Journey Around the World: More of Coromandel-Isolation=)

Te Pare Point at Hahei

View from the peak of Te Pare Point which used to be a Maori settlement.

Missed the sunrise coz it was too cold in the morning and staying in bed seemed loads more attractive! It has always been alot easier for me to watch sunset than sunrise=)

Seen so many rainbows when I was in NZ. This particular rainbow was so cool and it felt like we were very near the start of the rainbow. I always wondered why there are so few rainbows in Singapore. Now I think I know why- coz all the rainbows are in NZ!

Petrol prices on the rise!

Stingray Bay. Not sure how it got its name though. Did not manage to ask the locals there=)

Gemstone Bay

A rare sight! I dun think i will gather enough patience to Fish!

Learnt how to make Rösti from Nicolas.H! I am quite pro at it now!

Tauranga (Mt Maunganui)

Mount Maunganui is a town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, located on a peninsula to the north of the neighbouring city Tauranga, and north west of the suburb Papamao. It is also the name of the extinct volcanic cone which rises above the town (which is now officially known by its Maori).According to Maori legend, this hill was a pononga [slave] to a mountain called Otanewainuku. It is colloquially known in New Zealand simply as The Mount. The town itself is located on top of a sand bar that connects Mauao to the mainland, a geographical formation known as a tombolo. Because of this formation, the residents of Mount Maunganui are lucky enough to have both a harbour beach (Pilot Bay) and an ocean beach with great surf, within a short distance (At the base of Mauao, the distance between the harbour and ocean side is a couple of blocks).

View on out way up.

View from the summit.

An island near by=)

Random nice rocks=) Thanks nic for always taking random nice picts for me!

At the peak of another hill! There are heaps of lookout in NZ. Loads of tracking to do too=)

Waihi
Waihi is located in the Coromandel district, which was one of the great gold mining districts of the world. The township grew around the mining operations since the discovery of gold in 1878 by prospectors John McCombie and Robert Lee.

Waihi Town

Here's a huge gold mining quarry! Look at how small those trucks in comparison!

Karangahake Gorge

The Karangahake Gorge lies between the Coromandel and Kaimai Ranges at the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island. A sharply winding canyon, it was formed by the Ohinemuri River.

Mouth to a tunnel where mining activity used to take place.

Nicolas X 2 on the bridge! It was very confusing initially coz both responded when I call them! haha....

Karangahake foot bridge.

This was how gold rocks were transported to the Battery in the past. Cool ehy!

Karangahake Gorge=)

Owharoa falls

Somehow I feel that the waterfall looks nicer in this pict than in real life=) Maybe it is coz of the setting that nic used on his camera which gave the water a very continuous and flowy effect=)

Tairua

View from the peak of Paku Hill! Nice ehy! NZ has heaps of tiny islands=) We could see island like Penguin Island, Shoe Island, Rabbit Island etc... What interesting names they have got!

Hahei

Hahei is a small settlement on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula in the Waikato region. It is a popular holiday destination, with a white sandy beach and sheltered aspect, resulting in sheltered swimming waters.

I really liked the accomodation at this quiet cosy place, which is a great chill out Self contained unit! Few people were around this area as winter was approaching. Cant ask for more- nice scenery just outside our place, nice houses around, accomodation was nicely furnished, great music and most importantly-great company.

Tatahi Lodge- Indeed a slice of Heaven at the end of the world!