Tag Archives: beaches

Fingal Head

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I’m back in New Zealand now, after a fab hol from my travels in Australia. I’ve returned a little bit browner (mostly my feet), a little bit blonder, a fair bit poorer, however richer in friends and surf boards. Yes I have my own board! All thanks to a generous, hunky Aussie guy (God bless Tinder). Now nothing can stop me owning the waves! Apart from maybe the impending New Zealand winter and the fact that I’m moving to Queenstown, which is 3.5 hours from the coast. Minor issues.

So Australia was my last foray in freedom before climbing back on the old 9-5 (or whatever hours anyone will give me), and settling down for a bit in NZ. I had it all planned out. Before Fingal came along and threw a spanner in my thoughts. Welcomed to stay in an amazing house, with lovely people in an incredible location, I got more than a little bit hooked on this Lake House lifestyle. Smoothies, surfing, sunshine, running, yoga and a canoe on the lake; I knew it would be a bit of a wrench to leave.

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It was a gorgeous location for running, and I worked out a nice 45 minute route before long: Starting by the lake in front of the house, running up along the white sand beach, up over the point past the lighthouse and back down alongside the river. The weather was unreal (ok maybe a bit too hot at some times of day), and made for picture-postcard photos on my second last run here. My last run along the beach was overcast and cloudy; lovely running conditions but not so stunning for photos, so I left the camera behind. Typically this was the day I saw a pod of dolphins dancing in the surf. It was such a magical encounter and I was glad to just breath in the awesome scene and watch them play. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

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After a few days in my latest paradise, it was time to get ready to leave. I had had many urges to stay and live the dream, somehow. But my plans in New Zealand still stood, including some pursuit-of-dreams plans which could mean big changes to my little life. And I’m sure there are more paradises waiting to be discovered on my upcoming journeys…I’ll let you know.

Tayrona National Park

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People who know me may be aware of the recent development of my passion for hammocks. It’s quite lucky really, as the travellers’ trail is bountiful when it comes to hammocks. So the prospect of sleeping in one, on a beach in a National Park, which is only accessible by a two hour trek through the jungle, is something I have been looking forward to especially. Tayrona National Park is a popular destination for adventurous tourists and travellers from across Colombia, South America and the World. After some hours travelling I arrived at the campsite and was assigned my bed for the night, in a hut with 45 other paradise seekers. After a few shots of aguardiente on Saturday night I slept like a baby, gently rocking in her crib (and sometimes rocking into her neighbours).

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I woke bright and early to the sounds of birds singing and waves lapping the shore. I donned the bare essentials and ventured out to find the lesser visited beaches around the next bays. Barefoot running on golden beaches and through tropical jungle feels pretty primal and exhilarating. I could totally be a tribeswoman. Emerging from the jungle I was greeted by a long stretch of glistening beach, blue sea, virgin sand and not a person in sight. I may not have believed it this time last year, but waking up at 6.30 does have its benefits.

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After running the length of the two beaches beyond the busier beaches at the camp, including the (empty) nudist beach, I turned back and re-entered the jungle. Hearing a loud rustling on the forest floor I stopped to spot the culprit and saw a strange pig-rodent creature a few metres away. On googling ‘pig rodent’ just now, it seems I might have seen a ‘Capybara’. The strange creature didn’t hang around for long and I continued on my way. Taking a different path I suddenly popped out on the shore again, this time over high rocks, the Caribbean Sea crashing against them below. Feeling so excited and exhilarated by my whole morning run experience, it was the first time I have ever been compelled to take a selfie on a run. I clearly just wanted to capture the sweaty, magical ecstasy of the moment.

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After 2 nights, paradise was getting a bit costly and it was time to move on. I made the trek back to civilisation alone and early, a combination I seem to be enjoying at the moment. Since the jungle route wasn’t so busy I was lucky enough to spot a family of monkeys, who also came to take a look at me walking past. Leaving the beaten track certainly has its rewards sometimes.