Driving on the left...

After picking up our rental car in Auckland, which I dubbed Mellow Yellow after it's color, we drove up to the Coromandel Peninsula where we had plans to climb the Pinnacles, sleep over in the DOC hut, and come back down. The day before we left Auckland, it had rained just about every ten minutes and then would be bright, beautiful, and sunny before raining again. This weather pattern had continued the next day when we picked up the rental from the airport. I had hoped that it would let up by the time we reached the starting point to climb to the Pinnacles hut but alas, it did not. The cold rain and winds made us hike at a fast clip so as to reach the DOC hut before nightfall.
Upon reaching the top, we scarfed down a pound of pasta. I was famished! Spent the evening by the wood stove in the communal area reading a few magazines that had been in my day pack.

The next morning, we woke up in time to watch the sunrise at the top of the Pinnacles but instead it was quite foggy. Even so, it was beautiful. The walk down and back to the car was much more enjoyable as the wind and rain had died down during the night. We drove to Whitianga to see Cathedral Cove since we had missed low tide at Hot Water Beach for that morning.

Cathedral Cove was so majestic and beautiful. And Hot Water Beach was super relaxing and soothing after our long hike. Hire a spade for $5, dig a pool, lay down in the hot water, ahhhhhh.

DOC Pinnacles Hut in the background 

There were a few somewhat treacherous, slippery, cold  stairs we had to climb to get to the top of the Pinnacles

Beautiful view despite the fog

Wire bridge. it swayed a bit. hmmm

Hot Water Beach. Find a spot to dig and hope it's over a hot spring!