New Zealand continued.....
We overnighted in Auckland before picking up our car and driving to the Coromandel Peninsula the following morning. The Coromandel – 'Good For Your Soul' is all about fabulous beaches and rain forest and rolling hills. We based ourselves in the town of Whitianga on the North Eastern Coast for the next 3 nights. Whitianga (pronounced Fitianga) is approx. 2 ½ hours drive from Auckland but there is also a ferry service from Auckland to Coromandel town. Whitianga itself is situated by the 5km long Buffalo Beach and the town is a typical beach resort and a very popular weekend escape for the Auckland locals.
Our next 2 days exploration took us to some fabulous beaches, only accessible by boat or via a walking track. The first we visited was New Chums beach, named as one of the top 20 deserted beaches in the world. Access was from the long sandy Whangapoua Beach and it is important to visit at low tide. We had to climb across the rocky shore in order to access the partly formed track and from there, we walked for about 30 minutes. The walk was so well worth it – what a view! The practically deserted 1km long beach of white, powdery sand was framed by the rainforest. There wasn’t a house, road nor tent in view. It was a real ‘off the beaten track’ paradise.
One of the most picturesque and ‘must see’ places to visit in the Coromandel is Cathedral Cove, a famous cave/rock formation and one of the film locations for the Narnia films. Arrival by boat or kayak is the most recommended way to view this spot but we decided to walk the well laid out track which took roughly 45 mins each way. There is no parking at the entrance to the path but there is a park and ride service operating from the nearby town of Hahei. We chose to park at one of the houses close to the start of the track and the NZD$10 charged by the householder was well worth it. The path to the cove was paved all the way, a bit hilly in parts but the views were stunning. We had to climb down several flights of steps at the end of the track to arrive onto the beautiful beach. Due to its popularity, this little beach becomes really crowded in high summer season and early morning arrival is recommended. I hope you like my photos of this beautiful area.
Ten minutes by car from Hahei lies the very unique Hot Water Beach which gets its name from the hot springs which lie underneath the sand. Armed with our spades, we made little pools for ourselves and sat into our own little hot tubs! The most important thing is to visit 2 hours either side of low tide.
Next stop on our itinerary was an overnight at Mount Manganui, surf capital of New Zealand and situated in the city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. The ‘Mount’ as it is called by the locals has been voted as the best beach in New Zealand. We were here to climb the ‘Mount’ the extinct volcano which rises above the town. The summit is 232m high and it took 45 mins to reach the top and the fabulous views.
After Tauranga we headed for Rotorua, home of the Maori culture and famous for the hot springs and geysers. Our hotel was really well situated, right next door to ‘Eat Streat’, an all weather, al-fresco dining area with a retractable roof and a great choice of restaurants and bars. We had been recommended to visit the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, home to Frying Pan Lake, the largest hot spring in the world. The experience included a self-guided walk which took just under 2 hours down to the lake followed by a 45 minute boat trip on Lake Rotomahana. The walking trail covered a range of geothermal activity – hot springs, volcanic craters, nature and wildlife. The colours of the landscape were incredible and it was amazing to see the boiling water bubbling up from the ground. My favourite part was the fabulous colour of Inferno Crater. I would highly recommend this tour.
Regularly I get asked by clients if there is anywhere close to Auckland to relax and get over jetlag before commencing their self drive tour. We spent our last 2 nights in the North Island on Waiheke Island, situated just a 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland. The island was just beautiful – a true paradise. The beaches were just fabulous – long and sandy and we did a lovely hike along the clifftops from the main Oneroa Beach to Palm Beach. There are also lots of wineries on the island and many of them have lovely accommodation and are really popular for weddings. With ferries operating every 30 minutes, Waiheke Island is a great place to recharge the batteries after a long flight.
I can definitely say that our 10 nights on the North Island did not disappoint. The scenery may not be as dramatic as on the South Island, but nevertheless, was really beautiful, the beaches were fabulous and the geothermal area so interesting. Like the South Island, the countryside has thousands of walking tracks which will bring you to so many beautiful places inaccessible by car.
We then headed to Christchurch to be with our two daughters for the next 8 days. We had previously ‘done the sights’ there but I was very happy to see the progress that had been made in the city centre since we last visited 2 years ago. There were lots more shops, bars and restaurants and a great buzz about the place. We took a day trip to Akaroa, a very pretty little coastal town, maybe a bit like Kinsale but the 1 ½ hour journey from Christchurch was spectacular. We also visited the alpine village of Hanmer Springs and then headed to Kaikoura for a little whale watching.
What a fabulous country – it has something for all seasons and is totally geared to the outdoor life with great hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. The pace of life is slow, the atmosphere is casual and we just loved every minute of this trip. Without a doubt, New Zealand is the most beautiful country I have ever been in.
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