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The Sweet Smell of Summer
It's summer again in Gisborne....time for shorts and swim togs, sunburn, and splashing in the surf down at Waikanae or Wainui, where the warm Pacific waves beckon. Out on the blue waters of the bay, white-sailed yachts cruise lazily, and fast motor-boats cut a dash, towing water-skiers on their exciting way. It's a sight to see through tinted spectacles as you lie half-asleep on the beach, and it sounds like something out of a guide-book for Hawaii, or Florida, or Cannes.
But it's all quite real, believe us, and if you're not lucky enough to live in Gisborne, and you have never enjoyed a holiday here, why not come and see for yourself?
The pictures on these pages show some of the work that goes on to prepare the beach for the holiday season, and some random shots taken in early November which suggest that even at that time summer has come in Gisborne.
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Every winter, the rivers which flow into Poverty Bay bring down a flotilla of driftwood which provides many of the local residents with a ready source of firewood. Enough is left to light November the Fifth bonfires all round the bay, and when that noisy night is over, the job remains of tidying up the beach for the summer holiday-makers.
Waikanae Beach caretaker Bill Thornton and assistants at work on the beach.
"You may have your ideas, but I think these characters are fishing, but they're drongos and they're trying to fish on dry land. Bet you they don't catch anything."
Janet Clark watches water fun in harbour channel
Scottish dancers entertaining at Vicarage garden party
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Gisborne can offer a variety of attractions for the holiday-maker. Apart from surf-bathing, these include the conventional sports of bowls, croquet, tennis and the like, motor-boating, water-skiing, yachting, fishing from shore or boat, crayfishing, and underwater fishing; There are many points of interest on the coast and inland which are worth a visit. But the big summer attractions are the beaches and sub - tropical summer climate.
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In a few weeks now, every camping lot at Waikanae Beach camp and Churchill Park camp, every seaside bach, every motel bed, and spare beds in most houses will be filled with the annual influx of holiday-makers. Here's wishing them fine weather and a happy holiday!