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For detailed information on Coromandel Peninsula click here
New Zealand is a fascinating land of ever-changing scenery and one of the most common comments we hear from our visitors is 'We knew it was beautiful but did not expect it to be this beautiful'. Travelling through our stunning country is like a tour of all the World's beautiful places as you will encounter scenery you will recognise from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia all found in this one country.
We love both Islands! They are so different, yet complement each other with their diverse and magic landscapes.
New Zealand is much bigger than many people realise not a 3 day stopover!! Over a thousand miles [1600Ks] from top to bottom and approximately the same land area of California, Wyoming, Japan, Great Britain or Germany. Latitude wise it runs from the 34 parallel to the 48 parallel, which is the same in the Northern Hemisphere as from Santa Barbara CA. To Vancouver Canada or from Wilmington, on the N. & S. Carolina border to North of Quebec Canada and for Europe from south of Malta to Austria. A hot day in the summer is from 24 degrees Celsius [78Fah] to say 28 degrees Cel [86Fah] but with only a little humidity [of which Kiwis are secretly pleased.]
New Zealand is an all year round destination as we mainly get snow in winter only in the mountains and most falls in the South Island. We never get snow in the top half of the North Island, only on the 10,000 ft high volcanoes in the middle of the North Island and the higher ranges south of there. We do get frosts but normally a cloudless day after one, but bring warm gear and especially good rain jackets as it can rain anytime in New Zealand [that's what keeps us green], but normally does not last long.
New Zealand has only 4 million people, but we do have 50 million sheep!
The Coromandel Peninsula where we live is spectacular & the perfect way to go to Rotorua if travelling south or to Auckland if going north from Rotorua. It is well worth spending 2 or 3 days to explore this stunning region. The Peninsula is a rugged and broken area jutting into the Pacific Ocean and is formed of rocks that burst from the bowels of the earth as white-hot magma beginning more than 20 million years ago. The skyline left by this massive geological upheaval is strange and contorted, - sharp pinnacles, castles with turrets and domes of rock rising above the surrounding countryside. When the area cooled the mountains became clothed with luxuriant rainforest. Until the arrival of the legendary Maori, Kupe in Whitianga about 950A.D., the only sounds heard in this primeval forest were the rush of water and the calls of millions of birds. With the arrival of the Maori, Pa {fortresses} were built on headlands jutting into the sea and on smaller hills towards the broken interior. Coromandel or Hauraki to the Maori, provided an abundance of food plus a temperate climate, which still attracts people today. Captain James Cook weighed anchor in Mercury Bay in November 1769, 800 years after Kupe, to observe the Transit of Mercury. The quest for " green gold " the Kauri tree, began with the British Royal Navy's arrival in the early 1800's to fell the famed "Kowrie Pine" for masts and spars. In 1820 H.M.S. Coromandel called and gave the English name to the Peninsula.
In 1852 Charles Ring discovered gold in the Kapanga stream near the township of Coromandel. The goldrush precipitated a rush for Kauri timber to build new towns. The timber milling and gold rushes continued until the 1930's, by which time over 1200 million super feet of Kauri timber had been milled and 1250 tons of gold had been hewn from the hard volcanic rock. Let us show you the Coromandel Peninsula that we know and love so well.
Stroll with us through the old gold towns of yesteryear, hike with us on the long lost timber and gold trails only we know in the deep rainforest, the realm of Tane Mahuta, "Father of the Forest", amidst our spectacular mountains. See glowworms & other fascinating creatures! Walk along stunning sand beaches, lapped by the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery. Learn about our exciting history, Maori medicines and foods and see our birds in nature.
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