Pahi
Pahi is famous - or at least ought to be - for two things: its regatta and its fig tree.
You need to plan if you want to see the regatta, for it takes place on just one weekend in mid-summer each year. But it's worth going to see what is now an ancient event (it's been running for over 120 years), and which includes what is probably the most keenly fought and prestigious bath tub race in the country - if not in the southern hemisphere - with a prize of a thousand dollars or more for the winner.
The fig tree, too, has been there a long time, and seems set to be there every day for a good while yet. It stands beside the domain, its huge canopy shading a wide area, and its buttress roots reaching out dragon-like over the grass. It was planted about 1850, and it's been growing ever since. The latest measurements give it a height of 27.7 metres, a breadth (from one side of the canopy to the other) of 42.2 metres, and a girth (around the trunk at chest height) of 14.2 metres.
From there, we can follow the small seafront road past the row of baches, onto the beach, then crunch our way over the shingle round the end of the promontory and up into the next branch of the Kaipara. When the tide is right (which it usually is more than two hours either side of high tide) we can stroll on past the grassy area at the end of Dem Street, for another 500 metres or so. Beyond that, it tends to get a bit muddy. Unless we're feeling fit, or in need of getting so, it's then back the way. But we can make the walk into a circuit by going along Dem Street to its end, then going right and right again up Emay Crescent, and following this up and over the promontory. It's a stiff climb, but offers the reward of a good view of the Kaipara from the top.
You need to plan if you want to see the regatta, for it takes place on just one weekend in mid-summer each year. But it's worth going to see what is now an ancient event (it's been running for over 120 years), and which includes what is probably the most keenly fought and prestigious bath tub race in the country - if not in the southern hemisphere - with a prize of a thousand dollars or more for the winner.
The fig tree, too, has been there a long time, and seems set to be there every day for a good while yet. It stands beside the domain, its huge canopy shading a wide area, and its buttress roots reaching out dragon-like over the grass. It was planted about 1850, and it's been growing ever since. The latest measurements give it a height of 27.7 metres, a breadth (from one side of the canopy to the other) of 42.2 metres, and a girth (around the trunk at chest height) of 14.2 metres.
From there, we can follow the small seafront road past the row of baches, onto the beach, then crunch our way over the shingle round the end of the promontory and up into the next branch of the Kaipara. When the tide is right (which it usually is more than two hours either side of high tide) we can stroll on past the grassy area at the end of Dem Street, for another 500 metres or so. Beyond that, it tends to get a bit muddy. Unless we're feeling fit, or in need of getting so, it's then back the way. But we can make the walk into a circuit by going along Dem Street to its end, then going right and right again up Emay Crescent, and following this up and over the promontory. It's a stiff climb, but offers the reward of a good view of the Kaipara from the top.
SummaryLocation: Pahi, end of Pahi Road, 7 km south of Paparoa (on SH12)
Access: Car parking area beside the domain Length: ca. 1 km (one-way) Configuration: There-and-back (or can be made into a loop - with a stiff climb - by following Dems Road, Emay Crescent and Cliff Road) Grade: Flat; shingle beach Status: off leash (under control) Cafes and restaurants: Village Cafe and Cruiser Bar in Paparoa (15km) More information: |
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