The Coromandel

Being in the Coromandel is like being on holiday in Spain. The weather has been unbelievable the past week or so. Hitting 20oC most days with beautiful sunshine everyday. I've been living in shorts and summer dresses this week, someone which I don't think I've ever managed to do back in Scotland!

The Coromandel has so many beautiful sandy beaches and coves. The roads are pretty winding but beautiful views to make up for it. We stayed in Whitianga and visited Cathedral Cove. It was a 40 minute walk in and pretty steep in places, but it was totally worth it when we got there. A fantastic domed cove roof, which gives it its name. 

We sat in the sand and had lunch, it was so like being on holiday we didn't want to leave and do the walk back up. If it was a bit warmer we would have ventured into the sea, but we might just wait another month or so before braving that!

We also went out to Hot Water Beach. So called because when the tide goes out there is hot water beneath the sand. A natural thermal pool. Stuart went out with spade in hand and dug himself in a little hot tub.

The water was way too hot for me so I stood in the cooler waters of the sea. It was sooooo busy. I couldn't believe the amount of people on such a small stretch of beach.

There was a group of friends there that had the right idea. There was about 10 of them, all with spades, and they dug out a massive pool to sit in. They even had food and beers to enjoy while taking a soak.

Stuart spotted a ray out in the water and managed to take a picture. I think it must like the warm waters too.

Stuart has been going on about this Hot Water Beach for ages, so I think he's pretty chuffed now that he's been.

We have also been working while out here! The Bird Sanctuary we were camping at asked if we were willing to do some jobs for them. He paid us $100 a day plus free accommodation so it seemed a really good deal. We spent two days on a quad and trailer pulling out dead trees, tons of leaves and hedge cuttings, and then burning it all on massive fires. It was easy work but labour intensive work, but definitely worth the money we were paid. Plus we got to see the animals on the farm and in the park as much as we liked. I loved the horses, and donkeys, and little rabbits, and a 'chook' that kept following us around, it was like a dog.

Further on up the coast we stayed the night at another farm on the way to Stony Bay. I got up early and helped the woman on the farm feed the animals. She had two lambs, two calves and two baby kids that all needed bottle fed. I loved doing it, I've been wanting to get close to a lamb since being here. And you can't getting any closer! :-)

In Coromandel we went to the Driving Creek Railway. A few people had told us about it and said it was a must do. It is a completely hand built railway that goes 3km up the side of a steep hill. It was all built by one guy. He originally built it to bring clay down from the hill to use in his pottery, but that was only about 500m up. The rest he built for fun! Because he liked railways!

The carriages are so small because the track with its tunnels and bridges is so narrow.

It's a very cute little train journey to the top where there is a lookout.

And then the return journey back down. It took an hour and was well worth the small charge. The guy who built it is now 77 and still making pottery on site. He takes no money made from the train. The staff are paid and then the rest goes to conservation. The land surrounding the track has been planted as native forest, including 9000 Kauri trees. He's a very passionate guy!

East Cape

On the East Cape of New Zealand, at the furthest point you can go, there is an old lighthouse. We walked up to this lighthouse at 4 in the morning...why you ask? To see the sunrise. It is the first place in the world to see the new day sun. It is the first land out from the Date Line. The sunrise was beautiful, some clouds covered it a little, but it was still a beautiful thing to do and see. To be the first two people to see the sun that day.

 

Rotorua

We have spent a good few days here in Rotorua, North Island's massive geothermal area. You can constantly smell the sulphur, rotten eggs, when in town but luckily we stayed in a DOC by a small lake 30 mins outside. The camp was actually a little flooded when we were there so they didn't charge to stay. Can't complain with 3 free nights camping!

We were camped near Tarawere, the infamous volcano that erupted in 1886. The village below was completely destroyed as well as most of its inhabitants. Unfortunately there were once beautiful pink and white terraces created at this site, but the eruption completely destroyed them. We went to visit Rotorua museum to see old photos of them, it's such a shame they were destroyed, I would have loved to take a dip!

The museum was first built as a spa, and has only recently been completed as a museum. It is such a strange building as it's in the English Tudor style! Very weird to see it here but apparently it was to appeal to the English in hope that they would come stay at the Spa.

We also experienced our first Maori culture by visiting Whakarewarewa. A thermal village where a tribe of Maori still live. 

 

Guides take you on a tour of the village, and show you the thermal pools where the village people bathe, their traditional meeting house and buildings, and the steam boxes built over the ground used to cook food. We tried some Hangi pie cooked in the box and some corn on the cob, very, very tasty!

There are also three active geysers on the site. We went out to the lookout and watched then blow, it was pretty cool.

The people in the village put on a cultural show twice daily, with traditional song and dance in Maori costume. I loved it! They even performed the Haka.

While there we also had a short lesson in the Maori language. They only have 13 letters! 12 of which are in the long full version of the village name above. She told us how to pronounce the vowels and little trip ups like when you see 'wh' it's actually pronounced as an 'f'. So at least now I can make a better attempt at pronouncing the places we are travelling through.

Stuart's new look

What do you think? Stuart has decided to grow his hair long and go for the slick back and soul patch look :-) should he keep it? Or go clean shaven and a buzz cut?

Travel Map

An update of our travels.......................

Tube It

While in Waitomo you have to take a tour to explore the glow worm caves. You can take a leisurely walk, or a quiet boat ride......

 ......but instead we decided to Tube It!!

You get kitted up with a wet suit, helmet with head torch and a black inner tube ring.. They take you down into the cave and explain the Maori stories behind them, while swimming through the black waters. There were five of us in our group with our Maori guide Rodney.

While holding onto the feet of the person behind you, we were pulled by our guide through the black waters in complete darkness while looking up at the glow worms. It was really special, just like stars. But the whole time you can hear a waterfall in the background....

On reaching the waterfall you jump off backwards while sitting in your tube! I tipped too far and ended up with a mouthful, nosefull and facefull of water lol

You then have to pull yourself through the water using ropes attached to the walls of the caves. And the water was absolutely freezing I should add!

 And then the bit I was dreading, the steep slide into pitch blackness!!

But I did it!! Stuart enjoyed it a lot more than me, but it was a much more interesting way to see the glow worms.

Waitomo

In Waitomo we visited a pretty eccentric guy who ran a motel made up of an old ship, a hobbit village and a bomber plane. It was too expensive for us to justify staying the night, but it was really weird having a look around them. Very quirky!

We did quite a bit of walking in Waitomo. First to visit was the Mangapohue Natural Bridge. This arch bridge was once the roof of a cave that has now collapsed to create a gorge, and the arch is all that is left.

We then took our torches and explored the Piri Piri Cave...........no chicken inside though! :-)
This cave has not been commercialised like the others so you are free to explore for yourself. It was pitch black though, and taking photos was pretty much point, take a guess, then set off the flash.

 There were beautiful rock formations on the floor and roof, extended as far as the torch would light.

Marokapa falls has 30m of plunging foamy waters, and is a frequent backdrop to the TV series Hercules. I loved that programme as a kid, prime Sunday TV watching. :-) Stuart couldn't help but strike a Herculean pose with a beautiful rainbow in the background.