Simpson’s Beach
I
an Patrick has been kind enough to
provide his stunning photography for
various feature stories over the year,
including the recent bee and marine
animal articles. And now we’ve landed
in his home territory – Matarangi.
Ian has been taking pics of all sorts of things natural since he got his first
camera in 1960, purchased from his very first pay packet. Retirement has
provided more time to indulge his passion for capturing the essence and
wonder of creatures and places in our surroundings, and his travels both
inside NZ and abroad have provided plenty of fodder.
This humble community-minded photographer has the eye and patience
for catching amazing moments of extreme beauty. Ian’s book
Matarangi
Moods
includes images taken from Opito to Whangapoua – contrasting
scenes of subtle sunrises and calm
harbours to the tempestuous fury of
a raging storm. His hard cover ‘coffee
table’ book is a ‘must have’ if you live in
the area or want to remember it after a
visit. Copies are available for only $20.
Visit
order your
copy or to view more of his incredible
photos from all over the world.
Wharekaho (Simpson’s Beach)
I can’t believe I’ve lived in Whitianga for 18
months and have only just been to Simpson’s
Beach! I’d whizzed past so many times on my
way to Kuaotunu and Otama, and never made
the stop until very recently. It was such a
lovely warm day, Summer starting to turn to
Autumn, and my best friend suggested we take
a different walk, rather than our usual
Buffalo Beach route. It took just 5 minutes to
drive there and felt like a world away!
I’ve got so used to admiring the distant peaks
of Maungatawhiri from Whitianga town that
it was quite a surprise to see them at such
close quarters! There they were, framing the
end of Simpson’s Beach with their stunning
patchwork of green hues; swathes of smooth
grass and spiky bush areas, and all the fascinating dips and
rises in form creating wonderful patterns of shade.
The beach is lined with baches set back from the sand, each
dwelling full of personality, and I understood completely why this is
such a cherished destination for so many people.
W
harekaho, also known as Simpson’s Beach, is named after the early
settler family that owned much (and still owns some) of this area and
Kuaotunu. R.A. “Alf” Simpson wrote the historic book
This is Kuaotunu
in 1956 (see pages 16-25 ). The beach itself is a stunning curve of
pristine white sand with iconic pohutukawa, common to Coromandel
beaches, leaning their ancient bowers – resembling thick twisty ropes –
over the sand.
At the northern end, a stream provides endless fun and exploration for
families. A Simpson family-owned paddock offers cheap stopovers for
self-contained campervans, and other accommodations are available.
Grab a piece of this kiwiana beach bach paradise!
Meet the simpsons...
29
& Photographer...
Ian Patrick
Photo below:
1043 State Hwy 25 • Whenuakite • Beside Seabreeze Holiday Park
07 866 3830 •
Open 11am till late
Try our quality
brews while
viewing the
brewer at work
CLOSED FOR JULY
•
•CHECK WEBSITE FOR HOURS & CURRENT MENU
R.A. “Alf”
Simpson
The Simpson’s Beach namesakes were so plentiful in the area, they had
their own team, called the ‘All Simpson,’ pictured here in 1954 after a
winner. They are related to R.A.Simpson, the author of
This is Kuaotunu.
