Cathedral and Train, The Coromandel Part II

   After leaving Hotwater Beach and enjoying a lunch, not spaghetti on toast, at Cook's Beach, we considered our options for additional sightseeing on our way to our overnight destination in Whitianga.  The kids were begging to head to the hotel, as they knew it had a swimming pool.  The weather was not the best, and for some reason the statement made by an Aussie travel mate years ago, while traveling in Europe on a Contiki Tour bus, ran through my mind.
   "Ah, Jeez**!  Not another !%$ D$#% Cathedral!"

   That Aussie bloke uttered his religious observance as our bus pulled up in front of another institution in central Europe.  After several days in a row that involved stopping at a cathedral for a look around, he had had his fill.  Despite the inspired architecture, I too had to admit that they all started looking the same after awhile.

      With Cathedral Cove only a few minutes drive from Cook's Beach, I was hopeful that our family would have a better tolerance before we headed off to the hotel.  We were not disappointed.  Nothing like God's own carving with the help of Mother Nature, to provide beauty and inspiration. I have put in the video, mainly for a feel of the ocean ambiance while you view the pictures.  

   Fortunately the lunch had rejuvenated us, and it was an easy hike along the coast to the Cove.  The heavy ceiling of rain clouds intensified the reverence we felt for this site.  As we hiked back to the car for our final drive of the day to Whitianga, visiting Cathedral Cove was a wonderful way to finish our day enjoying nature. 

    After our overnight in Whitianga, blessed by another ocean front sunrise, we drove across the peninsula to Coromandel Town.  Formerly a gold mining town and port city in which surrounding Kauri trees were harvested for use as ship masts, this town now thrives on the gold from tourists pockets.  It also is famous for its Coromandel Mussels which are farmed in the bays near town. 

     We opted to take on the Driving Creek Railway, a narrow gage railway on private property that travels up into the native bushland.  In 1975 Barry Brickell, a schoolteacher who decided he did not want to teach school anymore, started a pottery workshop on land he obtained fairly cheap after it had been harvested of all its native Kauri trees.  He also was a railway enthusiast and decided that a railway would be the best all-weather transport to bring clay from the surrounding hills on his property to his workshop.  In 1990 the train was safely upgraded to carry people to the top of the property.  



The Snake Train



The potter's work

     





     As we wound our way to the Eyefull Tower at the top of the hill, 465 meters higher than we started, I came to a realization.  It takes a whole lot of wine to build a railroad!  Even though the tunnels and some other major structures were built with pottery tiles, all of the corner terracing of the rail bed was done with empty wine bottles buried neck first in the ground.  Maybe the potter needed to get on the wagon and not on the train!

The view from the top.  Whanganui Island.