Blogs from Hahei, Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Real Kiwi’s are not easy to see, ask any New Zealander and chances are they haven’t. So we gave up wandering through dark forests and went to the Kiwi breeding sanctuary in Rotorua. It was a smart choice as they had eggs, day old chicks, adults and all sizes in-between. Liz went a bit goey-eyed at them and implored me to smuggle a little one out, but I said “they probably just taste like chicken, why bother”? As you drive round Rotorua steam spirals up from vents all over the town, pools of boiling mud are all around and minor earthquakes a common event. The locals are oblivious and are very happy to take your silver coins and show you round their homesteads, some of which they accept fall into the smoking earth when hopefully they ... read more

Heute hieß es für Bernd mal wieder „The earliest bird is catching de schendschde Sunnauffgang“. Alleine machte er sich auf den Weg, die ersten Sonnenstrahlen zu erhaschen. Nach dem gemeinsamen Frühstück wanderten wir dann zur Cathedral Cove. Diese Höhle wurde im Laufe der letzten Jahrtausende vom Wasser des Pazifiks ausgehöhlt. Dort machten wir ein paar schöne Aufnahmen und verewigten unseren Blogtitel in der Cove. Als nächstes fuhren wir zum nahegelegenen Hot Water Beach. Hier findet ein seltenes Naturschauspiel statt. Von einer Magmakammer in 2 km Tiefe erhitzt, sprudelt Wasser mit ca. 65° aus dem Sandstrand. Mit Campingstühlen bewaffnet machten wir uns vom Parkplatz aus, auf die 10 minütige Wanderung, zum Beach. Als wir anfingen zu buddeln, merkten wir gleich, dass das Wasser sehr heiß ist und Michi holte sich erst mal ein paar Brandblasen. Daraufhin holten ... read more

Hoewel het hier nu volop winter is, valt het weer super mee Los van de erg koude avonden en nachten (mede vooral door de erg weinig geïsoleerde huizen, ze zijn niet meer dan een houten frame met wanden en ramen van enkel glas) is er van winter weinig sprake! Noem het eerder herfstig. Ik zat vorig weekend zelfs een uur of 2 in mn T-shirt in mn strandstoel buiten in de zon lekker te lezen :D Dit weekend was zelfs nog beter: Chris moet om de 2 weken veldwerk doen op zn researchstrand, 2 dagen lang opmeten van de hoogtes van de duinen tot zo ver mogelijk in het water. Hij kan dat alleen doen wanneer het laag water is, dus die dagen verschuiven wat. Aangezien het deze keer op zat en zondag viel, ging ik ... read more

Feb. 20 Hahei Beach to Auckland Hahei beach has been described as “ A little bit of Heaven”. It certainly is beautiful. Norm was up early to catch a beautiful sunrise while I made breakfast. Sunrise was lovely but sky is dark, full of clouds and surf is rough. Toast and cereal then, check out and off to find Cathedral Coves kayaks- an original “desk on the beach” – literally- with mobile VISA ! Looking at the weather I am not optimistic we will be going out. One lady spies my Calgary shirt and our Tilly hats and asks us where in Canada we are from. She is from London with a cottage in Port Elgin. We have a lovely chat and visit. She is truly an inspiration – she is 75, travelling New Zealand on ... read more

Day 8 Wednesday Up and off by 10ish. Long journey today driving down through Auckland and then east to Hahei on the Coromandel Penninsula. Took most of the day. Lovely B&B 200 yards from the beach, had supper at the local pub and after a walk to the beach and a paddle off for an early night. ... read more

Ha ha ?? ha he??? He hi??? No I got it - next stop Hahei With the van still in the garage waiting to be fixed we finally left the Hearing dogs prison on Monday 4th January 2010!!! Got on the good old naked bus to Hamilton (half way between New Plymouth and Tauranga) where we were meeting Ben and Heather who had kindly offered to take us the rest of the way back to theirs after they had spent the weekend in Raglan. We were so relieved to see them both; I can’t say how nice it was to see friends after the rubbish time we had had. They had been away for the weekend (after recovering from their 2 day hangover after the new years concert we missed (dam it!!) and had bought themselves ... read more