Coromandel Peninsula 17th February - More Water

Today was another wet day but this time with sunshine.  We started the day at Hot Water Beach where underground hot water springs run down to the beach.  For two hours before and two hours after low water the beach is full of people digging pools on the beach and relaxing in the hot water that fills them.  We hired a spade and dug our pool - in places the water is so hot you can't touch it.  As well as being fun to do it is quite relaxing and our skin felt lovely when we came out. 
In the afternoon we went on a sea kayaking trip from Hahei to Cathedral Cove and Cooks Beach.  After a briefing and being kitted out with buoyancy aids and spray decks our guide launched us into the surf and we were away.  David and I managed to stay reasonably dry at this stage.  At Cathedral Cove the surf was quite big and our guide had to land first and then catch us as we arrived on the beach.  We were all pretty wet but the sun soon dried us off and we were give hot chocolate and coffee before we left.  We had a great afternoon in a lovely area.  We finished our day at the Church Restaurant in Hahei (another Fielding recommendation) before driving back to Whitianga. 

Digging our pool

The pool starting to fill up

David relaxes in our pool

So many people, so many pools!

Still dry

Our guide

Cathedral Cove

Hot drinks and biscuits

Ready to leave

Our group

Catheral Cove

View from Hahei Lookout

Another view from the Lookout