A Day Without Bathing Suits Outcome

‘A Day Without Bathing Suits’ at Papamoa Beach, set for Saturday 29th January, was upset by the weather and postponed until the Sunday. On Saturday, when we put up ‘postponed till Sunday’ notices, the water at low tide was up to the high tide mark, with huge surf breaking well out, so not a good day for swimming. But once Cyclone Wilma had finished wreaking havoc on the area and moved on, the sun came out and the wind dropped to make a very pleasant beach day.
On Sunday, over 40 people visited during the day, including 4 families with young children.
We had a volleyball net up and a few exerted themselves to toss the ball and tenniquoits around. Several people played petanque. The surf was warm and not too wild. We handed out brochures about naturist venues in the area and collected $150 for the local surf clubs. I sent some of the money to the Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club and the rest to the Omanu Beach Surf Club, as they both did a patrol to our area. Thanks to all present for your donations. You were very generous. I advertised the event on www.eventfinder.co.nz and got over 6500 hits!
So all in all it was a great day out and everyone is keen to do it again, so we have pencilled in Sunday 6th March as another family day at the beach (cyclones permitting)!

A day without bathing suits - Papamoa Beach

Off to Papamoa Beach today. Beach volleyball, tenniquoits and petanque for the energetic, fishing, surfing and swimming for those who like getting wet and lazing about for those who like to laze about! Come along and bring the family.
A collection will be taken for the local Surf Lifesaving Clubs, so bring some cash. They will do patrols of the beach for us.

Our Northland holiday

Col and I spent a wonderful few days in sunny Northland after the rally. We were wined and dined for three days by Bruce and Marguerite who own Brumar, a naturist homestay on a working avocado orchard near Kerikeri. They took us fishing at a lovely Northland bay, where we could go naked as well. They also organised a gathering of NZ Naturists (formerly Supporter Group) members from the far north for a lunchtime BBQ, which was a great way to end a fabulous few days. We can thoroughly recommend Brumar for a great time with great hosts. http://www.gonatural.co.nz/brumar/

We then took the ferry to Russell and stopped off for a swim at Waitata (Donkey) Bay. This small bay, a short walk around the headland from Long Beach is protected by a covenant through the QEII Trust as a naturist beach. High above the beach is the property owned by an Italian couple Stephania and Antonio who also run a naturist homestay called ‘Waitata Bay’. I had arranged to meet Stephania and after a quick phone call, she came down to the beach to greet us. She offered to show us around their enterprise, which is luxury with a touch of class and European artistic flair. They are completely self-sufficient, right down to the electricity generated by sun and wind. The ‘Potting Shed’ accommodation is something really different, with no solid walls. Each room is separated by tropical and native plants in planter boxes and the bed – WOW! You climb steps up onto it and the bed head is a window with a view over the beach, which is stunning. But there is more – the skylight allows you to sleep under the stars in luxury. This is a great place to stay if you want a homestay with a difference. http://www.waitatabay.co.nz/

We then headed further south, dropping in to Uretiti for a swim then after escaping Auckland to Opoutere Beach to check out the camp ground for our February meeting. It was so nice there that we ended up staying the night. Col had a dip here and also at the venue for our April beach day at a secluded part of Waihi Beach, where again we could swim au naturel.

A 'Taste of the Bay' nakation at Hawke's Bay Naturist Club

With the theme of the NZNF rally being ‘A Taste of the Bay’, each day had a different taste, from sport and leisure, fresh produce, health and relaxation to art deco. Apart from the usual sports programme, social events included a concert and a “Bach to Bacchus” night, (toga a must, except for the unfortunate slaves)! We drank wine and were hand-fed grapes, while being kept entertained by two violinists who performed many classical tunes and Christmas carols. New Years Eve was seen in with a live duo and fireworks. The next morning, a catered cooked and continental breakfast saved those of us with sore heads from cooking our own and what teamwork! If one particular food ran out, it was immediately replenished. Then that night, after a catered dinner, a hypnotist kept us entertained into the night, with willing subjects doing things that they couldn’t remember – but we can! What a great start to the New Year! The 5th day was themed ‘Art Deco’ and in keeping with the 1930s, deco hat making and vintage car rides were the order of the day, while listening to a duo playing 1930s songs. After a raid at gun point by a rough lot of agents looking for the notorious Ken Capone, the entertainment for the final night at the Sunflower Speakeasy had the Twin City Stompers band playing on well into the night.