Beachlands / Maraetai. My metal detector outings of 2013..

Sunkist Bay - Beachlands

My first trip out with a loaned detector. It is a Garrett 150 and although at the lower end of detectors I must say I have  had some fun and found a few things which added interest to my outings. I've been up in Beachlands for a few days house sitting for my brother and managed to make six or seven trips to various beaches on this part of the coast. My first day on Sunkist Beach was fun but with little reward. One 20 cents coin,  hair grips, nails and loads of lengths of black plastic wire amongst the trash which I later saw was from the mesh used to bind in the rocks to the bank. I had my 9 year old niece, Ella, with me this first time (she actually found the coin) and it was a fun time. But I felt in me this beach was not going to be a goldmine. I returned the next evening and spent a fruitless but relaxing hour or so with no reward.

The next trip was a family outing to a small bay just before Magazine Bay. I had instant success finding a very large crucifix with a long chain. Not a hard find as it was not even completely buried, no digging required. Not valuable but exciting just the same. In the hour or so I spent I pulled up a single $2 coin and a very corroded 20 cent. Again lot's of trash. I was/am leaving the detector on all metal mode and digging every target. If anything it helps keep the beaches clean of rubbish.

I was anything but cross

 After a few days away I managed to spend about two hours in the early evening on Maraetai Beach by the wharf where I had seen lots of visitors over the day. I found a lot of trash but was rewarded with about $8.80, mostly 20 cents but with a couple of cold coins. I decided to come back in the morning to do the other side of the wharf so I got up up early and hit the road. It is only 5 minutes away and I set off at about 6.30 am to beat the expected weekend crowds. As I arrived at the wharf there were already two lads with detectors in exactly the place I wanted to finish off. I moved further up the beach and had a few 20 cents and then decided to go over the same ground I did the day before. Before I knew it I had $4.90 in the pocket and all in the same area I detected previously. I met the other two guys and they both had Garretts too. One an ATPro and his father a Garrett Euro I think. Both had had quite a bit of success with coins and the Pro had picked up a diamond/glass encrusted gold/plated crucifix. It was a nice thing. We chatted for a while and I was regaled with stories of finds that wet my lips. We parted and after another 30 minutes I headed home for breakfast. 

The next morning I did the same. I hit Maraetai at about 6.30 and was surprised that tents and volley ball nets were already being erected. There is a huge grass area there that gets absolutely packed. I did do a quick run over it with the ACE150 but every swing gave me a signal. Digging through Kykuya grass is not easy and it is hard to cover your tracks. I gave one target a go but it was hard going and after 10 mins I got a tear tab and I'm ashamed to say left a small mess that no doubt the grass will cover soon but I do like to leave things in a better condition than when I find them if possible. I decided that I would stick to the beach but I'm sure there is a lot to find on the grass there. If you have a sharp spade and a good detector I expect you'll pull up loads.



1958 Threepence

 

So back to the beach by the Wharf. Another $7.40 and a full set of tent pegs found in an hour or so. All in the same spot as previous finds. It seems like it replenishes itself everyday. I wandered under the wharf expecting nothing as the ATPro guys were there that day and I assumed they would have cleaned it up. But after three lumps of iron I pulled out a 1958 silver threepence piece down about 6-8 inches. I was a happy man. Not only because of the find but I was born in that same year 1958 which I found rather cool.

Next day, early evening I resisted the draw of Maraetai and instead did an exploration of Omana Bay. A lovely spot but I did feel it lacked a little energy when I arrived. I was there two hours and although I made friends with a few kids and their Mums I found three coins but $2.20 is better than nought.

Magazine Bay

 Next morning I visited Magazine bay which also has a wharf. Arrived at 5.45am, the sun just nudging the horizon and the regular soft lapping of the waves breaking a relaxing silence . The sea looked still like a mill pond and it was a wonderful place to be. They used to ship ammunition from the wharf on to barges to transport them to I'm not sure where. There are no signs of any factory which apparently was was once near where the toilet block stands. I found only 40c and the delicate remains of a shotgun shell, a few nails and three fish hooks but I enjoyed the whole experience. Again not much energy there but lots of rubbish as in plastic bags and discarded beer can/bottles which I think distorted that. I cleaned up what I could and looking back on a rubbish free bay seemed to rekindle a little spark in me. I will revisit this place when my new detector arrives from the States.

Before I had stopped at the wharf I had carried on along the coast road till I reached North road. There was a lovely little church there, attached I think, to a Marae and some of the headstones were lit up by coloured lights, it was all very surreal. There also was a bark playground in the vicinity which I felt a lot of energy from. But with no headphones and a few tents and houses nearby I thought the beeping might awaken someone who might not appreciate the early morning such as I. 

Back to Maraetai tonight after a few days off though it is a high tide early evening. We will see what we get.

Well I went there at 6.30 ish, it was still very warm and Maraetai was packed. I get a little self conscious detecting in crowds so I went for a refreshing swim, bought a parcel of hot chips and waited for the beach to clear. By nearly 7.45 it was obvious that the beach goers were hardcore and were not going anywhere in a hurry and I slipped away home via the bottle shop. I didn't mind, it was cool to see so much laughter and happiness in a world usually full of drama and worry. There was no fiscal cliff for the swimmers to ponder just the height of the splashes of the bombers jumping off the wharf. I used to lay a mean bomb at Point Erin pools off the top board 40 years ago and I did contemplate reliving my youth but the wonky knees and the tender back made me see sense. Still I'll be back in the morning at sparrows fart to check out Maraetai for the last time before heading back west.




One Day to go before heading westward to home and this is the coin haul with a small sample of the loads of other finds apart from coinage including four of 11 tent pegs.

See you out there.