New Zealand: On the 'Snake' train

Rik's attempt at taking a group photo on the 'Snake' (train) at the Driving Creek Potteries and Railway - Mik: "Do it!" - Rik: "...it worked!" - Fred: grin left, grin right ;-P

 

New Zealand: The "Welcome" rainbow

The rainbow we saw greeting us as we made our way to Te Mata Lodge, Coromandel. Rik's doing his narrating, Mik's flittering around in the car and Fred trying to capture the rainbow on camera - looks more like performing a pagan ritual ;-P ! Apologies for the poor audio :-(

Across the Ditch: On the way to Rotorua via Ngongotaha

Leaving Te Mata/Coromandel and heading to Rotorua :-)

...praying mantis praying for bright sunny weather ;-P

can't recall the name of this town... twas a restroom stop for us ;-P

where we off to I wonder?

watch out Mik! ...slurrrpppp...

corrugated iron sheep...

...swirly clouds

Lake Rotorua on the banks of Ngongotaha town

Lake Rotorua - in Maori 'roto' is the word for lake and 'rua' for 'two' - or Second Lake

OK... let's go...

...the jetty...

...come closer...

...communion ;-P

strange weather...bright then cloudy...then...

Look @ moi!

Ricky and Fred, where r u Mik?

 

Across the Ditch: Cathedral Coast

...moving on from William Mangakahia Lagoon Reserve and Hot Water Beach to Cathedral Cove. Just driving around, much to see but weather was wet :-(

...obligatory pix of cows... ;-P

...moo! Look @ moo!

Welcome to Cathedral Cove

...hole

...it was wet and cold :-(

it's warm and sunny Mik!

...OUCH!!!

islands dotting the cove...

...more of the same... zzz ;-P

 

Across the Ditch - William Mangakahia Lagoon Reserve (Whangapoua) and Hot Water Beach (Whitianga)

...if only it was a sunnier day ;-)

...in readiness

 Driving round bits of Coromandel and stopping by the William Mangakahia Lagoon Reserve and also Hot Water Beach. Wish the weather was sunny and warm :-( ...

tide's coming in? out?

looking back towards land

Pungapunga Island

...close up

...and further away

...pine cone

scallop shell...

before the tide came in... behind the headland is Wainuiototo Bay

..rocK On!

view of Pungapunga Island from the rocky beach

...walking towards the estuary of the Pungapunga River

view of the river landwards...

Hot Water Beach...was looking forward to it...but

mouth of the Taiwawee River @ Hot Water Beach

 Was looking forward to experience the Hot Water Beach... got there when tide was coming in and Rick dug at the wrong part of the beach ;-P

...seagulls

...brrrr.... Mik! It supposed to be the Hot Water Beach!

sea-weed

...digging in the wrong spot!

...it is brrrrr...cold!

...try it!

...shame weather was overcast...