Hi. Spent easter in the Coromandel peninsular, about two hours drive from Auckland and a little piece of heaven! The trip out was really busy traffic wise as it seemed like the whole of Auckland was heading somewhere on the motorway.. but once we got into the coromandel, the roads got quiet and the scenery improved.




Arriving in Hahei we headed to our rural retreat for a three day stay. It was a ten min journey into the "native bush" in Hahei.




Hahei itself is a small beach resort with a store and three restaurants. Lots of people holidaying there, locals with their "baches" (holiday home) and tourists in campervans, so it had a real holiday feel to it.

Beach at Hahei: Gorgeous!





We had really good weather - sunbathing weather on the sunday, which was great. We went to Hot water beach which has a small portion of ..."hot water" due to a geo-thermal area under the sand. At low tide the beach was packed with people with spades digging pools of hot water to sit in. Suffice to say we didnt buy a spade but just had a dignified wiggle of the toes in the boiling hot sand, it was really weird sensation and I have to say the sand really was HOT!





We also saw a junior lifeguard competition at hot water beach- like baywatch for youngsters with competitions for catching the flag, boogie boarding and running ability! Amazingly cute to see two and three yr olds in their little outfits trying to impress the parents and also, a bit cruel I know, their tears at coming last!



Are u sick of photos yet?
Here are a few more: In coromandel town there is a railway track built by one man on a mission, 27 years ago, it was fabulous...he built it all by hand tunnels, and all!

At ground level:




View from the top




Back in Coromandel town:


Enough now - hope you all had a wonderful Easter...