Golden Bay XII: Pohara

Panorama of the Pohara Beach looking south.

The backdrop to Pohara Beach and the steep hills (Murray Peak 1101m and Mt Evans 1156m) that mark the uplift zone to the east of the Pikikiruna Fault.

Pohara is a little beach-side settlement in the deep pocket of Golden Bay between Takaka to the west and Separation Point to east.

A big flat beach at low tide it captured the shifting light of the bay in all its late summer varieties.

I'd wander down and take pictures first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Evening light from Pohara Beach looking north out of Golden Bay.

Beach development at Pohara catching the first rays of the morning sun.

Morning light over Golden Bay illuminating the northern spur of the bay heading up to Farewell Spit.

The intertidal zone at Pohara Beach. — Blues on blue: the intertidal zone at Pohara Beach.

The sheen and reflections on the intertidal sands at Pohara Beach.

Variable oystercatchers and reflections in pied variety at Pohara Beach.

Beachside villa at Pohara in Golden Bay.

Horse and horse and rider, Pohara Beach.

Horse mussels (Atrina zelandica) shell, Pohara. This is New Zealand's largest bivalve. — Horse mussels (Atrina zelandica) shell, Pohara Beach. This is New Zealand's largest bivalve.

Sunset to the west of Pohara Beach, late summer. — Sunset to the west of Pohara Beach, late summer. Once the sun had gone down it got surprisingly chilly.

More Pohara sunset.

And more Pohara sunset with the distinctive 'bow' shape of Mt Burnett above Collingwood clearly visible.

Golden Bay XIII: People, Farms, Industries, Houses.