Another glorious day and another tick on our to-do list! After being woken by an altercation outside at 4am (it turned out to be a domestic between a couple known by the police) - we were still up early and ready to leave at 8.15!
Last time we were here we had on our list "walk to Cathedral Cove" but didn't manage it because it poured on the only day we had. Today was the opposite - wall to wall sun! Now this walk to CC -as I will call it - is 45mins each way and has some steep bits according to the literature. We knew it would be popular as "everybody goes" and given the forecast we knew it would be hot. So for all these reasons we set out early.
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On the walk to Cathedral Cove |
I should also add that you can go by boat to CC, although most boats don't drop you on the beach - just go and look and then go back. Oh and they charge quite a lot for all this!
We got to the car park at 8.45 and although busy there was plenty of space. We enjoyed the walk down to the beach with its glimpses every so often of beautiful coast and off-lying rocks and islands. We arrived at CC in about 40 mins and there were already a handful of people there. We knew the beach was in two parts, separated by an archway of rock - which gives the cove its name. What we didn't know was that the state of the tide decides whether you can get through the arch to the other half of the beach! Luckily we arrived as the tide was retreating and only had to wait a few minutes before we made the dash to get through - only suffering minor wetness of shorts!
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The famous archway of Cathedral Cove |
On the other half, again there were a few people but we were able to choose a good spot to sit. It is a lovely place and Steve was in his element photographing every aspect! We sat for a while and then enjoyed a swim in the turquoise water. It was a little rough at the edge but fine once you were in!
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View through the arch |
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Irresistible cliff waterfall in foreground |
As time went on we were joined by more and more people and at least 15 kayaks and their paddlers! Although it is a reasonable size it was beginning to feel a little crowded, so by 11am we felt it was time to depart. We must have passed at least 50 people coming the opposite way on our return walk so goodness what it was like by the afternoon!
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Getting busy |
The car park on our return was packed and it was easy to see why the authorities are keen people shouldn't overflow into the neighbouring community streets but there is nowhere else to park, except the next beach along, which adds 30mins to the walk.
We returned to Whitianga for a late coffee and then lunch. We spent the afternoon doing very little except a quick visit to the local supermarket. We have eaten again at our favourite restaurant, just down the road and now the light is fading again. Can't believe we have nearly had our 3 nights here and it is time to move on again. This is definitely a place to chill out and I think we have done a bit of that!
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Relaxing on our balcony |
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