We visited Helena Bay Gallery the other day (which I was very impressed with) to drop off some paintings there, and ended up having a coffee and afterwards going down the road to Helena Bay which I've never been to before. It's really a classic kiwi beach, made more so by the old style baches that line it's grassy banks. Then there's the quiet estuary down the south end which harbours a few boats and a whole bunch of kids swimming and snorkelling and running and jumping in and out. A local told me that New Years is always a spectacle here because a certain bach owner who runs a fireworks import business puts on a grand fireworks display every year.