West Coast Beaches

So, I heard the sand was black, I saw a black sand sample at the Arataki Visitor Centre, but I hadn't been there myself, until recently...

Did you know the sand is black! Like seriously!!

Coming from Brisbane I am used to white / golden sandy beaches, where you squelch through the sand, having it squeak like a dog toy with every step taken, releasing heat directly into the underside of your feet, and jumping from foot to foot, saying, "Burny, Burny" madly grabbing a towel to put down so you can stand and gain some relief.

I am also used to being able to brush the sand off with your hand afterwards... except of course the sand that invariably ends up in your swimmers.

It's nothing like that here!

The sand here sticks to the feet, and you really need to wash it off, rather than just brush it away, it comes home with you, on your shoes, in the car, on the towel you just brushed your feet with and stuck to the tires of the car.

The beach itself is very different, bigger waves, and the day we were there it was so very windy. All the white caps kept getting blown away, have a look at the piccies below :)

 The sand really is black!

Like... really black!

Yet people still swim and surf - admittedly in full wetsuits...

And they walk the dog...

And fish off the rocks... Just like any other beach I've been too... almost.

 Just a bit more wind :)