Just over an hour's drive from the city, you will find
yourself in a different world. The
Awhitu Peninsular is spectacular and largely unspoiled.
Awhitu means 'a longing to return' in Te Reo (Maori)
and you will once you are lucky enough to have been there.
Just about 2500 people live there permanently although
there are also some baches (what we call holiday homes) so the population
doubles in summer.
It was the site of New Zealand's worst maritime
disaster in 1863 – the Orpheus foundered on the bar and 189 of the 259 souls on
board perished.
It is the site of the Manukau Heads Lighthouse. This coast is not for the faint hearted –
like much of the West Coast it is pretty rugged.
The place to stay is the Castaways Resort – not completely
luxurious but the setting is just stunning.
Beautiful!
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