Coromandel and Katikati

Hello, in the last week we did a lot of things, since we calculated that 7 weeks in Northland might have been a little too much (considering the size of the rest of New Zealand). There is still so much to see. Here is a map of our journey.

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You see heaps (lots) of them on the beach.

An afternoon at the beach on the way down to Auckland

 We enjoyed spending another night with our Friends Keyla and Carlos (CarKeys) in Auckland - here at their "spot" - you have to come here to see the view of the Auckland skyline ;)

The next day we arrived at the Coromandel Peninsula at 3 pm and still started a 5 hour bush walk. We began with a bath in the creek.

 It went up pretty high, unfortunately the bush was so thick that we didn't have many views like this one. 

It was also very muddy - on the next day Thomas even managed to step into a pool and got dirty and wet up to his knees (left). But in the end we were rewarded with an absolutely beautiful walk along this creek (right), where we met Dawn. She invited us for a shower and a self-grinded  coffee (best ever).

 On the way to Coromandel (town)

In the evening the driving Creek Railway was desolate. That's why Lina could drive it =)

Sunset at the Coromandel Campground - the nice couple we stayed with gave us their car to go there and see it.

First time among tourists - the lookout point of the Driving Creek Railway

And still it can look like as if you are on your own.

 At Cathedral Cove - who can find the face in the rock?

Lina doing the Haka (a traditional Maori dance preparing for war).

 The actual Cathedral Cove - pretty stunning

The next morning at 4 am at the hot water beach - the best way to experience a hot spa just on your own.

 The Mt. Paku

On the way up - practicing for our Ballet performance ;)

 On top

We decided to come back to Dawn and Derek (D&D) because of the nice coffee. Just kidding, we had an awesome time with them playing cards, laughing and chatting. We also spent Thomas' birthday there and they took us out for Pizza =) Thanks so much!!!

On the way to Waihi - the lady who took us was so nice to drive us to this wonderful waterfall.

The mines of Moria... ehhh Waihi. A huge "hole" in the ground.

The backpacks are also waterproof ;) 

Lina's birthday in Katikati, where we are staying with Gerald (Bill's cousin) and his very nice family.

 Lina got to ride the boat after two hours of catching Nothin' (the most popular NZL fish) ;) but it was a fun time

Thomas collecting crabs while Gerald was pulling out the boat with a historic tractor from nineteen hundred....