Coromandel Penninsula

Over the last few days, Barbara, Lucas, and I have been crusing along the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. Staring out of the car window, I try to catch every glimpse of the ocean scenery, while Lucas points out the dolphins swimming and jumping out in the bay. Quickly we pull over the car onto a grassy patch, and run out towards them. But they kept getting bigger and bigger... They couldn't possibly be dolphins. And they were only about 30 meters from shore (about 100 feet). Could we swim with them? What if it were a great white shark? It could be! As we ran down the beach chasing them, we soon realized they were orcas! Jumping, splashing, and playing in the sea. It was a mother and two babies that we were able to see! How cool is that!



Later that night, we pitched out tents on top of a grassy mountain on the shore by the sea. Three stunning black horses greeted us, excited to see strangers. Just down the hill there was a trail that led to a private cove, that looked like the perfect place for a buried treasure. Enormous blue waves crashed in the sea and landed on the white sand beach. Shells of every color and type were scattered in the millions, and incredible ancient trees hung overhead. They weren't just any trees though, they were the New Zealand Christmas Tree, covered in cherry red blooms that stretched longer than my hand.

What a Paradise! And to top it off, a waterfall run down the edge of the cliff to meet the sea. We decided that we could certainly live there... waterfall as the shower, surf all day, and swim with the orcas in our free time.


(This lok s so close to the place we were, the red blossoms on the trees show that it is the NZ christmas tree).

At one time I might have said this was an incredible dream... but if I'm dreaming now, I don't ever want to wake up!

It was almost nightfall when we left the cove, so we made our way back up the cliffside, to pitch the tents and make a gormet dinner. I love cooking out in the bush : ) Nothing like chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, and a freshly made tossed salad (with tomatoes). Yum! No roughing it here.

Last night, I was in my tent, and heard the strangest of noises. Lots of grunting and pig like snorting... right next to my tent... Some critter was rubbing up against my tent trying to figure out what it was. The night before I thought the strange noises were barbara and/or lucas snoring... I was wrong.

I peaked out the tend and found a poky ball of spines wabbling away. It was a hedgehog.



That was just the first of many critters to follow. Of course you have the horses romping around by the tents, and the waves crashign in the background. But New Zealand has the strangest birds! Think of the strangest sound you've ever heard. Now make the strangest sound you've ever heard. Put them together in a random scramble, and we have all of them here!