For those of us who live in our corner of paradise on the dark side, a highlight of the week can be a wee visit to town – aka Whitianga.
There are two travel options including one of the shortest ferry rides in the world or an adventure along State Highway 25. Invariably, the motorist will encounter either a dawdling sightseer or a low-slung car driven by someone with a death wish.
On SH25 one can admire the amazing autumnal colours just north of Coroglen or the ever-increasing stands of privet, tobacco weed and a host of other noxious weeds along the state highway. The debris still hung up on the fences along McLeod Straight is a reminder of the regular flooding on the final approaches, not to mention braving the Moewai Rd intersection – still as dangerous as ever.
At last count Whitianga boasts 4 Opportunity Shops, 8 cafes, 3 Indian restaurants, 2 sushi shops, 2 pharmacies, 2 pubs, a dozen restaurants, 2 supermarkets and too many bottle shops.
There are a host of clothing beachy type places that are a reminder of our Whangamata cousins along the main street and the outskirts have a large number of service premises.
A favourite trip into town includes a visit to the excellent Op shops, a quick drop into the Library, morning tea at the Earth Store, lunch at Blue Ginger, New World for the fish and delicatessen, the wonderful Whitianga Butchery, Woolworths for the fruit and vegetables, a doughnut at Bay Bakery, the Post Office at Paperplus, household goods from Pinkies and the excellent selection of hardware at either Whitianga Hardware, Hammer Hardware or the Glasshouse.
Blacksmith Lane is a personal favourite with the Cancer Society bookshop and Longshore Marine well worth a visit.
We are blessed with a great selection of shops covering a great variety of consumer goods. With the economic situation and the arrival of winter there will be an inevitable downturn in business until the warmer weather and the tourists return.
A big shout out to all the people who staff all these business premises. They are unfailing friendly, helpful and great representatives of the town. They are especially patient with our rapidly ageing population.
Don’t forget there are plenty of other shops and businesses also providing excellent service in Whitianga.
Now I am off to find a good gym and a dietician, otherwise I will be in the market for a larger pair of pants.
