Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove

We stayed at Hot Water Beach Top Ten for three days. Compared to the other holiday parks we had stayed at, it was much busier and more international. Although there were five gas hobs, each with two plates, one had to wait for a plate to be free. People of different nationalities and languages went about cooking their different meals without communicating with each other except to ask whether they were using this pot or that  toaster.

Although we had managed to fix the leak in the mattress, it sprung another and we couldn't find it so for three days we went to bed on a reasonable mattress and woke up on the ground.

As Top Ten members, we got the free hire of a spade for the beach. Two hours either side of low tide, one can dig a hole and have it fill with hot water from underground thermals in a certain area. Low tide was 10pm the first night so we went to the beach after supper, armed with our spade.

It was amazing to see all the people lounging in their pools in the dark.

Our big bonus was seeing glow worms in the foliage on the way back. (Sorry no photographic evidence)

The next morning we aimed for the 10.30am low tide.

 This was an amazing international sociable event. We found a hot stream and were beginning our hole when a friendly New Zealand lady and her family invited us into an empty one just above theirs. We demolished the intervening wall to make a larger one. People from many nations were invited into our pool. We met German, American, British and of course, New Zealand bathers and experienced all the friendly interactions that were missing in the kitchen.

In the afternoon we went to explore Cathedral Cove. Two and a half hike up steep slopes there and back but well worth the effort.

The stars (when it is not raining) are stunning.

We are presently staying with family in Hamilton and I will only post if we go somewhere interesting. I want to wish all my followers a wonderful and blessed Christmas.