We went to a NUDE BEACH this weekend!

Now that I have your attention.

Not that Lance and I participated.  James did briefly between diaper changes.  Truth be told, the nude beach was about 10 minutes of our 4 hour experience, but it seemed like a good way to start the entry.

We went to Long Bay Regional Park on Sunday, along with 50% of Auckland's population.  Note to self, get there EARLY next time.  Parking was chaotic.  We heard a swear word or two dropped (not by us, we kept it classy with a baby in the car).  It was a beautiful park on a semi-peninsula.  We originally went there for a hike I found online, only to discover that there was a large beach and playground, complete with picnic and grilling sites.  It looks like a popular place for locals to gather with friends and family for a relaxing day.  Maybe a birthday party with giant blow-up jumping castles (saw a couple).

We bypassed all the people and made a beeline for the trailhead.  All of a sudden, we were the only people around.  The clusters of people abruptly ended as soon as the hiking started.  I guess no one wanted to work for it.  That was fine by us.  We don't go hiking for the crowds anyway.

It was a 3 hr hike round trip (they call it 'return trip' here) and we planned a lunch halfway through.  The hike took us along the sea cliffs on the way there, and you can hike back along the coastline at the base of the cliffs on the way back if you time it with low tide.  You have to start the return trip within an hour to either side of low tide, otherwise you might end up swimming part of the way.  Being the planner that I am (Lance just laughed), I checked the tide ahead of time.

The cliffs offered a beautiful view of the ocean, and the rock formations along the shoreline looked beautiful through the different shades of blue in the water.

We saw some people riding horses through the shallow sandbanks during low tide.  What a life, riding a horse through the ocean!

After lunch on the exposed rocks midst the mussels and seaweed, we took a leisurely walk back, hopping over tide pools and trying not to slip and fall on the muddy patches. I tried to catch hermit crabs before they could scurry back into their shells, but alas, I wasn't quick enough.  The variety of rocks and their unique ways of eroding made for beautiful scenery.

Halfway back you hit the nude beach.  Full blown.  It's kind of hard not to look.  Lance and I discussed if we would rock the birthday suit if the opportunity presented itself.  I voted for just topless, and Lance said he would, but only if he had a guarantee that he wouldn't burn. Ouch.  Pale skin combined with lack of previous exposure makes me think that it's not in his future.  Oh well, we will just have to be content with walking on past.  Close your eyes, James.