A hot water beach......From staying in auckland the last couple of days time for a little explore and you could say the final adventure in new zealand. Going north east to the area known as the cormandel. The drive towards whitianga area through hills and countriside towards the coast, the first stop to the well know and very popular cathedral cove! A 30 minute walk down through the bush with views of the cost to cathedral cove, a large arch witch has been erroded by the sea allows for a walk through and under the arch to explore the other side of the bay. White sands the blue sea, under blue skys another taste of paradise, a large volume of us tourists dotted about however it really was worth the visit. A beautiful place to explore, very tempting to go for a swim but time to continueing exploring. Saddly the tides at the wrong time in the day for us at the very well know hot water beach! The tide very important to the spectacle that can be explored...this being the ability to dig your own bath on the beach. A completly natural and no site of man made features, the natural hot water coming from geothermal activity under the beach the slight smell of sulphur smelt. The idea is at low time the areas of hot water are exposed and you can start digging to create your own pool! Low tide at 10pm wheres the adventure if you dont go, venturing to the beach around 9pm with a torch and the moon as light, saddly the tides in the last couple of days havnt been as distinct as previous and so we were unable to dig a pool however siting on the spots with the waves it was like being in a bath, there are areas where the water is actually bioling....and you cant get a burnt....which i experience slightly on my feet...prepare to move quickly if you go too deep with your feet in the sand, you need the cool sea to ease the temperature! We had alot of fun exploring the hot areas on the beach another new experience that i dont think you can get in many places, plus going at night meant far less people just more adventureres exploring :)! Yesterday we explored the cormandel peninsula, driving to various bays, anotehr taste of heaven as we explored the areas that tourists would other wise not get to, going on gravel roads to where  new zealanders have there holiday homes right on the beach. Driving through rolling hills and seaing more of that new zealand coast witch has proven to be incredibly beautiful. The peninsula a good place to explore when you have the time and nice weather as those beaches you could easily spend all day at. The day fly's by as you drive from a to b and find the nice spots to stop at and take photos . Returning to the town of cormandel,a very small town and very quiete as new zealand is well on its way into autumn, timing the weather perfectly by getting back to the backpackers just as the rain started. Arriving back in the very wet aukland this afternoon, and now with 2 days left of new zealand, the last little adventure providing the final sights of coast and country side along with that abundent vegetation in the new zealand bush. its amazing how a bit of rain can change its appearance again and again! :)!