Papa-Aroha Motel Coromandel

... gravel path and landed in an unfortunate situation.<br><br>I found my way past cow pastures, sheep paddocks and front yards with grazing goats. It must be a strange life being tucked away in valleys so remote in a cottage with little by your surroundings to keep you company. There were quite a few lifestyle blocks, though, so it must not be a bad life at all.<br><br>I ended up at a tiny little bay with a beach of stones and pebbles. Strewn about were fish ...

... in teh name of self-improvement. Hopefully, I will be able to get back into it, but it is rough. I may just end up coming back to the States a fat, slow bum. I'll ask Michal if that is written in my star chart and I'll let you know...<br><br>p.s. If you are willing, I would like some advice on a decision I am trying to make. Currently, I am scheduled to fly to Australia mid-February, stay a month there and then head to Thailand ...

... above the last of the smaller falls.<br><br>We were all considering and joking about entering the frigid water, but no one seemed serious, but I was, so I decided to take a dip. The water originates from an underground spring, so it was numbing. However, the hike ended with all of us jumping into the first pool, three of us from a 15 foot ledge, so mission accomplished. The hike back was quick and effortless with many more breathtaking ...

We left Auckland and arrived in Coromandel town late that evening. We had heard from alot of locals that it was defo worth the trip so we said we would go. The scenery as we drove around the peninsula was gorgeous. We found a motel to stay in that night and went out for dinner but the village was deserted but we found a nice bar and restuarant. We were up early the next morning as the plan was to go to hot water beach for low tide which was to be around 9-10am. On route ...

Rangitoto Island erupted from the sea in a series of dramatic explosions approximately 600 years ago. Rangitoto Island is the youngest island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is also the last and largest volcano formed on the Auckland volcanic field. Rangitoto Island is 260m high and 5.5km wide. Rangitoto is a public reserve, managed by the Department of Conservation. Rangitoto has the largest Pohutakawa (Kiwi Christmas Tree) Forest in New Zealand and has more ...

... clear fine day - clear except for directly behind us, where our smoke rather obscured the view and made life unpleasant for the yacht tacking in our wake. In an hour we were passing the last of the islands close to Auckland and could make out the end of the Coromandel Peninsula ahead. There ...

Rangitoto ist eine Insel direkt vor Auckland. Es ist der juengste Vulkan, des Auckland Vulkanfeldes und ist bei einem Ausbruch vor ungefaehr 600 Jahren entstanden. Eigentlich liegen naemlich die meisten Vulkane in Auckland unter dem Wasser. Theroretisch koennte auch jeder Zeit wieder einer Ausbrechen, was ziemlich unguenstig fuer ...

... line. House looks great for our exchange partners from Australia.  We are banking those exchanges for a future date and our French exchangers for this trip will come out in January.  Will be great to discuss their trip with them before they come.  Something we have not really had a chance to do before in any depth. Next entry from Dubai we hope.

Weil der Tag auf Waiheke so wunderschoen war, haben Christine (die hab ich am Tag vorher auf Waiheke kennengelernt) und ich beschlossen, gleich am naechsten Tag auf Rangitoto zu fahren. Rangitoto ist nicht bewohnt und ist eine Vulkaninsel. Es ist total anders als Waiheke aber mindestens genauso schoen.... Wir sind sogar 4 Stunden stramm gewandert und es hat einfach nur total Spass gemacht weil die Landschaft faszinierend war! Vor allem die McKenzie Bay war traumhaft.

... trees (NZ's answer to the sequoia) are splendid labours of love. Dodging the log trucks and the escaped pigs along the unsealed 309 road, we came across the Waiau Water Garden, not just whimsical water driven clocks (Certified Y2k compliant) and fountains, but a playground for all ages including a giant hamster wheel (shades of work again....), a violent flying fox ride which Andy had to be prised away from, swings and 'giddy sticks', revolving tyres which send everyone away in a ...