Let me introduce you to New Zealand’s Ninety Mile Beach. Here’s a picture of one of the most isolated and gorgeous beaches in the world, and being a Kiwi, I just had to bring it to you. The top map is for you to get a grasp of where it is within the country, sitting at the topmost peninsula of the North Island. The second map is of the beach itself and the whole 90 miles runs in a complete, straight line.
Yeah, wow! I drool just looking at all this untouched beauty, and I mean untouched. Because would you believe Ninety Mile Beach is an area with next to no residents? Seriously, I’m not kidding you. There is like a lighthouse overseer at the cape Ninety Mile Beach runs to, and apart from that, perhaps three houses along this entire stretch of land.
Now, to let you in on a little secret–Ninety Mile Beach isn’t in fact 90 miles long. No. It’s much shorter–very tricky. Let me tell you how the name Ninety Mile Beach came about. Around 1840-1860 (no one is actually quite sure on the exact date), missionaries traveled on horseback along this beach to estimate the distance. Back in the day, the average horse could travel 30 miles before needing to rest. (A fact I found most interesting since I’m not a horse-person.) Now, the clever missionaries took three days to travel the beach, thereby giving Ninety Mile Beach its fabulously incorrect name. Very dishonest of them, but they’re forgiven. So, to explain how they made this terrible error—it was because they walked their horses on sand, the pace of their travel slowing radically.
Ah-huh, these missionaries sadly covered only 18.4 miles per day, meaning, yes, you got it, Ninety Mile Beach is in fact 55 miles long. But hey, as is the Kiwi way, I’m giving them a hearty clap for at least trying.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s post and feel a touch more enlightened on some amazing New Zealand history. If you’ve noticed I’ve spruced up my website and it’s undergone a change. I’d like to point out that where I update my current weekly news under “News This Week”–it is in fact still there, although I’ve moved it to a tab-button position which means it’s not immediately visible. So, if you wish to see what I’m up to at a glance, just click on the “News This Week” tab to check it out. Which you should! 🙂 Just saying! 🙂
Okay, enough from me–who’s feeling in a cheeky kind of mood. Have yourselves a wonderful day, and I’ll catch you all next week.
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Reblogged this on Eco Green Travel.
Hi Stephen, thanks for the reblog. Love it.
Best,
Joanne
You’ve gone all pink on us! Glad to read that you changed your site, though. Thought it was a flashback there for a second. 😉
Hi Tim,
There is definitely more pink than I thought would show. Hey, thanks for leaving a comment–on this new theme the comment field is in quite a different location, so I’m hoping everyone who needs to comment can find it. It’s good to know you did.
Best,
Joanne
Don’t take my comment too seriously, Joanne. The pink is nice and feminine… as long as it’s not elephants. 😉
LOL. Thanks, Tim. No elephants shall be used–I promise.
It is a truly beautiful beach, unfortunately last time I was in the area to visit was the biggest storm in 10 years and it was too wet to even get out of the car to go explore.
Oh no, that’s terrible. So annoying–I’m sorry. I’ve been right up to the north cape three times, and even body-surfed the sand hills. Those are cool–and a little bit of Arabia right here in NZ. Thanks for commenting–I love hearing what others have to say.
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