Cathedral Cove

Just before our dear friends, the Rowes, departed for home, we took a trip together to one of our must-see destinations, the beautiful Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula. 

Bob and Jan at the overlook above the trailhead

Looking out over the sea before our descent

Looking another direction from the overlook

Looking toward the direction we'll descend

During the first part of the trail, there were rolling pastures on our left hand.

And glimpses of the sea far below through the evergreens on our right

The trail became increasingly steep and at times we walked through a tunnel of fern and evergreen forest.

Mark and Paula on the trail

At long last we reached the beach and saw the fantastic formations.

Bob and Jan at the mouth of the tunnel. Just out of sight is the sign warning about rock falling from the roof. And indeed there were large boulders on the sand inside.

Jan didn't want to cross through but everyone else did. So here we are on the other side! Note the trees growing in the sheer rock of the cliff.

Then we found a shady spot for our picnic lunch, carried down by Bob in the backpack.

The beach where we had our picnic

The surf was gentle that day

But from our picnic on a fallen log we could clearly see the fantastic shapes the sea had carved.

Surely it was one of the most beautiful days, in one of the most beautiful places in creation.