Exploring the Coromandel Peninsula

 

For all of us missionaries assigned to work in the Pacific Area Office, Saturdays are a time for gathering to explore.   One of our recent trips was to the Coromandel Peninsula. We started out in the town of Thames, driving along lovely beach-side roads and then cut across lush rain forest on a VERY twisty road (don't let that map line fool you - it was switchbacks around mountains nearly the whole way) till we got to the west side to visit Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove.

Larry, Me, Sister Winters and Elder & Sister Whidden

Thames Monument

Elder Gary Winters get's a bird's eye view of the surrounding area

from http://www.cycletour.org.nz/coromandel-west-coast.html

Rain Forest Reserve, Interior or Coromandel Peninsula - from Wikipedia

at the start of the trail to Hot Water Beach

Looking down on Cathedral Cove

 The Coromandel Peninsula has much to offer and a person could spend many days fully appreciating the trails, beaches, and little towns along the way.   For a quick day trip, we just got a bit of a taste.  Still, it was a beautiful day spent in the company of good people.