The area where we’ve been the last two days is called The Coromandel, which is a peninsula on the east coast of the North Island. I have to say, I’m so glad we decided to stay here two nights so we’d have more time to explore because it really is stunning scenery. From the holiday park, we walked a trail to Cathedral Cove, which is about an hour and a half hike (or as the Kiwis call it, a ‘tramp”). The weather was perfect yet again, with sunny skies and temps in the upper 60’s to around 70, so we couldn’t have ordered better. The hike takes you up around an outcropping, through dense forest of evergreens and tree ferns. The whole time we were on the trail, you could hear the roar of the waves below on the beach and when you go to the top of the trail, the views were truly breathtaking. We were able to look down on the beach where our campervan was parked, all across the bay and the numerous islands that dot it around to the north where Cathedral Cove lay. When we finally got to Cathedral Cove, it was a bit of a letdown only in the fact they have the area underneath the stone arch blocked off due to the risk of falling rocks, so you don’t actually get to stand under the arch, but it’s still a pretty cool geological phenomena.
Once back at the campervan, we were got to know our neighbors next door over a glass of wine, Lynn and Barry, and Lynn’s sister Robin. They are all from the Auckland area and just delightful to hang out with. They were here for a wedding that was taking place down on the beach not too far from the holiday park. We ended up exchanging information with them and plan on ringing them up when we get back to Auckland and go out to dinner. That’s probably the best part of travel - meeting nice people and making those fun connections that really make travel memorable.
Well, because we stayed her two nights instead of one, we had to revise the rest of our itinerary and expectations (probably more me than Jim since I’m that one that likes to go, go, go!) and instead of trying to make it all the way to the very tip of the North Island and a couple of other places in the three days we have left with the campervan, we’re going to go straight over to the West Coast and stay in one place for those days. We found a holiday park near the famous Kauri Forest, which apparently are some of the oldest trees in New Zealand, with fossilized specimens dating back millions of years. So it will be nice to just be in one place and soak up some more nature before we head back to the city on the 4th.
Sounds like the wind is picking up - we can really hear the wind and waves tonight……should be nice to fall asleep to!
Once back at the campervan, we were got to know our neighbors next door over a glass of wine, Lynn and Barry, and Lynn’s sister Robin. They are all from the Auckland area and just delightful to hang out with. They were here for a wedding that was taking place down on the beach not too far from the holiday park. We ended up exchanging information with them and plan on ringing them up when we get back to Auckland and go out to dinner. That’s probably the best part of travel - meeting nice people and making those fun connections that really make travel memorable.
Well, because we stayed her two nights instead of one, we had to revise the rest of our itinerary and expectations (probably more me than Jim since I’m that one that likes to go, go, go!) and instead of trying to make it all the way to the very tip of the North Island and a couple of other places in the three days we have left with the campervan, we’re going to go straight over to the West Coast and stay in one place for those days. We found a holiday park near the famous Kauri Forest, which apparently are some of the oldest trees in New Zealand, with fossilized specimens dating back millions of years. So it will be nice to just be in one place and soak up some more nature before we head back to the city on the 4th.
Sounds like the wind is picking up - we can really hear the wind and waves tonight……should be nice to fall asleep to!
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