Castlepoint

I finally got to visit Castlepoint, a reputed surf spot a couple of hours away from Wellington. I didn't go for the surfing, as mine has been practically non-existent since I got here, but for the scenery which was apparently beautiful.

So off I went, one sunny Sunday 2 weeks ago, taking advantage of the fact that it hadn't been sunny for a while and that I felt like a mini-road trip.
Castlepoint is in the Wairarapa, a wilder region north of Wellington, I had visited the small inland towns and villages before, as well as the south coast, but this time, I was off to the east coast, and after 2 1/2 hrs' drive, through beautiful hills, some bush-clad, others not, often sporting some stunning mimosa trees, I got to the little village I had wanted to see for months.
I was really wowed, it was much more beautiful and interesting than I had imagined.
First I took a walk to the lighthouse; it was very windy so I had to be careful managing the walkway and the steps, But there were stunning views to be had once there.
Next, I went to the opposite side of the long beach to the surf spots. It was going off, but I didn't see many surfers. However, there was a guy on one of those motorised machine (is it called a jet-ski? I am drawing a blank here) and he was flying over the top of some waves! Pretty awesome to watch.
Finally, I went to the reef, which is quite steep and impressive, but didn't get too close to the edge... lots of warning signs there!

After lazing about in Castlepoint for a while, I drove on to Riverdale, another sea-side village further down the coast, after a long detour inland to reach it. It was quite pretty, but not as stunning as Castlepoint. Next time, I should go earlier though, it must have been better to see it in full sunlight, not at dusk.
I stopped in a little cafe on the way between the 2 villages, and got chatted to by some local ladies who were very friendly and curious to know where I was from, what I was doing in NZ etc..! it was quite lovely and I ended up buying a couple of beautiful postcards that a local must have taken the photos for. People can be so friendly in these parts.

So I went home, content to have made it there on such a beautiful day, rather than having stayed in town for another weekend.