Coromandel Adventures

Here at Coromandel Adventures we have sunset times recorded one year in advance. Sunsets are important to us! You could almost say that as tour guides we sometimes chase them and we sure live in the right place to do so as the Coromandel really does offer some spectacular sunset sightseeing opportunities. Imagine - bush clad hills drenched in orange and gold, pink skies and a red sparkling sea. That’s what we experience on a regular basis. Admiring a sunset does wonders for the soul. Health studies have shown that admiring a sunset or any spectacular scenery actually boosts well-being and life satisfaction and the psychological effects of appreciating a sunset may persist long after it has faded (Zhang, Howell & Lyer, 2014). Appreciation of the sun in its full splendour brings your mind to the present glory of light and niggling worries can be temporarily forgotten. We find a good sunset turns all our passengers into photographers, instantly! The founders of Coromandel A

A sky like this might prompt us to rug up for winter but here in Coromandel it doesn’t get too cold compared to international standards. Yesterday at around 2:30pm in the afternoon we got the thermometer out which inside measured 13 degrees Celsius, and then outside in full sun, 24 degrees!  We are certainly still enjoying the warm days and the sunshine.  Predominantly New Zealand’s climate is temperate.  In the summer here in Coromandel it is warm enough to grow bananas. In the far north of New Zealand they experience almost subtropical weather during the summer while down in the South Island it can get as cold as -10 degrees Celsius during winter. Luckily due to New Zealand being two relatively narrow islands most of the country is close to the ocean making for mild temperatures, lots of sunny days and not too much rain. If you come and stay in the winter there is a very high chance you will be truly amazed at how hot the sun still is and the incredible blue skies.  Not o

What is Kauri dieback? Kauri dieback is the deadly kauri disease caused by Phytophthora taxon Agathis (or PTA). Following DNA studies, this fungus-like disease was formally identified in 2008 as a distinct and previously undescribed species of Phytophthora. Kauri dieback is specific to New Zealand kauri and can kill trees of all ages. Microscopic spores in the soil infect kauri roots and damage the tissues that carry nutrients within the tree. Infected trees show a range of symptoms including yellowing of foliage, loss of leaves, canopy thinning, dead branches and lesions that bleed gum at the base of the trunk. What can you do to help? The only way we can save our native Kauri forests is to contain the disease and prevent the spread until such a time as better treatment methods are developed.  We can all help by following the below when you are around kauri: - Make sure shoes, tyres and equipment are cleaned to remove all visible soil and plant material before AND after visitin