MATAKANA !

Elvis cow, in the building!

Matakana is wine country and meandering river valleys with stunning coastline. Each time we come here, we explore a different part.


Girls in the gardens

The Matakana Market is filled with little stalls selling whitebait fritters, giant organic olives stuffed with garlic or cheeses, chunky fruit chutneys, jams spilling out of their jars, lemon and lime curds, edible flower salads and frosted cupcake stalls.


At the waterfall

We wandered around listening to the jazz singer, clambered down to the waterfall for a photo and browsed the arts and crafts in the town, being very tempted by the jewellery there.


Matakana River views

We stopped off at a Farmers Market on the way to the beach and discovered some strange cows - Milton Keynes Cows cannot compare! We posed with the Buzzy Bee and Elvis ones!!


Buzzy Bee cow?

Then we headed for Goat Island in the afternoon to do some snorkelling. It was a little bit wavy, the glass bottom boat did a steady trade (I was asked for tickets more than once, could have made some money!)


Goat Island


Greg says he saw an eagle ray (yeah right) and plenty of snapper. Shame we couldn't catch any for our evening barbeque, it's a marine reserve, no fishing allowed!