Hahei Beach

With white sand, pristine aqua waters and stacks dotted off shore, this was an ideal beach. The long stretch ended at Tutaritari Reserve.

HaHei Beach, taken from the trail to Cathedral Cove

Just past the reserve at the north end of the beach, was the start of the marine reserve where no fishing was allowed. But a toe to test the temperature soon made me wonder how the fish could stand the icy waters off New Zealand’s east coast (even in mid-summer).