Coromandel

How’s your day? Blog 103 Coromandel

© Pete r A Taylor, Thursday 18, April, 2013

 

Just one more shovel full of sand out of this whole shill do it. Hot mineral water escaping from an underground volcano sent extremely hot water into our pool. You couldn’t fit a shovel between the feet of people digging holes, those looking on for a hot spot and those late people waiting in the low tide foaming water watching everyone like ants guard their patch. As the hot water exuded from the sand below and it looked like we may be able to sit and enjoy this phenomenon a rogue wave swamped us and filled our temporary hole from the temporary wall of sand laboriously dug by hard labour.

 

We chose to stay at Hot Water Beach on the eastern Coromandel Peninsular for a well deserved six day break. We left two days earlier than the Easter traffic and planned our return two days after the end of the holiday. Typical of the roads crossing ranges in NZ, the tar sealed roads are winding and yes you are going over the summit of a range and winding your way back to flat loamy dairy land. Although this each is voted in the top ten in the world by Lonely Planet, it is unique to dig a hole at low tide and lay in the hot waters filled with rich minerals. Just not during Easter when every tourist and NZ’er decides to travel and enjoy the extraordinary long and dry summer. The entire North Island is in drought with no significant rain fall since December. The most ideal time to explore the beautiful coastline of horse shoe bays typical of NZ with Pohutakawa, our giant Christmas trees hanging precariously to the side of a cliff and its ancient boughs slung down to the water and shore lineate both ends of the bay. As if nature designed this turquoise water swimming havens there is an out crop of volcanic rocks at each end depicting another headland to dive yet and other picturesque bay of similar beauty. Most of these beaches have white sand with smooth bottoms as you wade into the warm water. Memories of one’s childhood flood your being and your smile widens to a magnificent grin.

 

We took an afternoon cruise to see the famous Cathedral Cove rock from the marine reserve. On the way our hosts took us into natural caves which in another million years will become another blow hole and perhaps develop one more outstanding cathedral with its roof perhaps 15 meters above you.

 

          ‘You want to swim? Our host asked us on the boat and the eight riders on the inflatable banana. Yes, they were towed behind the little ski boat. Everyone was keen to explore.

 

Negotiating the swell and minor waves our host backed the boat into the shore. Wading almost  waist height through the warm water to explore up and personal, the incredible vista of Cathedral Cove, one of the scenes in the Chronicles of Nadia, The lion witch and the wardrobe. It was almost sun set as we glided back over glassy water, once stopping to peer through the surface to see large Snapper fish gliding effortlessly below in their sanctuary. The last of the sun rays throwing patterns on the rocks below made the bottom look speckled. How very blessed we are in NZ and only two and half hours from Auckland.

 

This area is made up of volcanic ash compressed or over 2 million years. The natural sand formations and constant crash of waves and rogue tides have created shapes beyond wonder. Add fresh water waterfalls with flax bushes framing the huge walls to know that you stand in awe of how small you are in the context of the worlds evolution.

 

Seagulls of several varieties circled and rested on the outcrops of rock totally covered with trees and fruit bearing bushes. Yet you look for soil, knowing this vegetation is growing in cracks of rocks so full of nutrients due to the volcanic nature.

 

With mandatory gin and tonics at our camp site by five and dinner cooked before dark, we settled into our gazebo, toasty warm and read or chatted. In our tent the air bed is as comfortable as the one at home which made sleeping to the fragrance of bush and the soporific crash of waves on the of the beach a special part of this break.  This treat was to help me recover from the beginning of my latest chemo treatments. It would take a while to return from this tough session.

PS.

A further reminder to my readers that this Posterous .com blog site is closing on April 30.  I will advise to where and which site I move to at the next blog.