Muse Concert

Tonight we got the chance to see one of our favourite bands, Muse. The gig was fantastic, with spectacular use of lighting and carbon dioxide, and got the whole crowd rocking!

Family Photo

Today is Mum & Dad's last day so we took them for lunch at Long Bay before a family photo in the garden at home before they left.

Wenderholm & Shakespear Regional Parks

We then headed to Wenderholm Regional Park for a picnic lunch and the photo in the picture frame!






The 134 hectare park is home to many native birds, some of which were nesting in the sand dunes, and pohutukawas (New Zealand's Christmas tree).






Then closer to home we called in to Shakespear Regional Park at the end of the Whangaparaoa peninsula.






We walked up to the lookout point to get views over the Hauraki Gulf.

Parry Kauri Park

Today I headed north to show Mum & Dad the native kauri trees so that they could get some idea of the size of these amazing trees.






The park has many native trees and ferns with a great boardwalk throughout the bush.

Muriwari Regional Park

Now back in Auckland, today we headed out west to Muriwai Regional Park.







Muriwai is home to the Takapu Refuge - a gannet colony. It was the end of nesting with most of the nests now empty and eggs hatched.



There were several crazy fishermen braving the wild waves on the rocks - a couple were washed in when we were there but fortunately got themselves out without the aid of the surf live savers.

Driving Creek Railway

Just north of Coromandel Town is Driving Creek Railway an amazing narrow gauge railway running through the bush. The trains and track have been built by a potter originally to bring the clay down from the hillside, but has subsequently developed into a major tourist attraction for the area.



The track is a major feat of engineering climbing up the steep hillside. This photo shows the double switchback where the train has to zig zag up the hill due to the gradient.





There is also a major reversing point which takes the train out high over the bush with sheer drops down - not good for those with vertigo.




The end of the journey is the "Eye-full Tower" which has been built to give panoramic views over the bush and out to the Hauraki Gulf.




At the peak times they take 500 people a day up and down the hillside, but with views like this it is not surprising it is so popular.

The Drive from Whitianga to Coromandel Town

Today we headed across the north eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula between Whitianga over to Coromandel Town. We stopped off at various points on route including Matarangi, which is a developing areas mainly consisting of holiday homes. Although a stunning beach, it meant the area didn't have much character.


The drive also involved a steady winding climb with a viewpoint at the top of the hill. This offered fabulous views over the Firth of Thames to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east.



















We stopped off for a picnic lunch at Whangapoua overlooking Wainuiototo Bay.




The beach was deserted and stunning, we will have to come here again soon, as just past the headland to the north is New Chums beach, supposedly New Zealand's best beach and only accessible by foot by walking over the headland.





The drive back to the main road took us past many native ferns and mangrove swamps.