McLaren Falls (1)


This post was published on Sunday 6 January 2019.

Jess drove her first long journey today, from Hot Water Beach to McLaren Falls, via Tauranga (toe-run-gah), for some additional supplies.

Along the way we passed through various small towns, which are much more North American than British – which surprises me. The main road goes through the middle, arrow-straight, with large one-storey stores and restaurants set back from the road.

What is also unusual are the huge hedges by the sides of the road. They must be 15-20m high, and quite narrow, but cut so straight. We think they are for protecting crops from the elements, particularly the wind which is quite blustery here. A few times we have seen vines planted on the other side of the hedge.

Along the way we stopped off for some additional supplies, at Jess’s favourite shop PAK’n’SAVE... here is the inside piled high with all sorts of ‘exciting’ things...

McLaren Falls is described as a ‘hidden gem’ – possibly because the waterfall is only a waterfall once a week, when they open the sluice gates on the dam on Sunday mornings (!). We didn’t actually realise that, so it was a complete coincidence that we had arranged to be here on the day when the waterfall is actually a waterfall, instead of a trickle.

It did mean it was rather busier, as it was super hot again today – but it was great arriving hot and sticky, and jumping into the river!

After we’d had our fill of the falls, we headed into the park to find our spot for the night. It’s very relaxed here: you get to choose your own spot. We drove around, and found a nice shaded place next to a picnic table...

We got changed and headed off on a walk to find another waterfall...

..but not before a duck came sniffing around our van...