Digging for Fun!

I'm sure I've said this before about our weekends here but THIS past weekend was truly an incredible one!  I'm still being amazed at the things we are discovering for the first time here in New Zealand.  This country is constantly surprising and amazing me with its boundless beauty and activities to be had.

We visited the Coromandel Peninsula this weekend.  It's an area full of towns, beaches, rivers, and of course attractions to see.  The first on our list (which has been on our list since we got here) was to visit Cathedral Cove in the small town of Hahei.  Cathedral Cove a.k.a "Narnia beach" is where they filmed a part of the "Prince Caspian" movie.  The cave was used as the tunnel through which the Pevensie children first re-enter Narnia in the movie version of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian".  There are many locations throughout NZ where they filmed all the "Narnia" movies but this one was on our route for the weekend.  It was breathtaking! 

Cathedral Cove is known for the shape of the cave having it being shaped like a large Cathedral from the wind and ocean currents over the last hundreds of years.  The beach itself has some of the clearest water, rock islands within swimming distance to cliff jump off of, a small waterfall to play under and tons of overhanging trees for shade and climbing.  Another great beach with all its variety that NZ offers.

Inside Cathedral Cove.

Cathedral Cove.

Running through the cold waterfall.

The next morning we got up really early and made our drive to another beach down the road.  We had to be there at 7:00 a.m. because that is when the tide was low.  Why did we have to be there only when the tide was low?  Well, we went to a place called Hot Water Beach and let me tell you what, it was just that!  Here's what you do.  You walk to a specific spot on the beach and start stepping around until you feel hot sand under your feet.  At that moment you start digging with your shovels.  As you do water starts to rise up filling the hole with warm water from underground hot spings.  Now, depending on where you hit, it's either going to be cold (which means you need to find another spot and dig again), warm or HOT (and get out of there!). 

We found a great spot and started digging and digging, trying to build a wall to keep the warm water in and the ocean waves out as it started to rise and come in to some of the pools of other people around us.  Some pools were warm and one that was right behind us was actually boiling.  At times we had to get cold water from the ocean to cool our pool down.  It was the most amazing thing we've seen and done here.  Hard to say because we've done some AMAZING things but Hot Water Beach is one that I must say was so fun to do for the entire family, built teamwork and unity among every one on the beach as we all started to help each other and it was fun being out early in the morning with the sun coming up in all our little warm pools.

Walker and Dad digging away.

Everyone enjoying their hot pools.

After that beach we hopped to ANOTHER one called Hahei beach just to walk around for a while to kill some time.  Glad we did because it is yet another beautiful and fun beach.  There were long stretches of pink sand and  rope swings just hanging there waiting to be played with.  The locals were loading and unloading their boats in to the ocean with their tractors without a fee.  We've seen this many times before but just had to put it in here.  So different from having to pay a fee at a State Park, waiting to use the dock like everyone else, overcrowding and what not.  This way there is plenty of space for everyone!

A boy enjoying the swing!

Weeeeee!

Hold on tight!






Even dad got in on the fun!

 



Just park your tractor on the beach.

Loading up the boat.

On the way home we stopped in the town of Paeroa, famous for where our favorite drink L&P was created.  L&P stands for Lemon and Paeroa after all.  The city is proud of it.  It has flags lining the streets, city signs and the famous L&P Cafe with the largest bottle of L&P on display.  As tourist and lovers of the beverage we just HAD to stop!

 

 

If only they sold a bottle this big, my kids would be in heaven.

That pretty much topped us off!  It completed a great beach filled weekend in all their varieties.