Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 30, September 1986
LANCE DEVERELL
One flight I found very worthwhile and like to recall involved departing from a handy airstrip on farmland well above sea-level at the Waihi Beach. The Cessna 6 seater single engined plane lifted off fully laden and circled out over a very blue ocean to turn south. Bowentown Heads and the distant scene towards Mt. Maunganui made a delightful picture at an altitude of 600 feet as the plane climbed higher to come around over the rich farming and orchard area of Kauri Point, heading for a low saddle in the range just south of Hikurangi, (which stands as a sentinel over the winding Athenree gorge) native bush and pine-forest made a changing scene with Gordons Lily garden and small lake showing up clearly in line of flight, from an altitude of 800 feet west of the spacious Waihi Hospital buildings with well laid out grounds, an amazing picture of the Waihi township and main street provided a colourful toy-town effect, and memories of youthful days spent here 50 years ago flooded back. Flying direct to the coast north of the town and the end of this big circular trip in sight, the plane glided in to a perfect touchdown on a roomy green field.