Blogs from Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula January 31st 2015

Thursday 22/1/15 Today was a whistle stop tour of the Coromandel Peninsula starting with a slightly overpriced visit to a water garden, however the fact that they had excellent gluten free cake in the cafe made up for it. And the gardens were nice with a perfect picnic spot by a waterfall. Pity it was early and we had no picnic! The big highlights of the coromandel are cathedral rock and hot water beach both of which we missed, the tide was too high for the beach and we were beginning to panic about the rapidly reducing fuel level in the car so cut the corner with the Rock and headed for a petrol station. We had lunch in Coromandel Town and had a fantastic drive over the hills stopping off at a couple of awesome ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula January 21st 2015

The Coromandel Peninsula was named for HMS Coromandel , a ship of the British Royal Navy, which stopped at Coromandel Harbour in 1820 to purchase kauri spars and was itself named for India's Coromandel Coast.... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula » Tairua January 16th 2015

Episode 2 (17.01.15). There is much to admire about New Zealand society. The indigenous Maori and white people are well integrated. There is a great respect for indigenous culture and it is pervasive here. While there are still some sore issues, race relations here are well ahead of those in Australia. Of course, Kiwis are also ahead when it comes to the recognition of gay people, as same sex marriage is legal here. The Bay of Islands is historically important, being the first site of European colonization in NZ. We spent our last day in Paihia at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the treaty was signed between Maori chiefs and Pakeha (Europeans) in 1840. We saw the meeting house, large and ornate Maori ceremonial canoes and also caught a cultural performance. We found it very interesting ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula January 11th 2015

Can you name the band that sang the song used for the blog title? (Full disclosure - I remembered the song, but had to Google the band.) Answer at the end. To start out the photos, I included a few random pics Scott took earlier in the trip that I thought were really good. Also, before we left Rotorua, our first stop in the north island, we did this crazy thing called Zorbing. In this wacky activity dreamed up by two Kiwi brothers (broz spelled backward is zorb) with too much time (and beer) on their hands, you get in a giant plastic ball and careen uncontrollably down a huge grass hillside, all the while doing your best impression of a human washing machine. They put a wee spot of water in the center of the ... read more
2nd most frequent - simple, right?
The black slash
This sign was everywhere but I forgot to snap a pic


Been doing a lot of hiking the last couple of days - mostly to local beaches and coves, which can be quite far from the carparks. Good for burning off all the good meals and Kiwi beer we've been having. Trying to catch up on photos, so a double blog post today, and mainly just photos in this one. Here are more from the last few days and a map showing where we've been. Cheers!... read more
One lane bridge - they're everywhere
Near Queenstown
Our dancer at Abel Tasman

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula » Pauanui January 4th 2015

Après avoir travaillé le 31 Décembre pour finir en superbe soirée avec les amis et commencer la nouvelle année de la meilleure des façons, nous avons décidé de partir quelques jours en vacances (eh oui le 1 & 2 Janvier sont fériés ici). Direction le Coromandel. Un collègue de travail d'Astrid (Mike) nous a gentiment convié dans sa résidence secondaire pour passer quelques jours avec eux pendant leurs vacances annuelles. La France n'est jamais bien loin, destination : Holland Road. C'est bien la première fois depuis notre arrivée que nous avons croisé autant de véhicules sur la route, après 2h de voiture la destination paradisiaque nous tendait les bras. Un marche au bord de l'eau en escaladant les cailloux (sans nous faire d'entorses avec les tongues) nous a permis de découvrir des artistes jouant avec les ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula November 12th 2014

The drive from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula was a transcendental one. The two-lane motorway rose and fell across farms more like a backcountry road rather than a highway. Never in my life had I experienced so many different shades of a single color in one landscape. I weaved through absinthe green farmlands speckled with grazing sheep. Unlike the endless mudbath pastures found in the States, cattle meandered through violently pigment fields of jade. Vineyards sprung from the ground, their early granny smith apple green vines weaving in perfect rows over ridges. Weeping willows caressed the fence lines with wisping tentacles and forests of pines crept into the fields only to disappear around the next ridge. Hillsides rippled into the horizon each taking on their own defining shade, from the light green of asparagus to the ... read more
Views of farmlands and hills
Relaxing on my throne
Hot Water Beach


What a treat this place has been for me... Hidden in the bush, the energy that could be felt at Te Moata brought the whole place and its inhabitants to life. I had the chance of participating in all the retreats that took place here during the month of April while i was woofing (working for food and accomodation). The first one was one given by a buddhist monk on META, a form of meditation serving to open ones heart to the world and spread love and kindness to one another. Effectively, you needed to think of someone you wanted to spread love and kindness towards, and repeat the phrase "may you be well, happy and peaceful" for 45 minutes without a break. Tiring, but rewarding, as one leaves a session of META feeling at peace ... read more
maelle, hadrien, quika :)
breakfast ready!
Dances for universal peace with marny and sally :)


Hello everyone, Here I am with my second blog from New Zealand. After 5 days in Auckland I took a bus and went to Coromandel Peninsula. My mate Johnny, who I met in Australia in 2008, contacted his family and I was invited to go and stay for a few days there. The Peninsula lies to the east of Auckland but you need to drive around to get there, since the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames divide the peninsula from the Auckland region. The bus drive took about 4 hours, including one stop-over. I arrived in a small town with no more than 4000 people called Whitianga. There is nothing particular about the town, but in the summer it's crowded with tourists. Not only Whitianga gets a lot of tourism, but the whole peninsula ... read more
Hahei Beach
At the table with the Herbert's
Flaxmill Bay

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel Peninsula February 18th 2014

Left Russell and decided to head down the west coast towards the Kauri Forests - last time we missed the Kauri Museum at Matakohe (Recommended by Mike & Maggs). Got there just as it closed so the curator said no probs just park up outside and we'll see you in the morning. Beautiful area, very tranquil and peaceful and the BBQ chefs amongst you would be proud of Tony who finally lost his BBQing virginity with a couple of steaks!! Slept well, next morning standing at the door at 9.00am. Thank you M&M what a wonderful museum and record of the early settlers. Some fantastic photos of pioneers working in the Kauri Forest - don't want to bore you with facts & figures but the biggest tree had a diameter of 28 feet and no chainsaws! ... read more
Our overnight stop at Matakohe
The Pioneer School
Cut from one Kauri trunk




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