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| Secretive and remote New Chum Beach |
The access to the remote and secluded New Chum Beach, an hour north of Whitianga, is along a rocky promenade before cutting across a headland, the vista then opens out and it is stunning.
It could be Fiji, Bali, Thailand; turquoise water, white, fine sand, huge Pohutukawa trees provide shade along the beach edge, cliff faces drop almost into the sea, and an offshore island for interest, nesting rare New Zealand Dotterel's, gannets overhead, sea temperature quite moderate....
But the story of the day is Fred. He saved a little 6 year old girl from sure drowning, she was getting dumped by the huge incoming waves and getting dragged out at the same time. He was the only person who noticed, so dived in and lifted her out the water, one shocked mother and traumatised little girl. Our homegrown hero.
Pizza's at an idyllic beach kitchen called Luke's, started our New Year countdown, and 2016 will have many reasons for celebrations and for gratitude for life's riches and treasures.
