HIkikng boots outting

So my hiking boots finally arrived from America last week. It was painful to purchase a new pair here at 3x the cost, when a perfectly good pair was sitting on the back porch at my parents house (or wherever I carelessly left them).

The boots were a perfect excuse to go for a walk around the southern coast of Wellington. Wellingtons's shoreline is very much coastline, with few 'beaches" in the traditional sense. We borrowed a car and went to explore along the yellow line on the map below.




At the trail head, we saw a sign that intrigued us for a moment..

The last property at the end of the road was for sale. On one hand, absolutely amazing view of the ocean just across the road, on the other hand you are pretty isolated. This is only 15 minutes from the city airport, but you feel like you are in Timber or Trolley Park. Probably the only type of beach front property we could even consider affording in our life time :)




But one we put aside dreams of beach property, we started our walk...


Along the way are a few 'baches' which I assume are grandfathered in. They were classic kiwi baches, very no frills, and very much reminded me of something my father would design/create.




As you can tell, its a fairly bleak landscape, but also hauntingly beautiful with little surprises along the way. This pond area was striking in contrast to the surrounding areas.

Just out of the shot are a bunch of male seals that I didn't notice until the walk back.

The beach here is all gravel and rocks, with a bit of dark sand. Its the type of beach that I find soothing for thinking and walking, but some might not enjoy as much.


The geology along the route is also very striking. I found myself wishing the my geo prof from Northwestern or my friend Alex was there to help explain it all to me.


the 'red rocks' that are the name sake of the trial..





Along the way, a couple local boys offered us a ride in their pick up truck. Trav hopped in, so I had no choice to follow. The boys said to stand and hold on to the bar. Major flashbacks to land surfing in high school. I was terrified and having the time of my life all at the same time. They didn't go very fast, but it felt fast with all the curves and funny grades. They dropped us off before they continued on to Devil's Gate, but we caught up with them as they drove back through it. There is a photo of them driving through something I NEVER would have considered taking a wheeled machine through - maybe a mule, but not a truck.


Traveler finding his way through the path we'd just seen the truck go through. The rocks were like steps, I still can't believe the truck pulled it off...


On either side of Devil's Gate is the seals colony. I guess the male season hang out here, while the mothers and baby seals chill on the South Island. You might have to click on the photo and look closely, but there are probably dozens of seals in this photo. The rocks were covered with them.


Then we made our way back toward civilization.

And if we would have kept going, we would have ended up at Island Bay and still further to Lyall Bay (where the airport is)

NIght sky line

Well previously I shared what the morning views look like enroute to work.... at the end of my Cormandel post.

I also have been playing volleyball at a local boys high school. The view of the city there amazed me everytime. A few weeks ago the timing between games starting and the sun setting was perfect. Too bad I don't have been photographic equipment.

Cormandel 1 - train ride

I've been letting everyday life (and a really nasty cold) keep me from the blog lately. However my mother informs me that she is ready to look at something other than peach cobbler in my last post a month ago. Granted, soon enough it will be peach season in Oregon.. Yum! 

Well back here in New Zealand I went for a mini road trip with some friends last weekend. We were in Auckland for a conference and decided to make a weekend of it.  It's the off season so there are few people or cars. It made for a very lovely weekend.  


I also feel in love with the Impreza we were driving.  Although I considered trying to buy it from the rental car company (its as though any thing is for sale here, you just have to ask), I'm now looking for one around here - too bad its a 'boy racer' car here which makes it frequently stolen and hard to insure... silly because normally I'm more into practical cars, but suddenly I want one of these!

We then decided to go for a tourist trap. A really lovely one that I highly recommend.  Its a train ride on private property that also is a pottery studio / native bush reserve.
 











and below is a photo that reveals the hike we took after the train ride.  If you click on the photo, you should be able to see black dots that mark our path from the car park up a hill and then down to the bay flats.

Cormandel 2 - hiking around Coromandel Town

After the train ride, we went for a walk, starting in this very damp parking lot.   I was yearning for my rubber boots, because a puddle like this is just too tempting. My trip mates though I was crazy I think as I eyed this mud puddle....



At the start of the trail you could some of wind damage from the recent storm that passed through a few days before our arrival.  I am always impressed with how trails in New Zealand often start near development with a path between houses, fences, or yards that connects the bush trail with the road/parking lot. It is very nice to see that one built house doesn't block everyone from being able to access a nature reserve.



This view is looking back towards the train area and the town of Cormandel


and these views are looking west /northwest.



After we reached the top, we walked down to the harbour side.  The tide was out, but I couldn't help being confused by these trees submerged in silt. I don't know if it was related to the storm or if its just the way they grow. Please comment if you know, I'm curoius!

 

Then at the end of the day, we enjoyed meals of cheese, cheese and more cheese.  The little town has an amazing shop with fruit rollups/leathers, cheese, salami's etc.

The cheeses on the plate include cumin gouda and a basil cheese that was intense but good.  

I still am cracking up about my purchase of fruit leather.  People were stopping me in the street to ask what it was!  I explained that it is fruit pulp that you dry in a deyhrator.  People were very curious about how you eat it, think that it must be spread with something or eaten with crackers... I even had people wanting samples of this crazy exotic thing I was eating.  I thought it was hillarious, particularly because I had bought the stuff just up the street and was something I just grew up with!

Corrmandel 3 - driving to Hahei

After Cormandel, we drove over the hill to make our way towards Hahei.  Here is the view looking east:


Earlier in the year, several locals had told me that the Cormandel had changed a lot since I was there in 1999. They spoke of huge mansions, million dollar bachs, and ugliness. I was very worried.

I was relieved to see that my worst fears weren't not realized.  Then we drove to Buffulo Beach, while not my worst fears, I suspect this is what the people were talking about.  It is a very odd place now.  Lots of big fancy houses, at least by kiwi standards, that sort of reminded me of a less tasteful Sunriver.  The point of the Cormandel is a place to get away from it all - its about 3 hours from Auckland and unlike Sunriver, the golf thing here just seems really odd to me.  My car trip mates also made similar comments.  It is like a suburb--- for vacations.  yuck!



That said, the beach was really pretty and I enjoyed walking in the surprisingly warm water!

Coramandel 4 - Hahei area

On our last day, we stayed at a campground near Hahei Beach on the East Coast of the pennisula.  The campground was next to the beach in the photo below.


and was really right next to the beach. This Tui here was the only thing between the campground and the beach!


The next series of photos is a progression from the campground walking north up the beach, over the head land and down to Cathedral Cove 





The sand was layered with black and white sand, creating interesting natural effects such as these rivulets of water flowing to the sea

as well as an interesting design option for sand castles.


You can see in the photo below just how much the beach was impacted by the recent storm.

The fisher folks were hoping to catch snapper, but that they weren't too worried if they got something else for dinner.





This is the enterance to Cathederal Cove Beach.  









and then it was time to go home to Wellington. But luckily home is really beautiful!  On Monday, I walked to work with this as my scenary. Pretty  easy transition back to work post-vacation !

My only regret is that I wasn't able to stop in and see my friend's family who live on the Fifth of Thames. The timing wasn't quite right for us to pull it off en route to the airport. oh well, at least I know that I'll be back that way soon enough. Too bad it isn't closer to welly!