First day of summer today, 1st December and first Christmas function attended.Shame it started with rain and wind, but the sun did make an appearance in the afternoon. Had a lovely couple stay overnight who are walking the Te Araroa walkway, all the way from Cape Reinga to The Bluff. Dropped them off at Bream Tail for their days walk to Mangawhai and had a meassage to say they had arrived and chosen to stay in the camp opposite Bennetts Chocolate Factory, so I hope they had a lovely chocolatey dinner,

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy start, but sunshine and blue skies later. Very windy but warm. Rain is predicted for the next few days before another high hits mid week and the sun returns in time for the weekend.

SURF REPORT

Surf is up today and despite the early rain it is very warm and mild. Even seen some windsurfers out and about and the sea is warm.

GENERAL NEWS

Following the terrible fire that destroyed three businesses in the Main Street, I am happy to report that the Waipu Deli Cafe has reopened in a little bach opposite their original shop, next door to the Gas Petrol station and the Pharmacy is due to reopen in a relocated bach behind the Toy Library and next to Magic Takeaways next week. Malcolm Harker is also hoping to have a 'Pop Up' shop open in time for Christmas and a new ATM is being sourced for the main street - an announcement is expected soon.

The"Madly Indian" restaurant, cooking tasty Indian dishes from the Punjab area, continues to be a local favourite as well as the famous Pizza Barn which now has it's own brewery on site making award winning beers. There are also new owners for the Waipu pub and hotel who are currently refurbishing it for a big re-opening on 8th December. The pub is hoping to start offering meal deliveries! The local Fish 'n' Chip shop - Magic Takeaways is as popular as ever. Food is also available at the local RSA club (opposite the Fire Station) at reasonable cost. There is a new cafe in Waipu called Salt 'n' Pepper right next door to Madly Indian. The Waipu Cove Cafe has become very popular and does takeaways too. So lots and lots of food choices available.

The Waipu Museum intends to be the best small museum in the Southern Hemisphere - come and check it out for yourself. To commerate the start of WWI the Waipu Museum has installed story boards around Waipu telling some of the stories of the local brave men and women who lost their lives in the Great War, so that we can always remember them. For more info visit www.waipumuseum.com

NATURE REPORT

Zany's Haven supports and is a subscriber to the New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust. Once common, this small shorebird is now in danger of extinction with less than 40 birds left in New Zealand. Within easy walking distance of Zany's Haven is one of the few sites, at the Waipu River Estuary, were they still breed.

The Fairy Terns breeding season was hailed a success again. Lets hope the success continues after disasterous previous years with feral cats attacking nests and birds, to people trampling on chicks two days from being able to fly. The DOC rangers have been working hard to trap the cats and educate the beach goers, but even they can not be there all the time. Please be mindful of the rich wildlife at the Waipu River Estuary Reserve. Other birds can also be seen at the Reserve including rare NZ birds such as the NZ Dotterel, Caspian Tern and Variable Oystercatchers. Please remember dogs are not allowed in the reserve area.

EVENTS

Highland Games every January 1st in The Caledonian Park, Waipu. Book accommodation early as Waipu soon fills up!

Waipu Easter Carnival on Easter Saturday in The Caledonian Park, Waipu.

Waipu Wearable Arts Show and Waipu in Tartan runs in July visit www.waipumuseum.com for more info

Waipu Street Market and Antique Fair are on every long weekend, the anniversary weekend in January. Then for Queens' birthday in early June and Labour weekend in October.

Boutique Sunday Market at the Waipu Coronation Hall on the Second Sunday in every month, check out the website www.waipumarket.co.nz

For more information check out www.breambay.co.nz

A WALK TO THE LOCAL WAIPU WILDLIFE RESERVE

This is my favourite short walk that I can do before having to go to work in the mornings. It only takes an hour and means I do not have to drive my car to the start of the walk. I just walk down the drive and turn right along Cove Road to Johnson Point Road and then left down that road and I am at the Waipu wildlife reserve (about 10 minutes). I can usuallly spot Kingfishers, Herons, Shags, Dotterels, Fairy Terns, Oystercatchers and a variety of seagulls. I usually like to go at low tide (when you can, if you so desire, access the beach across the estuary and go for a swim or if I have longer walk to Waipu Cove and back. A walk of 2 hours.) What makes this walk so interesting is the constant changes that happen at the mouth of the Waipu river estuary. The sand banks are never same and river is always changing its course to the sea. It is always good to go after a storm when the changes are at there most drastic and you can really see the power of nature. It always amazes me. It is also funny to see what washes up on the tide too. After a particularly bad storm you could see garden gates, perfectly cut logs that had been waiting to go on someone's fire, boots and shoes and even a garden chair! Funny thing is they all disappeared rather quickly. Guess I am not the only person who likes this walk. Why not come and try it for yourself?