It was a great setting with a wide river and steep rocky cliffs and there were lots of information boards with old black and white photographs from the gold boom years along the walk. We climbed up to access the old mine shafts, which were numerous and long in this area, and walked through the dark, unlit tunnels following the rail tracks.
Needing to cool down we pulled in at Whangamata Beach for a swim. The tide was going out and as we strolled on to the beach a horde of surfers were just leaving, so it was nice and quiet for us, although the waves were certainly huge and lively.
As we continued up the peninsular to Whitianga the landscape offered a more challenging drive through miles of forested hills, all we could see were peaks, pines, pampas grass and palm trees, everything green and healthy. We could have done with a week here rather than just 1 full day, but that is the problem with only having a short break!! We just about got to see the marina in daylight but the rest of the town and beach we only saw on strolls home from dinners out in the harbour.
Cathedral Cove came highly recommended and it was awesome, as they love to say out here (a word definitely overused). A high cliff top walkway led gradually downwards round several bays with views out across the Pacific Ocean,
enabling us to see many offshore islands, which are old volcanic domes. Our path stepped down to the beach and infront of us was a wonderful archway - the cathedral - leading through to another delightful beach, accessible at low tide.
The sky was blue and the sun hot so we had a play in the bouncy waves for a while then hiked back up the footpath and on to Hahei Beach for lunch. The waves here were pretty fearsome too and several times we got bowled over and crushed by huge rolling waves, although it looks pretty calm on the photo. The beaches really are as nice and clean as they look.
Our final beach was called Hot Water Beach for a reason and more geothermal fun.
When the tide goes out there are certain areas of the beach where hot water from below ground comes up to the surface and bathers armed with spades dig warm pools for themselves to relax in. So with a borrowed motel spade we arrived to join the groups gathered on the beach, but despite low tide time arriving the incoming waves were pretty relentless and even though we all tried our pits kept being washed away. We did get to feel the burning hot water on our feet the whole time which in itself was a unique experience but it was a shame not to have a lie down in a personal sand 'bath'. However, it is a good job that we did take this opportunity for a few dips as a massive potential super cyclone is on its way to the top of North Island where we are headed next so it could be our last chance.
I have been intrigued by the Maori words and place names and spent an hour this evening looking up words and meanings and attempting to decipher town names that we have passed. Steve thinks I am mad.
Leaving for Auckland we chose to take a direct route across the peninsular, rather than the main road, which was a 30km twisting drive on a gravelly, mostly single track road. Once again I was 'dirt-track Della' rally driving my way up and over the central range, hoping not to meet any vehicles coming towards me; it is such fun being intrepid. The driving reminded me of the days when I used to play PS2 games with Leon.
Things you don't see back home; we passed about four large, bright red road signs before we drove past the 'BUGGER CAFE' this morning.
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand by far, with a population of 1.5 million, a third of the total for the whole country. It is home to many Chinese people and has a large Polynesian population too. It also possesses the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere - the Sky Tower.
Auckland is called the 'City of Sails' due to the popularity of all things nautical, and there are many harbours and sailing boats everywhere. After a lovely lunch on a wharf side we watched the sleek Volvo Ocean Race boats racing, as they are here for a rest week in Auckland before they set off on the next leg for Brazil.
The Americas Cup boat was also in the harbour, they really are quite fanatical about sailing here. We found one of the organisers who explained everything to us about the crews and the racing, which was very helpful and then Steve got chatting to a nice young lady about the whole race and boat stuff.
We meandered around the city for a while, which is OK as cities go, and found the excited queue outside the Top Shop store, the first one out here and today was opening day, it was even a major news story on breakfast TV this morning. There were also lots of huge, weirdly sprawling trees in one of the parks.
Our B&B was a short drive north of Auckland and situated in a quiet location in the countryside. We were free to wander round the huge garden surrounding the house on all sides, as the owners were out, with beautiful landscaping and planting, loads of vegetables and fruit trees, a river passing at one corner and even some chickens! We were both rather envious.
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