Having started off the day relaxing at the house in Cambridge, we'd intended to have a full day of rest and see a bit more of the local scene. However, by lunch, we'd resorted our kit and checked the calander - it was then that we realised that we only have a week in the North Island of New Zealand left! Time had been passing so happily that we'd not really been keeping check on days of the week. We decided there and then to pack the car and get out, up to the Coromandel Peninsula.
Our neighbour reminded us that is was a Saturday and that we should book ahead to reserve a campspot. Unfortunately there seemed to be no 'Freedom' camping, but fortunately we did manage to book into a DOC (Department of Conservation) site near the surf beach of Whangamata - our destination for the afternoon.
The drive was through some small industrial towns, and by chance we passed by the famous (well, famous to New Zealanders anyway) big bottle of their national lemonade (which we'd drank on our first night in NZ).
We arrived at the beach late afternoon and parked up looking straight out to sea. There wasn't the greatest surf rolling in, but the water looked inviting and the setting was beautiful, with sandy beach, blue skies and tropical looking islands on the horizon. We put our wet suits on to surf, but after a while I was too hot and came in and swapped for shorts! I'm not sure I've ever been able to do that back on Angelesy!
We stayed out at the beach until the sun went down. There was a table to cook dinner at, and we'd already got our tent up at the campsite so there was no rush to go and get a site. We ate couscous and veggies and shared a cold drink watching the last of the surfers and the sky change colour.
And if that wasn't enough for the day, we then went into town to check out the (what turned out to be non-existent) night life. The rumours really are true, that New Zealanders really are keen for an early night! We did managed to find one funky cafe that sorted us out with a hot chocolate, cake and beer, but not in that order.
The driver to the campsite was 5km down a valley and only part of the road was tarmaced. There was also a ford to cross which was quite exciting. As we were driving along the remote (Wentworth) Valley, we suddenly became aware of how bright the stars were. When we got to camp we spent a while just looking up. There were so many stars visible the the 'normal' constellations were almost rubbed out! We spotted Orion straight away and noticed that he was upside down compared to back home!
The best part of the night was still to come though. We'd been told that there was a dis-used mine five minutes walk away from the camp ("it says danger, do not enter on the sign, but you guys'll be fine"!). Well we weren't too bothered about seeing the mine, but our ears pricked up when we heard that there would be glow worms inside!
Tentatively we set off by torchlight along the overgrown path, leaving arrows made from sticks to mark our safe return! Just before we reached the mine entrance, we saw glow worms on the embankment that we were walking beside. We snapped our torches off and sure enough there were little green spots of light all along the path! Crazy! After a look around, we continued to find the tunnel entrance. There were glow worms all over the ceiling! It looked like a starry sky! We ventured further into the tunnel but found less glowies and more spiders, so scurried back out to the open air.
Before reaching the tent we lay down on a rock by the rivers edge and took in some more of the night sky. Saw a shooter! It's was nearly midnight by the time we went to bed - outrageously late by Kiwi standards!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
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