The Tale of the Trail
Alan McKenzie writes about the the story of the development of the coastal trail from Waipu Cove south to Ding Bay. Leaflets about the trail from the Museum or Camp Waipu Cove.
Story first printed in the Bream Bay News November 2011 Read more
War has never been so much fun!
Disguised behind the benign palms, elegant landscapes and authentic Devonshire teas on Waipu Cove Rd there is a real life war zone:
You’ve blasted your way through virtual battlefields from Halo to Gears of War to the gritty realism of Black Ops. You’ve been splattered with paintball pellets and crawled through the bush in full camo. But somewhere in between you know there must be a middle ground – a game which gives you the visceral thrills and the tactical rush of simulated combat without the expense and the big bruises…
This is it – Northland Airsoft
You strap into a full-face mask and helmet, load up your totally accurate replica AK-47 and flip off the safety. Out there among a third-world shantytown with gravel streets and camo-netted shacks your friends are waiting, armed to the teeth. In the next hour you’ll experience all the action of virtual reality games like Counterstike and Modern Warfare in real life, as you plant bombs, steal intel, snipe, outflank and duck into cover.
This is the hot new sport of Airsoft – essentially a game of soldiers amped up to adult levels and played out on a custom made indoor battlefield.
Will Browning is the tactical mastermind behind this new and exciting Waipu destination – right next to his parents’ brand new garden centre and cafe on Waipu Cove Road. He’s created a safe and controlled environment for friends to meet and shoot at each other, based on his experiences with Airsoft both here in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom.
And despite the menacing guns and military armor, this really is as safe as a game of tag. Kids as young as 10 can enjoy playing airsoft with parental supervision, and with the protection of a helmet, mask and goggles the ‘tag’ from a 6mm plastic pellet is far less painful than the solid whack of a paintball. Rules are strictly enforced to make sure that every game is fair and risk-free.
Players (as many as five per side right now) compete in multiple game types, with an emphasis on teamwork and tactics as they navigate alleys, shacks, oildrums and tyres in the battle zone. The fast-paced games last about an hour, with twists and special rules to keep the action fresh.
If you’ve played paintball, if you’re a keen gamer, or if you want to try an exciting new sport with your mates (one where you get to shoot them!), then Airsoft is for you. Gather your ‘special forces’ and get out of virtual reality and into real adrenaline-pumping action these holidays!
Rosemary adds her postsript: Pacifist that I am – I am on for a game – have had a lot of fun at the lazer strike with a group of friends in Whangarei.
Contact Details: Will northlandairsoft@aol.co.uk 09 4321 579 02102885616 533 Cove road, Waipu
Northland Airsoft
A sub-tropical tea garden
Marilyn Cox writes in the latest Bream Bay News (read it on line) :
Have you noticed the sign along Waipu Cove Rd. advertising a subtropical garden and Devonshire teas? Its called Rootsnshoots
This is a new venture by Sally and Steve Browning who came to New Zealand from England four years ago. Read more
Fairy tern chicks learning to fish in the estuary
Article from the Latest Bream Bay News – Read it on line here
The first fairy tern chicks to be successfully reared at the Waipu sandspit in four years are now in the process of learning to fish with their parents down at the Waipu estuary.
Department of Conservation ranger Ali McDonald said the chicks, in separate nests at different ends of the sandspit, coped well with the heavy downpours in the last week of December and now have most of their juvenile feathers.
Just before Christmas they were banded with metal rings on their legs, which will identify them for the fairy tern volunteers and DOC staff who are working on the recovery of this very endangered bird species. Ali said the chicks are exercising their wing muscles and have been making short flights.
They are starting to practise fishing for themselves though they will be reliant on their parents for some time to feed them enough to meet their energy demands.
“The good news is they are now at an age where they have the option of flying away from some of the numerous threats which made them so vulnerable as chicks, however this is only if they can react in time and predators such as cats and harrier hawks certainly remain a very real.”
Accommodation Options in Bream Bay
Are you wondering where to stay in Waipu and Bream Bay – for you or your friends? This Bream Bay Community website has a google map link off the home page to all the available optionsa to stay in the area.
From camping grounds to amazing luxury lodges and everything in between, Waipu and Bream Bay has some great options for people wanting to stay around here.
If you have a holiday let not on this map, please let me know and I will add it.
I have just opened my own place The Red Door on Riverview which is going great – have been full up for 3 weeks! I have a 2 bedroom self contained apartment and a room available for women travellers. I have met some great people – and so far on AA Been There have had 10/10 reviews which is so cool.
Waipu gets behind the RWC
The Judges
It might have been a nail biting final – but we got there, the All Blacks won!
What a relief…
On Saturday the shops in the main street who donned a teams colours and decorated their shops were judged by Huw Turner and Sue Matthews. The winner got a $100 Pizza Barn Voucher – it too was a close call! Scroll to the bottom to see all the photos Read more
Refinery visitors raise $18,000 for cancer unit
More than 4,500 people attended Refining NZ’s 50th anniversary open day at its Marsden Point refinery near Whangarei on Sunday 9 October, raising $18,000 for the Project Promise drive to fund a dedicated oncology facility at Whangarei Hospital. Read more
Walk the Waipu Coastal Trail
Waipu Coastal Trail Marker
Even many locals have not walked this trail, but those that have describe it as ‘magnificent’, ‘Awesome rocks’, ‘one of the best walks I’ve done’. The Waipu Coastal Trail has for many years been a well kept secret in Waipu, although you can talk to older folk in the area who regularly walked the coastal route from Langs Beach to Waipu Cove in their youth.
Magnificent coastal views, a small rocky beach, interesting limestone rocks, native coastal bush, great fishing and picnic spots. Allow 1.5 hours one way. for a quick transit but it warrants a more leisurely approach for rests, views, and photos and the return trip.
Refinery Celebrates 50 years with an Open Day
Marsden Point Oil Refinery turns 5o!
To help celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary this year, and to show its appreciation to its neighbours and the wider community for the support they’ve given over this time, the New Zealand Refining Company is opening its gates to the public on 9 October 2011. Read more
Join Critical Mass Cycling in Whangarei
After a winter break Critical Mass is coming back to Whangarei:
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling. It is a collective and a colourful cycling festival that takes place in over 300 cities around the world on the last Friday of each month. An infectious, international social movement that articulates issues around transport, cycling, safety and sustainability.
CRITICAL MASS IS NOT AN ORGANISATION; Critical Mass is a spontaneous, leaderless bicycle ride that occurs on the last Friday of every month in almost every major city in the world. It is regarded by many participants as celebrations of self-powered transportation as opposed to a protest or organised demonstration.
There is going to be music, fancy dress (circus theme) and loads of fun. Together we’ll make our way through the streets of Whangarei.
Join us on Friday the 30th of September at 5.30pm in front of the old Library.
