Coromandel trip 2016 - or - checking out paradise to chill out in

Friday 11 March


Usual up and food/clean, then hit the road (not literally) at 9.30-ish for petrol first and some supplies (NW) – then headed towards Pauanui.  Got there ok – and found a typical Coro-town – consisting mostly of holiday homes with some being several Millions worth.  It has a tiny shopping center – and virtually no life – same as Matarangi.
Although there are a lot of houses that have boats parked in the front of their - urm - drive (canal) and these boats can be MORE worth the the house they sit in front of!!
In fact – the housing crisis in New Zealand can be solved instantly – just get those looking for a home to live there instead!! There is a lot of $$$ sitting empty for 90% of their time – tied up in property . . . . .
Definitely not our town to retire!!!!

Hey - I cant get into the water here - not Fair!!

Walked the Flat rock path/walk (10Min) then lunch! First beach with found that had rocks - no sand!! From there more or less to the other side of the harbour – a 30 min round trip!! Long harbors and no bridges - so you have to drive around! on the other side is the settlement of Tairua! This is more alive – still no badges!! Eventually we figured this out. Tairua and Whitinaga are working towns (fishing / tourism / farming) while Matarangi / Pauanui etc are purely holiday destinations for rich Aucklanders.  

Made it back home and short relax then of to the Lost Springs – for a "dip and dine" package – just divine!  The waters come from 600 meters below and are around 35-41 degrees Celsius and, so the story goes, hasn't seen daylight for    16 000 years - so are clear of any bacteria! They are also rich in minerals - so is good for your skin!
Might go back there again! Our waitress was young and very good at her job – and had a very lovely smile!! They also had some lovely meals and an almost perfect garlic bread! 
Now back at motel and relaxing with more wino fino – had rain most of morning – sun again in afternoon,  – now windy and threating with thunder!! This could be exciting for Mamabear!

NB – At Pauanui we had urm afternoon tea- no wait supplementary Lunch (Cup of tea and a chocolate slice) and this very cheeky ant decided to help herself and ate my slice on the table.   Well, it 'lifted' a crumb from right under my slice that was just resting on the table on top of  a paper bag.
It must have helped itself to a snack before deciding to take the rest back to its nest - and - we think it suffered from a  sugar high, as it was going round in small circles carrying a bit of my slice and going round and round and round.  It never made it of the table . . . . .  funny to watch

When people get bored some get creative . . . .

Local Inhabitant - he delightfully posed for a good 10 minutes

There is rain in them hills . . . .

Instead of paddling - Mamabear decided to just soak up the atmosphere and let her feet dangle . . . .

On the way back we stopped briefly at the twin kauri - trees.  Impressive sight

Window seat - garlic bread - lovely Riesling and mamabear as companion - perfic

not 100% sure what the brown stuff was (soya sauce??) but it tasted great!

Pavloava for afters - and note the plate arrangement (the pav being broken into bits!! perfect for hiding a disaster - note Reinhold if you ever make one again) .

Close up


















I found some images on the web- a hot bath is not a place you take your $2000 camera . . . .

The old School house from the air

One of the pool side areas

The volcano wasn't flowing when we were there . . . . .

Our window seat from the outside

The grotto you can swim out from

Our dining table view - outside

Our window seat for the meal!!!















https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEVXdZh44Dk







Have fun!

Coromandel trip 2016 - or - checking out paradise to chill out in

Thursday 10 March


Awoke to car leaving 5.30am as usual.
Yawn - back to short sleep and eventually up for breakfast and usual cleaning.
Then quickly grabbed some luncheon food and headed off towards THE ferry -  $6 return per person. The Ferry takes people across the river mouth / Whitinaga Harbour and it has one of the fastest flowing in/out tidal movements in NZ. The boat goes across in about 5 min or so and will only go if they spot people waiting.  There are a lot of people living at Cooks beach and work in Whitinaga - and the Ferry takes 5 min - the car journey round  takes 45 min - so lots of locals are using it!! Then the tourists - us - use it to get across and do some walks.
Once on the other side of Whitianga harbour – we walked across flaxmill beach and then up to the Shakespeare lookout point – climbing from sea level to 125 m up.  Mamabear surprising herself with the walk and managing it nicely without the usual huffing and puffing!
Once on top - great views.  Lots and lots of pictures and even the odd video (MUST remember this function on my DSLR)
Had home made lunch on the run, then back down to the sea-level (all in 28 degree full sun weather) so this deserved as cuppa, thus we stopped at the cafe just before the ferry and had a lemon tea and a wickedly nice chocolate slice!

We eventually made it back across the river mouth into town. Decided that tomorrow we would drive to Pauanui town and stomp around there and then back home for a “dip and dine” at the "Lost Springs" - so booked that.  Back to the motel via Countdown and then just sitting on the terrace and enjoying the R&R along with some wino-fino and cheese and slow Internet.

Dinner later and no doubt a quick dip in the ocean across the road b4 bed!!  

Looked up websites re house prices – Mamabear confident we could buy something – might have to go back to work, or win lotto – certainly some nice houses around.

I decided late in the evening to take advantage of the clean sky and took some more night time pics – Milky way clear as!!  Bed around 10.30pm . . . . . .

Flaxmill beach - looking left

Flaxmill beach -  looking straight out

Flaxmill beach - looking left

Just stylish testing the water Temperature

Tui - also know as the 'parsons-bird'

Not many people know this - but the Tui actually has blue feathers - you just need to see them at the right lighting conditions . . . .

 When Mamabear says - urm - this is a postcard picture moment - it TRANSLATES into - please hunny - do take a decent picture of this scenery for me . . . . . .    Only happy to oblige!

Lonely beach

The so aptly called Lonely beach was not so lonely - there were at least 4 people swimming in the water and one lass was sun-bathing! hope she used copious amounts of oil . . . . .

Our post walk treat

Mamabears share of the Raspberry chocolate cake

'Proper' Washing line - complete with Scout knot

The sun was streaming in so hot - we had tro make our own shade cloth - recycling the washing line!! It worked a treat too!

 Yup - night time again - this time took the nifty 50 lens - 50mm and F/1.8 - super fast - but limited field - a compromise . . . .

 :P - I surprise myself - just realizing I had two pictures - offset by a margin on 4 - and I could merge them into a panorama image - it came out well - don't you think???


PS - Cooks beach was THE beach Capt Cook anchored in order to see the planet Mercury transit across the Sun (9 November 1769) - whence Mercury Bay and Cooks Beach!  Honestly - HOW they knew the planet was going across the sun and you had to be down under in order to see it - beats me.  The local maoris at the time thought it funny too that these 'white' people looked at the sun through hollow tubes . . . . . . .

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/captain-cook-observes-transit-of-mercury



Have fun!

Coromandel trip 2016 - or - checking out paradise to chill out in

Wednesday  9 March



 








 Early awake again and yup - the chap goes to work at 5.30am  A N D  – I saw a stunning sunrise sooo I for once was thankful and grabbed my camera gear and walked in my PJ's to the beach!
No one else there except for the local bird-life (of the feathered variety) so being there iin PJ's felt save!! Besides if the girls can do it in the mall - I figured so can I on the beach!! Anyhow, took lots of pictures (playing with settings - F-stops etc) – then when the 'mood' had gone, back home for brekkie and the usual clean up (us and dishes)!







Just sunbathing



This time we took the car and headed towards the Coromandel town itself!  Same road - steep and windy in places – 20km pinhead turns!  Again - car so weak, had to change into 1st gear on several occasions!

Sighs


Eventually got to the town and strolled past the  local shops! Coromandel town had not changed since we last saw it some 5 years back – still quaint & backwards!
 The old top loader washing-machine on the shop-roof is now totally rusted! Still no luck with badges – but Mamabear found purple bucket for laundry and a purple sunhat so of course had to get that! For lunch we headed to Omarau beach for a home made picnic – lovely spot, cool breeze though.

Mamabear was managing to relax and also take a picture of me!!

After the relaxing lunch we headed to one of Mamabears 'must do' requested activity - the Driving Creek Railway! Mamabear having a ball – and still no badge!!

Eventually back home via Matarangi beach (more pics videos / toe-in-sea experiences) then home via short detour of the Buffalo Rd hill suburb – and we decided right there and then NOT to try and get a section there . . . 

We got home for quick unload and cleanup – then out to Dino's for dinner – LOVELY meal!!  They no longer do Tiramisu for afters - so back home and having our left over dessert from yesterday - Lemon Cheesecake!

Looks like we might get clear sky so will take camera to beach and we see . . . . . . . .

Oh and while lounging on the sun deck we met Heather from the house on the back of the 'Motel' section! She gave us some of her home grown pears and we had a nice long chat about life in Whitianga. Nice
Of course we strolled to the beach and did the usual 2km walk in the surf post dessert! 

PS - GARLIC bread at Dinos – was much the same as 5 years back

Just playing round with the camera - could almost be a desk-top image

The Life Elixir is dwindling - must get a new blood supply for her soon  :)

Even the boats get a rest

Just letting lunch settle . . . .

Apparently this is what I look like and Mamabears knows this is how she will see me for most of the time during our holiday . . . . .

Lilliput train

On the train journey - no picking of the flowers as you pass them!!!!

Matarangi beach - 1.5 km long and flat out to sea - about 25 - 75 meters before you have to swim - and soooo clear water!!   Best of all - we were the ONLY people on the beach . . . .
Hmmmm I could got for a dip in the noddy . . . . .









EVERY beach we went to - I saw this . . . . . .
I should get her to write a report on sand/water temps surf etc etc!
On a few occasions a larger wave came along which made for urm wet urm - undies.

*grins*

Took the wide angle lens and pointed more or less south and yup - its a crap lens for night time photography - but hey - the lights WERE great!

Spot the Milky Way and the Southern Cross with its pointers!!

www.drivingcreekrailway.co.nz

PS - the fridge in the unit is an old fridge that has an icebox inside the fridge itself - this is s'posed to keep everything cool  (or as in the icebox case - frozen) - and we think the thermostat is stuffed ^.^ - - because after two days EVERYTHING inside the fridge was frozen solid like ROCK hard solid  - Apples / Tomatoes / Radishes / Coke etc . . . .
and as you probably know - frozen apples once defrosted go all mushy and yucky . . . . .
Until then they have this "frosty" skin . . .




Have fun!

Coromandel trip 2016 - or - checking out paradise to chill out in

Tuesday 8 March

Sunrise at 4.30am at Whitinaga

We had a steamy night - NO not wehat you are thinking! Steamy as in humid – definitely so thick you can almost swim in this air!  Luckily it eased off by around 4.30am – then got woken up by car leaving right past our window at 5.30am.

Sighs

Turns out that the "Motel" was built way back (1950's???) and it has now 3 permanent 'renters' in some units - one working for a gravel company.  The three units were so old that it had an outside shower and (almost guaranteed) an OUTside longdrop - eg you had to leave your place and go round the back to a square little dunny! Anyhow - the chap at the front had a Diesel pick-up truck and - yup - left for work at 5.30am, right past our window!

The Bed was ok-ish - soft but firm. It did have a feature that encouraged both us to roll into the middle - so there was lots of body contact! This could work out for us ok in the long run *grins*

Had breakfast – then strolled into town  (3km ) for supplies (citronella candle \ badge?!)  and window shopping.  Decided to let the Phone camera take a panorama - not half bad!?
Had lunch from/at a local bakery – and doing the touristy thing - sitting at a table outside the bakery in full sun -NICE – then walked back home – and still NO badges!!!  I may never find a Coromandel cloth badge!!

Temp 25 degrees – and full sun – so we 'chilled' out at our motel for 2-3 hours – then headed to the beach for a cool-down – managed to swim a bit having forgotten how salty the sea was.  Not a single shark in sight - so that was good!
Back home for a rinse off (salt and sand) and then out for tea – Cafe Dino's place (we have been there before some 5 or 6 years back)

Dinos was unexpectedly closed, so walked around town to find a decent place to eat and eventually settled on Irish pub  'Grace O'Malley's' !  Big mistake!!!
It took one hour and 14 minutes to get basic food out.  When we queried the waitress having waited 70 minutes, said something along the lines of 'coming to grips with the kitchen'!  Poor excuse.   They could have said when ordering, that there is a delay - or even offered us free somethings.  Sighs - such bad customer relations. We decided there and then not ever to go back there.

The Garlic bread was not much better.  There was no Garlic butter inside the cut bread at all - so you had the options of buttering up yourself - heaps or as little as you wanted.  Well - ok! ONLY problem was that the loaf came out Luke warm AT best so by the time we had eaten the first slice the rest was actually cold - no melting of the butter there.  Try eating raw uncooked garlic - it is salty and a touch of sulfur.  yuk!


After we eventually had our meal we headed home for a sat on the shady balcony and a wino-fino – and perhaps later some night time photography on the beach!! Stars are clear as and you can clearly see the Milky-way.

While relaxing and slurping the nectar the  clouds were rolling in - so nope - no night excursion – besides the mozzies are out in force. 


Time for bed . . . . . .   wonder if we will get woken up again at 5.30am

While strolling round town we found a late blooming Pohutukawa!!
Turns out this year they had a poor showing - putting their energy into leave growth after last years stunner season!  Still, unusual to get a flower this late.  They are more of a spring/summer flower - by February they are usually gone.   Lucky us to see this one!






Have fun!

Coromandel trip 2016 - or - checking out paradise to chill out in

Monday 7 March

Our Taxi came bright and early - thanks to Rachel and Jeff for taking us to the Airport!!
The travel up to Auckland by plane was nice and smooth - saw LOTS of white cloud - and Mt Egmont just peeking through the clouds! There is a reason why New Zealand is called "The Land of long white Cloud!"


Picked up A car, no problem;

Actually;

Really gutted with Avis – yet again we book a specific car and they can't deliver – downgrading us to a very small little 40 horsepower city road runner thing - and so short at the back - we had difficulty fitting the suitcases in the boot!

Sighs
Note to myself - must write to them and complain! If anything they should have Up-graded the car!

Sighs
Actually the weird thing - we had a choice of flying up and renting a car for ten days versus driving up in our own car and yes - the flying/hiring turned out to be AS cheap (actually a bit cheaper 'cause we had managed to book "cheap" seats on the plane)  THEN the driving up ourselves (petrol/ferry/4 nights accommodation on the road minimum / food) - weird!!!!

ANYHOW - Moving along at slow pace - just outside the Airport is a place called "The Butterfly Cafe" and we had arranged to meet there a young lady who recently had shifted to Auckland from Christchurch, along with her Family - so had nice chat and - urm - well pre-lunch! It was great to catch up with Daisy!!!
Weather semi sunny and very, very humid - although Daisy tells us nothing like the previous 3 months! The Butterfly Cafe had lots of - well - butterflies - AND some sort of theme park for small children / train rides and Dinosaur-minigolf and a wire-rope course next to it - great fun for school-aged-children to hang out and do things
http://butterflycreek.co.nz/cafe

Had to say good bye to Daisy and took the low-road and made it out of the Big Smoke and  eventually hit Thames - where we needed some quick supplies (liquid nectar for Mamabear - Diet Coke!!) from the Yellow Shed and then stopped for some fresh fried chicken urm - Kentucky Style - urm love those 11 herbs and spices!! yuss

After lunch had a quick stroll through the town and checked out the Info Center (badges - no luck there - and this is going to be a re-curring theme I fear)
and then headed towards Whitianga.  Yusssss
The road there can be a bit windy in some paces and the 40 horses or so struggled to get the carriage around the 25km/hr hairpins!! Oh for the love of - urm - motherland - gimme a decent car!!!!

Eventually arrived safely at the town and found Motel ok - unpacked and wilted - it was very humid - urm - muggy! The suggestion was - it is "so muggy you just-about can swim in it or better through the air!" 

Decided we needed some breakfast stuff for tomorrow, so headed to the green shed - hmmm nice Air-con going there - perhaps we could sleep there for a night - *cough * urm not!

Cooked dinner and washed up and made plans for the next day - which included doing as little as possible - nice and relaxing!
'Cause it was so nice and warm post 8pm, we strolled along the beach - knee deep in the surf! Nice and refreshing and extremely healthy for the feet even the whole body and of course - one's soul!!!  The access to the Beach was between two houses - and literally just across the road from the Motel - like 20 meters!! Lucky us - so naturally, we had to go for that stroll . . . .

Note to myself - must collect some sand for the collection!!!

Anyhow - lights out - bed!! 

 Buffalo Beach - looking left

 Buffalo Beach straight out to sea

 Buffalo Beach straight into sun set

Buffalo Beach looking right



















Have fun!