse. There were no interpretative signs, but Pippi read from a book about the building and it's construction.
Back in time for lunch.



There was another optional walk offered for the afternoon, but we decided to have some beach time. We walked along the beachfront of Awaroa Bay for an hour. There was a change brewing, with a cool breeze chopping up the water. But not to be deterred, I donned the bathers and had a short brisk swim. The afternoon breezes did abate later, just in time for a magical sunset with the calm waters of the estuary providing a gorgeous backdrop.