Today I will have a good trek in the mountains of Coromandel peninsula. The Pinnacles’ highest point reach 759m and by good weather we can see both sides of the peninsula! Cool!!
As every time, the breakfast is really important. I didn’t sleep so well last night because the ground is not really flat here but that’s alright.
Finishing breakfast and packing
I’m on my way to reach the DOC visitor center.
I arrived to the visitor center. I paid for my future night in the hut, my bike is safe (I hope). Let’s go!
Soon after I started to walk on the track there is already a river to cross by a suspended bridge! That’s cool:-).
First large landscape: an high and far waterfall.
2h30 to join the hut, that’s a long walk and a good suspense.
Another suspended bridge is coming 🙂
A sign board writes:
The rock Staircase
Steps hewn into solid rock during the 1920s provided packhorses with better grip on weekly supply trips to bush Camps above Kauaeranga Gorge.
Aaah! Blue sky. The view will be marvelous if it’s still like this when I reach the summit.
I’m getting high. Oh and I’m not alone for once 🙂
That’s the stairs the previous sign board was mentioning. They are enormous.
Fortunately, I’m wearing red color in that green lush.
The landscape is changing. It’s clearer and dryer now.
Only 1h30 to join the hut :-).
We cannot see it so well in the picture but it is very steep.
Another sign board says:
The Kauaeranga’s spectacular landscape of pinnacles, bluffs and gorges was formed by a complex sequence of volcanic action and erosion over the past million years.
Someone has scratches heavily the surface of that sign board to erase the word “million” or “billion. I’m not sure why. Years would be way to short to create such a landscape.
Later on...
Oh no! That’s my last TimTam! I need to go back to Thames right now and buy a new packet!
I recognize this kind of trunk, that’s or it was… A kauri tree. The peninsula is the last place where I will see kauri trees.
I think I can see where I’m going now.
This valley is wonderful!
Some time later
Yes! It’s THE summit. Pinnacles I’m coming! I can see the track attached to the mountain.
I can also see where I will sleep tonight :-). I’m sure it’s gonna be so comfy.
That looks good and quiet.
In summer, this place must be crowed. Tonight we will be only 7 sleeping here. This hut can contain up to 80 people… I don’t want to imagine that…
The kitchen is really clean. Ah, a little box with free food, interesting…
- A banana, ok,
- Oil, too heavy
- Cereals, why not
That’s it, the free banana is for me thanks :-).
The dormitory looks goods too but 40 people here… Wouha! Wait I wrote 80 previously lol. I’m not sure now… There is two big rooms like this one. I think 40 seems more appropriate.
Hey! Pinnacles you are there.
Taking a short rest
The pinnacles 50min. Here we go!
The ground here is quite soft. It feels good to walk on it. Its purpose must certainly be to protect the roots of the trees underneath.
We can already see the east coast of coromandel :-). I’m spoiling myself lol.
It’s really steep as well here.
The view must be more than great up these stairs.
Wouhaou! That’s amazing. The hut seems like a tent from here.
The summit is not so far away now.
Houla! It’s almost vertical here!
Up to the top! Have a look to the left side (south).
To the right (north east).
And to the middle (west :-). The hut is really really small now and I confirm, there is not any neighbours around.
Appreciating the fantastic view.
It’s time to come back to the hut :-). It’s freezing here!
Last look back towards to tip of pinnacles.
Nature is beautiful!
I could not make a choice between this picture and the previous one so I kept both.
It’s almost possible to see how steep is it with that photo.
Where is the swimming pool?
Wouhoo! Be careful…
On the way back to the hut
Finally back to the hut 🙂
But before, manual shoes cleaning machine. Love it.
I was turning and turning around without finding the… toilets. All good, they are here!
There is quite a few tracks around here.
It’s now time to write my diary of this wonderful day 🙂 See you tomorrow!