The south-eastern corner of the North Island is a little bit out of hand, but it’s very rewarding to go there, especially in pleasent weather and with yummy snacks to enjoy on a bench at the seaside, far away from everything.
![And suddenly, the road leaves the endless brown fields and takes a turn to the east, along the shore.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0007_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Far away, you can see the lighthouse already.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0012_1600-640x360.jpg)
![And then, 30 km and 250 wooden steps later, we could touch it.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0015_1600-640x360.jpg)
![A view to the West.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0018_1600-640x360.jpg)
![And down ...](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0019_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Needed to sit down afterwards.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0020_1600-640x360.jpg)
![On the way back](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0022_1600-640x360.jpg)
![seals were dozing at the water side.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0031_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Black sand and big waves.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0043_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Thundering!](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0075_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Time for a walk and games in the sand.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0087_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Near Mangatoetoe.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0084_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Coastal gazania with golden orange flowers.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0100_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Lunchtime :)](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0090_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Overtaken by a farm buggy.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0089_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Cabbage tree scene. Can't wait until the ones we planted last year are that big!](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0122_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Putangirua Scenic Reserve: The gravels in the pinnacles are 12 million years old.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0110_1600-640x360.jpg)
![And the pampas grass is a weed :/](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0109_1600-640x360.jpg)
![Lookout into the badlands.](https://www.schnitzel.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160426_0115_1600-640x360.jpg)
The south-eastern corner of the North Island is a little bit out of hand, but it’s very rewarding to go there, especially in pleasent weather and with yummy snacks to enjoy on a bench at the seaside, far away from everything.