This is a far cry from the winters we're used to, but it's still cool enough to tempt you into your blankets for longer than is probably good for you. Most houses don't have heat, so during this time of year it's about as cold indoors as it would be in a conservatively heated New England home, where layers and warm socks are paramount to comfort. It will trigger all your laziest impulses if you're not careful to push yourself outdoors, where it's not actually any colder than your bedroom and everything is green and beautiful. There are oranges growing in our driveway. Oranges.
The other perk of getting outside this time of year is that not many other people are doing it. You'll meet a few people hiking or at the beach, but never a crowd. We've hopped in the car to go a few interesting places since purchasing it, starting with the Waiwera hot springs, where we waded through the hot water until we couldn't stand it and then returned to shivering in our swimsuits almost the moment we got out. This is the exact opposite of some experiences I've had swimming outside of Boston in the summer.
There are pools that run at all different temperatures. The hottest one, the lava pool, was so hot I could barely get my foot into it. We hunkered down in one that was cooler, but still hot enough that we sometimes felt like part of a big stew. There was an older woman who came within earshot of us while we were saying how funny it would be to show up with a giant wooden spoon and sit on the edge peeling carrots and potatoes. And that if somebody peed in the water they'd leave a cold spot. She must been afraid we were serious about peeing in the pool, because she edged away from us fast. Or it might have been the cannibalism.
The other perk of getting outside this time of year is that not many other people are doing it. You'll meet a few people hiking or at the beach, but never a crowd. We've hopped in the car to go a few interesting places since purchasing it, starting with the Waiwera hot springs, where we waded through the hot water until we couldn't stand it and then returned to shivering in our swimsuits almost the moment we got out. This is the exact opposite of some experiences I've had swimming outside of Boston in the summer.
There are pools that run at all different temperatures. The hottest one, the lava pool, was so hot I could barely get my foot into it. We hunkered down in one that was cooler, but still hot enough that we sometimes felt like part of a big stew. There was an older woman who came within earshot of us while we were saying how funny it would be to show up with a giant wooden spoon and sit on the edge peeling carrots and potatoes. And that if somebody peed in the water they'd leave a cold spot. She must been afraid we were serious about peeing in the pool, because she edged away from us fast. Or it might have been the cannibalism.
On Tuesday we bundled up to go to Piha beach. I don't need to tell you it's gorgeous, look at it. I've always loved beaches in the winter for how quiet and bare they are, but this had the extra perk of looking like summer. (Still didn't feel like summer though.) It was a really gusty day. The beach was mostly empty, just a few people out walking their dogs. We doffed our shoes to get our feet wet in the Tasman sea, but it wasn't long before our toes were completely numb. I climbed lion rock partly to get away from the wind! There were some nice protected spots on the far side where the cold blasts couldn't quite wrap around and the sun was warm. Those are the sweet spots. Go to them.
Thursday we headed east to go hiking in the Hunua Ranges. It's a healthy area of Kauri forest, so they're really cautious of contaminants on the trails. You have to spray your shoes and use a boot scrubber before entering protected areas. Normally when I'm hiking I leave things like apple cores and banana peels in the bushes to decompose but New Zealand is so intense about bio-contamination I have a feeling they'd frown on that. I have to find out for sure at some point, but until then I guess I won't be sprouting any apple trees. :)
We misjudged the amount of time our trail would take to do and didn't wind up getting back until dusk. Part of it involved crossing a river by stepping from stone to stone; thankfully we made it back over the river before it got completely dark. Knowing me I would have definitely fallen into the river, and I was really enjoying dry feet. If your shoes have been soaked recently, you know what I'm talking about.