This is taken directly from the Wikipedia:
"Port Waikato is on the south bank of
the Waikato River at its outflow into the Tasman Sea, in northern New Zealand.
Now a small town with a population of under 300, it was an important port
during the New Zealand Land Wars of the 19th century. The Port has a Wharf
Store, established 1893, a take-away shop, café, campground, library, community
hall, fire station, surf lifesaving club, yachting club and an active fishing
club.
Port Waikato is a well-known surfing and
whitebaiting destination and a popular holiday spot. Fish can be caught off the
rocks and surf beach, and off the sand dunes that border the river mouth.
Flounder and mullet are also plentiful using drag nets. It is also one of the
few places dinosaur fossils can be found in New Zealand.
Just south of the town are spectacular
limestone outcrops where Weathertop footage from the Lord of the Rings was
shot.
A school camp was established near the town
in the 1920s, which boasts a well-formed BMX track. Port Waikato also serves as
a popular wedding destination."
I used to come here occasionally more than ten years ago when I was involved with the engineering needs of the then Franklin District Council - thankfully not much has changed in the meantime. Although work-wise I was never here at sunset which is an entirely different matter, scenically.
Just a little chilly.
The black magnetic sand here makes for some unusual reflections.
Back inside the river mouth - adjacent to the wharf (below) and the shop mentioned above.
