Foxton is the town you kind of blow through to get somewhere else….that’s what Rosie and The Operator thought till they turned off the main highway, unpeeled the layers of the onion and bothered to have a look around.
I think its fair to say the town has three faces, which, are deceptive to the average person who has never visited before….the first impression you get from the town is the one we all see from the highway as you blast through, a few shops and houses on the main road and you think ‘Is that it? Not worth stopping’…your head then does an involuntary whip back over your shoulder,”did I just think I saw…nah, couldn’t have…’ and you drive on.
The second face is when you turn off the main road and drive into the town proper….yes,the town proper is off the main road and then you confirm what you thought you saw….yes, there is a life size Dutch Windmill in Foxton…peeking over the rooftops as you blast past from the main road. The third face of Foxton is the beach community about 5km from the main road….this includes another mini town (minus the shops), a campground and a beautiful tidal estuary. Makes you want to read more doesn’t it!
Seeing as Rosie and the Operator were staying at the Foxton Beach Holiday Park lets start there. It doesn’t have a dedicated website (but you can find them through the Jasons accommodation site) but, that seems typical of the laid back owners, ‘why advertise when everyone who is in the know, knows about us’. The camp office (left) and the site as a whole was kind of like a throwback to the camping heydays of the 1960/70s. Most of the campsites are semi permanent, the caravan with the added on room or deck built off the front showing true kiwi ingenuity and a lust for the summer camping lifestyle with abit more class and comfort.
These guys are serious campers, fishing boats and quad bikes were parked outside their holiday abodes and they seemed to be there for the long summer, Rosie and the Operator were only day trippers so were directed to a large grassed area at the front left rear of the camp and told to park wherever we liked. We were soon joined by Bean and The Biker who had decided to enjoy a night under canvas and explore the locale with us. The Biker was trialing a two man hiking tent…it went up very quick and was very cosy, and I mean sleeping with your nose in your companions armpit cosy……..not Rosies cup of tea, once on the ground I would never be able to get up!
It was a hot day, one of the few we have had this Southern Hemisphere summer so we all decided to go to the beach for a swim…..the actual swimming beach is a little way from the campground, a long stretch of sand that goes for miles and is actually a designated road, meaning cars, quadbikes and motorbikes are able to travel the sand abiding by the laws of the road. It was a tad breezy which was perfect for these land yachts which were cruising further up the beach, there is plenty of room for everyone here on this beach!
Rosie wasn’t brave enough to get her pink bits out and go for a swim but The Operator raced Bean to the waters edge followed by The Biker. The surf was big and because of all the rain of late you had to dodge a few logs and abit of debris that was being washed in but it was all good fun. Brilliant toilets and showers were there for swimmers to wash the sticky sand off afterward. It is a really tidy location with surf patrol on standby for swimmers and a nice, breezy non over crowded beach.
Back at the campground to get towled off and after a couple of vigorous games of ‘improvised-camp table-with-a-hole-in-the-middle-reverse- tiddlywinks’….(the things you devise to keep Bean occupied) we cooked a meal of fry pan kebabs and went for a walk in the evening sun. Bean took his scooter and Rosie and The Operator had an education at the local skate park…there was steep curves, dips and bowls, airtime and waiting for your turn…then Rosies worse nightmare…Bean took a tumble, it looked bad, he was on the ground, he stood up with a fierce look of courage…young lads clustered round to see if he was alright…Rosie wanted to run into the midst and scoop him up….hold back Rosie….he is a big bean now! The Biker moved forward, Bean picked up his scooter mumbled he was alright to his skating companions and limped to the side where we waited…he was chewing his lip and looking determined not to cry! Blood was dripping from his knee, The Biker gave him a squeeze, one tear fell out and Bean sucked the rest up! Brave Bean! He left that skate park with a badge of honour bloody wound with a hanky wrapped around it like a gangster.
Outside the gates of the campground you turn right to the river mouth, a bleak debris strewn piece of beach perfect for surf casting or launching small boats straight into the river. Alot was going on here, people walking and fishing, kids being shown how to ride their first motorbike and alot of traffic driving from A-B. The skate park and a kids play area was on a reserve 100 metres directly in front of the campground. Just past the park is the start of the Foxton Estuary which has a lovely walkway that borders the swampy reserve on one side with lovely houses on the other. The sun was strong and about to start its decent for the evening as we wandered along the path. Its a nice easy walk that will take you right round the bay to the boat launching ramp.
A cute collection of colourful Bach’s gives way to more luxurious abodes. The tide was nearly in and this made the estuary very pretty in the yellow light, lush grasses and mud flats were alive with bird life and information boards are placed around the walkway to give you an insight into what you might see out in the water. The river mouth was ugly and utilitarian….but the estuary had a peace and tranquillity about it that was beautiful.
Back at the campground Bean and The Biker turned into their tiny tent for the night. Bean was giggling like a crazy thing as he hopped into his sleeping bag, so excited. Rosie and The Operator retired to their camper van, through the walls we could still hear Bean giggling away and The Biker telling him it was time for sleep and to be quiet as everyone can hear him….Rosie pipes up we can hear you….another fit of giggles pursued….next minute we hear the zip of the tiny tent go up and The Biker is putting a blanket over the top of the tent….we had pitched the tent and parked the camper right under the main streetlight in the campground…no wonder no one else was there…it was bright like daylight….Doh! Bean was still giggling.
Now about this windmill, here it is, a life size Dutch working flour mill or moelen as the Dutchies call it. Inside is a deli to all things dutch, Rosie being a former Tulip Queen and of Dutch descent is particularly partial to the black salty liquorice in the shape of euro coins. Stop their and take a tour, very interesting!
Foxton town itself is charming, full of friendly people and heaps of opp shops and second hand places…a shopping paradise for Rosie. Next time don’t fly past on the main road, take a detour and have a look around.
Rosie and The Operator are heading off to explore the Coromandel next…..The Bear and The Ballerina love this area and will be there at the same time as us…Rosie and the Operator are looking forward to plenty of travel tips from them!
