Pink and gold streaks the sky, lights begin to twinkle to life along the harbour, and the laughs of happy children and jaunty carnival music echo faintly in your ears, eliciting a sense of inexplicable nostalgia. Pine Avenue Pier is that place you come to take a break from the seriousness of life and enjoy a truly carefree afternoon. Children can go for a whirl on the merry-go-round, and watching them will make you yearn for a taste of simple childhood joys, and you might even be tempted to buy a ride for yourself. The rousing sounds of the arcade games in the Rainbow Marina contrast with the peaceful lapping of the waves make up the simultaneously spirited yet totally relaxed atmosphere that only someone who has strolled along a pier can understand. The benches are the perfect place to contemplate life, while watching the changing lights of the lighthouse and gazing at the rows of ships docked at Rainbow Harbour, including the Queen Mary.