We have this interesting situation in NZ - as you may know we are basically a country of three skinny islands - and so enjoy a very long coastline. Not so special? Well the odd thing is all down the west coast of our country the sands are black - iron ore of quite good quality. Down the east coast the sands are golden/white.
The west coast beaches are dark and wild - magical, atmospheric places. The east coast beaches are stunningly beautiful too - but have a more pleasant welcoming ambience.
When I was a small child we would take a magnet to the Piha - a west coast beach famous for its surf break - and we would put the magnet to the sand and watch the grains jump onto the magnet.
However I also remember jumping out of the car in excitement and running down towards the water, only to be terrified as the very hot black sand burned the soles of my feet. Sandals are a must when walking on iron sand on a sunny day!
This is Abel Tasman National Park - at the top of the South Island of NZ. It is truly a natural wonderland. With lots of little bays and beaches you can camp on and never see another person!
Kayaks or canoes are available and you can spend a few days happily paddling around this very large public park exploring the many bays and inlets. Virgin forest - or 'bush' as we call it - lines the beautiful little coves and native flora and fauna are free to enjoy and wonder at. A priceless little place of heaven on earth.
On the Coromandel Peninsula - about ninety minutes drive from Auckland - there is a beach called Hot Water Beach - you pick a nice bit of sand and dig a hole for yourself. Hot sea water, warmed by underground volcanic activity, fills it up from underneath and you sit in it drinking wine and watching the waves roll in on the white sands. A natural and free hot jacuzzi! Bliss!!!!
That's Auckland in the photo - taken at night obviously. The Sky Tower is the tall thing in the middle - of the photo - and of Auckland. Auckland AKA "The City of Sails" because of its two harbours and yachting-crazy inhabitants.
The Sky Tower was built by Ron Brierley - a permanently miserable looking, millionaire businessman - in the 1990s. I hated it when it was being built. I hated the idea that a fat-cat with a big ego could use his ill-gotten millions to build a rich man's folly on my skyline. I hated that he made sure it was higher than Mt Eden - our beautiful iconic volcanic cone. What arrogance! As it grew we all thought it looked like a hypodermic syringe - and loathed the imagery.
BUT..... I have to admit now - and I dislike doing so - I think I actually like it! The junkie needle and big business connotations have faded from my mind and it is a focal point - pun intended - for the CBD. It also helps me when I get lost - a navigational aid that can be seen for hundreds of miles - okay tens!
The only thing I hold against it now is that it sits atop the casino - a misery-making place if ever there was! But don't get me started on that one!
Auckland is the largest city in NZ - a million plus souls - so not large by world standards. However it is one of the largest geographically - about the same size as Los Angeles. It is a great starting point for tourists and has heaps of great things to do. You could bungy off the above Sky Tower for instance. More sedate activities - like eating and drinking - are also on offer.
We have this interesting situation in NZ - as you may know we are basically a country of three skinny islands - and so enjoy a very long coastline. Not so special? Well the odd thing is all down the west coast of our country the sands are black - iron ore of quite good quality. Down the east coast the sands are golden/white.
